R U OK?

R U OK?  I was sitting awaiting my appointment with the Dietician.  I really like the sessions with him.  I am normally booked for half an hour, but the last couple of sessions have not taken that long.  Things are going well with him, but it is easy when my wife, the nurse, feeds me well.  I am just cutting down on saturated fats and sugar.
I was waiting for my appointment with him, when a brochure caught my eye.  It was called “A Quick Guide to asking R U OK?  It had inside three steps involved in getting ready to ask (be ready, be prepared and pick your moment) and four steps in starting a conversation (ask r u ok, listen, encourage action, check in - ie see how they are doing later).
I am totally for this kind of thing, but it got me thinking that care is taught these days.  I really thought for most people it was natural.  Certainly, there are degrees of it, but it really seems to be human nature to care for each other.  We only need to see what happens on tv when disaster is reported to befall someone or people.  There is a rush of aid to them, from people that care and just want to give.  A friend of mine and his wife, have experienced this for themselves when their house burnt down.  My neighbour had her house rebuilt by caring locals, when a tree that was being cut down fell on it.
I think it is human nature to care, but unfortunately it is one of those, if not lost arts, then disappearing arts, as we get so overwhelmed by the tide of human need.  I think there is even a phrase for it these days which is something like “care fatigue.”  Whatever the phrase is, it contains the word fatigue.
In thinking about it, I was reminded of the age old question “are leaders born or made.”  I happen to believe they are born, but that is something else.  My thinking went in that direction because, while I believe caring comes naturally for most, it is great to be taught.  It does not matter if caring is the dominant nature of someone, or if it is there, but really needs work.  Everyone can glean things from being taught.  I guess it is the same as in everything, some are naturals while others really need to work on it.  However, whatever is given is not wasted for a listening ear.
It is not surprising that in this day and age, I see more cases of the lack of care.  There are few things sadder than someone passing away, and it is only discovered some time later.  I heard of a case where a guy in New York passed away at his office desk, and it was only discovered days later, that he was no longer with us.
My care not only needs to be genuine, but to be seen as genuine.  Most of us can see though falsehood.  Thankfully, while caring is taught, and I can get better at expressing it, people will warm to me, even if I stumble and have real trouble, as long as I am genuine.
By the way, R U OK?