Opportunities

Today we were asked to blog about a time when we had the opportunity to help.  To make a difference.  To save someone.

Off the top of my head, I actually can't think of anything big or heroic, but I do try to make a difference in peoples' day to day lives.  Even if I'm just trying to cheer someone up, or letting them vent their problems, I think it makes a difference.  After all, life isn't necessarily about the big things that happen.  It's the little moments that shape who we are and influence what we do.  These little moments eventually lead to the big ones, however.

One conversation comes to mind: two summers ago, I was an LIT (Leader in Training) at 'my' summer camp.  There was one little girl, let's pretend her name is Anne, who was always protesting and disrespecting her counsellor's rules and ideas.  She complained about how must she wanted to go home, and had horrible, violent, tantrums.  One night the the leadership group below LIT held the annual 'Carnivale,' where campers go for junk food, activities, music, dancing, and (hilarious) skits by staff members.  Carnivale is always a lot of fun and is also mandatory.  However, 'Anne' decided she did not want to go.  At all.  Under any circumstances.  Being her LIT, I was supposed to go and supervise her while she waited back in the cabin.  She wasn't enjoying herself there, and I wanted to go to Carnivale, so I figured I may as well talk to her.  Besides, she was on the verge of being sent home, maybe I could help her change her mind.

I don't even remember what we talked about, but after some screaming and then a lot of crying, 'Anne' and I had a really great discussion.  I won't say what about, because that's not my story to tell, but after that we went on down to Carnivale.  With a fresh slate and new state-of-mind, 'Anne' was willing to talk to some of the other campers and take part in a lot of the activities.  After words she said 'thank-you,' and that she had a lot of fun.  The next morning she told me she was going to stay at camp after all.  For the remainder of her stay, she was noticeably happier and was much more cooperative.

Even though we just had an honest and kind conversation, I think 'Anne' realised that her opinions mattered and that people respected her more than she thought (that was a big part of her initial anger).  She enjoyed herself more and decided to stay at camp.  I'm just happy that I was able to improve her night, and then eventual stay at camp.  I don't know what ever happened to her, but I hope I was able to improve her summer over all, and maybe she'll remember that others respect her a lot more than she expects.

RIP Ashlyn Connor ~ Society NEEDS to Change

Update:  I spelled her name wrong, it's Ashlynn, with two N's.  My apologies.

This was not a prompted blog post, however one I feel very passionate about.  I believe it says a lot about modern society, and shows that we must do something about bullying and discrimination in general.

I recently learned that a ten year old girl named Ashlyn Connor was bullied to the point of suicide.  I immediately wrote about it on my Facebook.  There are quite a few typos, since I was very emotional at the time, however I believe it captures the passion I feel towards this issue.

"RIP Ashlyn Connor

A ten year old girl shouldn't be bullied to suicide- I am disgusted right now. Everyone is unique and HUMAN and should try to respect one another and realize the weight of their actions.
I'm going to try and be kinder and more accepting from now on, and I suggest others do as well
Bullying is getting worse, and we need to (and can) change this pattern

"Every one has been talking about a documentary Finding Kind, and I intend to check it out and I suggest others do as well.

Also, look into the charities To Write Love On Her Arms and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, the latter of which isextremely close to my heart. The story of Sophie Lancaster's murder made me cry when I first heard it a few years ago, and the circumstances under which is occurred disgusts me.

As a society we need to change our thinking pertaining to popularity and subcultures. Everyone is amazing. I love everyone, even of I don't like them, because they are all amazingly complex individuals. I don't always show it, but I truly believe it. Also, people should stop saying everyone is 'perfect the way they are'... This is wrong. We are all imperfect, but that is what gives us humanity and an identity. Without it we wouldn't need to develop relationships, we wouldn't experience passion (without which, I believe, we would be truly dead) and there would be little worth living for. It's our IMPERFECTIONS that make us LOVE one another.

I am do saddened to hear about this suicide; RIP, and may your story inspire society to change, even if our revolution begins with only a few individuals. God bless..."

That was all I've posted at the moment, however I've spoken about the Sophie Lancaster case and foundation before.

I can't think of any realistic way to shift society's views, since I'm still extremely devastated, however I know that I can start with myself.

I encourage everyone who reads this to tell their friends and family about it.

RIP Ashlyn, may you never be forgotten...

Interdependence

"We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations, far away... We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, Former US President, 1945

I believe that we cannot survive alone in modern society.  Of course, in theory one could, however it would be a lonely and unfulfilling existence.  Not only does human interaction give us joy and a reason to live (helping others, emotional attachment, etc.), but it greatly improve our way of life.  Think about how easily we, in Canada, can access information, or food and other resources.  Instead of growing your own fruit, own cattle, own everything, we can just stroll on up to the corner store and buy everything we need to live.  We are also so dependent on technology.  Without cooperation and collaboration, we could not be as advanced as we are today.  Everyone contributes to the whole.

Of course, there are downsides to this.  Not only does it seem we need more to survive, since people obviously weren't addicted to Facebook a few hundred years ago and they got by just find (nowadays, things are slightly less plague ridden), but it means we are influenced by everyone.  Since we are so dependent on one another, we are willing to do anything to 'fit in.'  I personally believe 'normalcy' doesn't exist, and we shouldn't change to fit society's image of a 'productive member of society.'  We shouldn't always comply.  Of course, we can't live in complete anarchy.  However, every advancement in society, in art, in science... has come from individuals questioning what we know.

There is a flip side to this: those who are willing to look for deeper meanings and (incoming cliché in 3... 2... 1...) think outside the box are now able to collaborate on the matter.  Everyone can bring their own unique skill set and point of view to the project.  If we recognise that there is room for improvement, and are therefore willing to challenge and change society, while collaborating and working as a global community... society will become the best it's ever been, and we can achieve things previous generations never could've imagined.

To quote one of my favourite films, The Prestige,
"Man's reach exceeds his imagination."