I do agree with Loeb’s quote I think anyone could apply it to everyday life. My main reasons for agreeing that shrinking from the world shrinks your soul are from personal experience. I learn the best when I am involved, and I learn the most meaningful things through other people by simply spending time with them. Being outgoing and open to the world are the best things we can do to expand ourselves and our souls. Sonya Vetra Tinsley is a perfect example of this. Her main goal was to bring people together and bringing these people together also helped her grow as a person. Being involved in this organization allowed her “to meet so many people who inspired me, people I wouldn’t have met in any other way.” This is something that we all should strive for.
One experience that I have expanded myself through is helping with the Race for the Cure. My grandma organizes the Race for my hometown and I helped her every year since I was very young. I was surrounded by and interacted with so many different kinds of people and from each one I took away something new. The Race for the Cure is such an empowering event for the survivors and participants. You see it anywhere you look. Everyone is smiling, being social, and having a great time. They feel like they are on top of the world and can accomplish anything together. Seeing all of them come together for a cause made me also have a sense of empowerment because I knew that I was a part of this amazing event.
There are not very many times that I have stayed silent. I have always felt a responsibility to stand up for the ideas and more importantly the people that I believe in. Overall, I feel that it is worth it to take the risks and try your best to make a difference. However, there are certain situations that I choose not to get involved with. When I am someplace where people are having a emotional discussion about something they believe in and I can tell that they are not open minded and wouldn’t accept my opinion anyways, I don’t speak up. I feel that it would just be a waste of time and that they would bring me down by ganging up on me and refusing my comments. So for the most part I think that it is always a good decision to speak up, unless the other party is not willing to be open to you and your views.
Jessie,
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about the Race for the Cure because it shows that you found something that makes you feel empowered to be involved in the community.
You also stated that you wouldn't want to speak up in a situation where people are having an emotional discussion because they would most likely reject your opinions. Would you stand up after the discussion is over to address the topic again? Or would you just move on to something else and drop the previous issue even when you may not agree?
Amber Wilkinson
I guess it depends on the atmosphere. Sorry that is not a very good answer but when I have encountered these situations and put in my two cents afterward they just shoot me down. So I usually avoid saying anything. Because if they are so biased that they are not willing to consider someone else's opinion its their loss and they will continue to be simple minded.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post! I agree that it all depends on the expieriences you take advantage of in your life. I would really think about putting myself out there if I felt differently about an emotional situation. I've been through a lot and sometimes others opinions (that seem harsh at the time), really make me re-think of my own reasonings for why I feel the way I do. It has really helped me grow as a person and understand who I am. :)
ReplyDelete-Lucy McClearn