Losing Balance

I've always tried to think of life as a pie chart. A percentage of you goes to school, work, etc. All of my pie chart space is full, but I'm forgetting to include one thing--community. In the Bible Jesus said to spread His words and share His love with the world. He wanted us to show compassion to the hurting and feed the hunger, give strength to the weary, and hope for the downhearted. Help your brother; love your enemy. All simple tasks, but for some reason receive little attention from most of us. My pie chart and maybe yours to should be re-evaluated. If even 1% is all that you or I can fit in, then at least we changed 1% of the lives around us.

I love to write songs with my guitar. I only know a few chords, but each time I play them I come up with something different. Music is a very relatable thing and it speaks to so many people. I recently wrote a song called The Journey. It's basically about a girl trying to figure out why she was put on this Earth and if it is possible for her to make a difference.
"She's going to make it, she's takin that step, she's deciding...it may take awhile, but she's prepared cuz God's providin.."
That could give hope to a lot of people, and I think that my lyrics could touch hearts and hopefully inspire someone to make a move.



The silver -lining on a cloud is misleading. I was always told that. I felt like I put a silver-lining around my dreams and because of that, they had no chance of becoming reality. As I grew up, I realized I was wrong. I am the only one that can change my life for the better and nothing is too far out of reach. Engaging in something that you are passionate about is always scary. Someone may sabotage you or obstacle after obstacle may get in your way. If we never get past fear and stay in our comfort-zone, then we end up nowhere. Nothing changes, nothing happens. I thought cynically about me being able to make a difference. I am only one small voice, no one would listen to me. What we all need to grasp is that it starts with one small voice, then one small step and eventually our voice becomes voices, and our steps become leaps. We become part of a bigger picture, and our mental balance is satisfied. That silver-lining is not a hoax. It is a reminder that we can achieve anything with enough heart, passion, and conviction.

My Blessings

I am extremely blessed to have a family and religion that whole-heartedly encourages serving others. I am a part of a small, very tight knit church that is really more of a family than church. Because most of the church members live in my neighborhood, I have always lived in a neighborhood filled with my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who have known my family for generations so it was natural to lend a helping hand to those around me, even without the golden rule and other biblical teachings.

My parents were also very influential in my choosing to do community service. Although they were not involved in structured community service my parents have always been very helpful to everyone they meet; I can't count the number of times my family would put off dinner to do something for a person who was having emotional problems or just needed a tow. To this day my father is constantly spending his free time fixing cars, helping repair roofs and lending a sympathetic ear.

Although I grew up helping others, it was still kind of hard to start community service. I knew it was the right thing to do, and I wanted to do it, but up until I started SLICE the majority of my service was for people I knew. I had a hard time with the thought that I would be spending a potentially large amount of time with people I don't know well. However, I believe I have been given a gift to talk- alot. This does not always seem like a good thing, but that ability has made me quite outgoing and able to befriend others easily which I have found very beneficial. Another talent I have found helpful in my community service is my musical abililty; I have already helped with therapy with a young girl by simply walking alongside her horse and singing to her!

I feel incredibly blessed to have the background I do- it has made this transition to community service very simple. I also am thankful for the talents I have that I can use to make others' lives better. SLICE is a great opportunity to reach out and help others with the things I have been given. :)

my personal reason for involvement

Growing up, my family never really urged me to get involved. They were definitely not very influential in my decision to do so. The last chapter we read about not waiting for the right time to get involved really reminds me of the mindset i grew up surrounded by. My family was always too busy, too financially unstable, etc, etc. The extent of their social concern was sitting in front of the television talking about how terrible some of the stories on the news were. It seemed to me that my family never tried to make a difference because we were just too small to even make an impact. As a result of being surrounded by this type of thinking, I, too, have found myself thinking the same way for many years. Though it was a requirement to do a set amount of hours of community service each year during middle school, I found myself having a rather negative outlook on any involvement I was required to do. I have no doubt that this was a result of the way that I grew up.

My true desire to get involved began somewhere in my later years of high school. At my newer school it was 'cool' to join committees that were designed specifically to help the school run smoother. This was really foreign to me, and when i first started attending the school I had no interest in doing so. One committee that was a really influential part of the school was the friends committee--a group that was assigned little brothers and sisters to sort of mentor during their first few weeks of school. Because my big brother and sister helped me feel so much more comfortable as a new student, I felt it was my duty to eventually do the same for other new students. Later in my stay I joined the friends committee, as well as many others. It was then that I feel I truly realized the value of doing service. Even though I wasn't solving world hunger, I was making an impact on the lives of others, and--in return--was beginning to feel good about myself. My outlook on service really changed during this part of my life.

I think, for me, the biggest influence in my decision to be involved in the community was personally feeling the effects of others doing so. Once I saw that you can really make a difference on your own, I decided that I wanted to try doing so. As far as personal skills that I have that may be helpful to a particular cause, there is nothing specific that I want to focus on the most. I think that, in general, I am a pretty friendly person. I hope that I can use this part of myself to make people feel more comfortable, and to urge more people to get involved. I also think that I have good organizational skills, and I think organization is a key part of any group reaching its fullest potential. If i am able to harness all of these abilities, I think I can make a valuable asset to any socially active group. I think everyone has positive traits that they can harness, as well; and while I know one person can't change the world all by themselves, I now realize that the more people come together, the bigger the impact they will have.

Things Take Time

The old saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" is best used describing the time and patients its takes to make a change. We all have different abilities that add to pieces to the over all goal of the group. Social activism brings out the best of every person, showing us who we really are and what we are best at doing.

In our last class we discussed several reasons why we do not get involved in community service. Time and not recieving an immidiate recognistion seemed to be the biggest barriers in ourlives. This chapter, to me, seemed to be talking about how to over come the barriers and challenges we face. Loeb says, "nothing gets accomplished when we try to do everything at once."

My community involvement has shown me that I have to do things one step at a time and after a while the progress starts to show. I am very involved in my neighborhood block watch, local elementary school, my church, being a full time student, and now being involved in slice. Just last night, at GCC, I was attending a guest speaker, whom I found very interesting. Unfortunitely, like the rest of my day, I had somewhere to be in the middle of it. I felt ashamed to have to leave early because I felt I was being rude. My biggest challenge is time, since, I always have somewere to be and something to do.

Luckily, my community involvement has shown me that I am a strong and understanding person. I feel being able to understand and comprehend the problems someone is going through and the struggles we all face is what will keep me involved in my community. My Christian background has encouraged me to keep my faith strong and no matter what anyone says I am me. In my high school we pulled together an event called "I Am Moon Valley," it demonstrated we are a one community and together is how we will make a difference.

The things I have done in my life have had more of an affect on me when I see the people I helped. The change took time, but the wait was well worth it when someone's life was changed for the best. Its hard to imagine that I made a difference, no matter how little, by managing my time and being around other leaders.

Giving back to Those Who Gave to Me

I am in the Teens group where we help teens that have no real outside help or direction except for the small amount provided by volunteer groups like SLICE. I developed a great value for citizens who give back to their communities at a very young age. I have been on the other side of the rope where my family and I were in dire need of outside assistance. Groups like SLICE helped build a stable foundation for my family and I. Today, my family and I are very well off. Through the help of others, my mother was able to obtain her Master's degree as a single mother of two young children.

I am very grateful for the success of my family and for the opportunity to create my own personal success stories. I believe that if I had simply been born into the success that my family possesses today, I would not be nearly as appreciative as I am today. This experience of struggle in the first few years of my life provided me with another perspective on life. I realized early in life that nothing is handed to you. Everything that you want will only arrive through hard work, but I also learned that it is okay to ask for help along the way. There are so many people who are willing to help if you look in the right places.

So, personally, I think my religion, community and family have all contributed equally and positively towards the importance of social activism. They have all taught me that it is not only humane to aid others in their time of need, but also a necessary in today's society.

As far as what I have to offer to the world, I believe that I am a great leader. Even in a simple group project at work, I tend to take charge. I can also be a pretty good follower. When there is someone who obviously knows more or is more experienced with the task at hand, I can take a step back from a leadership position to learn from them. I enjoy learning new things and teaching others things that they never knew. I feel like I am a team player. I can play any position, just tell me where to stand and in any organization, group, or cause, I can be valuable.

Shades of Gray

Morality is a strange concept. It Implies that there is always a good and evil, a black and white, a Batman and Joker. Yet if we think logically about it, we understand that there are shades of gray in all of our lives. We can't all be saints all the time, nor are we sinners for life (regardless of what some religions say). Humans are born neutral, and by the time they die, their morality and values can change a thousand times. So what makes us want to improve the world, even sometimes at the cost of ourselves. What motivates a rich corporate C.E.O. to take an 8 figure bonus check from a failing company that just laid off 25% of it's workforce. Nothing is ever as clear as we would like it to be, but some factors definitely work into the moral equation.
A persons background in life like your community and family relationships will always take a big role in their desicions. Looking at the Ghettos and Barrios we hear about (and may live in ourselves), its no wonder they're swarming with gang violence and crime. They live in a community that the only way to survive is to look out for number 1, everyone else is an after thought. In that kind of enviroment, there is no motivation for charity or even common human decency sometimes. But even out of these dark places in society, some good does come, somebody looking to be better then what life gave them, and hoping to improve the lives of others as well. These people may not be educated or have any obvious skill or ability that sets them apart from the rest, but with social work and a determination, they can find something.

Eeny Meeny Miny Mo

"You are such a great role model," says Kimi Butler. Kimi has at least five years on me so I find myself always going to advice from her until the day that she called me asking for advice. I was taken aback because she was the one looking for the guidance this time when I never thought it would happen. I always dubbed her as my role model and not me as hers, so it was a slight change of direction when she began to lift my actions up. She showed the areas of my life that were an inspiration for her. For example, my compassion for others and outgoing personality.

I want to implement these characteristics in my everyday life because I feel that when others are comfortable it makes them more open to learning and change. For example, when playing with the children at the church preschool will make them have fun and more apt to learn. I find the same to be true with young adults because the atmosphere is one where everybody is honest yet nurturing.

Eeny meeny miny mo.

I found that when I was in high school I had a group of friends that didn't support my leadership skills and opportunities. I was spending the majority of my time deciding between being a part of the community or changing the community I live in. If I chose to make a change in my community, I would be alone but if I went to blend in I would be in the majority. It was a difficult choice until I realized that I needed to be the leader of my own thoughts and opinions.

I found that I still have a difficult choice sometimes but the more supportive my friends are, the more empowered I am to get involved.

Change in family values.

Growing up I never had anyone teach me the importance of community service. Frankly, until I was seventeen I didn't know what it was. I had heard about people doing it, but I thought it was for serious troublemakers and the extremists. I didn't think I had anything extreme to protest or change that wasn't already in progress. My family and the different communities I grew up in were apathetic towards anything outside their general cocoons. The only time my mother even suggested volunteering was so that I could get an insiders look on a career. I never learned to place importance on community service until I was in the HUM190 class with Sherry, Paula and her husband Dr. Vaugn. It was there that Paula introduced service learning to me. It was difficult to say the least finding the significance in the little community service that we did. I though that it was difficult because as Loeb said I was "beyond my comfort zone". I didn't like anything beyond my bubble of exsistence, but after HUM190 I realized I was apart of a bigger bubble.

Then I was convinced to do S.L.I.C.E where I thought it was going to be the most challenging experience I had ever faced. In reality it hasn't been. It hasn't been nearly as challenging as what some of the poeple experienced in the Soul of a Citizen. Once I read chapter 3 though, I understood that everything doesn't have to be a challenge, that I am taking steps towards a bigger challenge. Change.

I have found since being in this class that I value my ability to be understanding. I have told Austin this, but I like to take the philosophy of the "golden rule" (treat others the way you want to be treated) and instead of the word treat I put understand. Understand others the way you want to be understood. I try not to make judgements and or jump to conclusions. I think that this is an important skill for any cause that I would take part in.

Our Atmosphere Effects Us

“If we convince ourselves that nothing can change, we don’t have to risk acting on our dreams.” When I was living in Iraq, during the war, knowing that the circumstances would not change, or if change happened, it would be to the worse. It depressed my life as a whole. It discouraged me to continue studying and it discourage me to have a roll in the society. I remember that some clubs and organization encouraged on doing community service work, but people hold back. They don’t care, and they only worry if they’re going to make it alive up to tomorrow. Moreover, if I asked a person to come and help me work on a project that benefits our community, he or she would give me this respond: “I’m just a person that wants to live his life peacefully.” Almost everyone was desperate by the war, which caused them to give up.
I also have been through so many situations where sometimes my family would tell me, “So, you think you can do it? You think you can change the world by yourself?” That would reminds me how much small I am comparing to the world. Loeb is reflecting very good points and it’s very true, but sometimes reality forces us to convince ourselves to say we cannot do anything to change the state of affairs. And while I’m living in United States, I noticed how most people and committees admire community services. It surprised me and made me realize that our atmosphere might sometimes have an effect on our outcomes. This new atmosphere strengthened my thoughts toward reaching my dreams by having a position in our community no matter what obstacles or cynicism I will face. I think that I took my first real step towards helping the community when I joined slice; so, this program is causing every one of us to take a step forward and to make a change. :)

Be The Miracle

For many years I woke up to a world that never changed, a world that I had little control over, except maybe what to eat. I spent my youth watching others grow up and accomplish feats I had just yet dreamed of. One minor detail that I most likely always observed was that these people I looked up to made their accomplishments look so easy. However as I grew up I quickly realized even a small obstacle contained difficulties.
Believe it or not I was once extremely quiet and shy little boy. My parents believed in me and told me that one day I could do anything and taught me the difference between right and wrong. They showed me most importantly how to be a good catholic and all the invaluable lessons I could learn from god. At church they told me pretty much the same stuff that my parents did and said that we were capable of changing the world around us by serving god. I grew up in a community that really kept to itself, although I was raised in a large neighborhood I to this day know but a few of my neighbors. Even though I was told my entire life that I could help change the world, no one ever showed me how. I knew how to be a good person but a good citizen not so much. Change is preached, written, sung but not accepted. Everyone wants change but does not know it when they see it. The world has grown so far astray from trusting one another that everyone is looked at as an enemy. This is one of the reasons I participate in social activism and believe it is of the upmost importance. I want to help teach people that they can trust again and that anyone can help make a change. So many people desire to make a change but are scared of all that comes along with it. By doing what I do I hope to help demolish this fear and show others it is not that hard and the first step is the biggest one. I try to be a good leader and do my best to lead by example. One strength of mine is I’m personable and easy to talk to. This makes it easy to get to know others and help others know me. I can also be somewhat loud which is a strength in my opinion but could (in my case) go either way. All these attributes are qualities I hope to use to show others that anyone can help change the world and make a difference. Because I am not perfect in any way but the beauty is that you don’t have to.
After reading this chapter I thought long and hard about the obstacles surrounding us from getting socially active. Following this thought process I realized something, that it was not other outside forces creating these barriers but myself. I realized that I made the choice to help others, that I must be the positive change in my community and family, that I must be the miracle that everyone is looking for.

"If we convince ourselves that nothing can change, we don't have to risk acting on our dreams." To be honest this concept has affected me very much. It is easy to find an excuse not to do something. “I’ll do it next week.” “I should be looking for a recycle bin… oh well, it’s just one cup.” “Tomorrow I’ll start with a 7 minutes shower, a few minutes longer today won’t kill anyone.” That concept of “just a little is not going to matter” happens because some of us don’t think in terms of adding another piece to the puzzle and slowly solving problems. Those of us only concentrate on solving problems with instant gratification, not working toward a long-term goal. There is a saying in my native tongue that says “De grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo” its literal translation is confusing in English, but it metaphorically means little by little we contribute to a better tomorrow, even if we can’t see the results right away.

Before I had gotten involved with SLICE, I always thought of how great it would be to help do something that matters; however, I just never found the “time” to do so. Today I see that I should not have seen it as time, but as habit. Modifying our daily routine to help a cause you believe in does not take much time at all when it is so fulfilling. It is never too late to start. I’m happy I did at 26, instead of never, and I’ve been encouraging my younger brother to start now (he just turned 13). I only wish I had started earlier.

Always on my mind....

When I think about things that have held me back from getting involved in social causes, I have to say that time has always been a big issue for me. I began my adult life at very young age. At that time, I had to juggle the normal insecurities of an adolescent, the responsibility of a teenage pregnancy and the challenge of getting married and creating a family at 15 years old. Raising my children and becoming financially stable were my priorities at the time. They were not easy tasks to accomplish, so setting extra time aside wasn't an option.

I was raised in a society in where social involvement wasn't promoted or encouraged. A society where indifference for other people's suffering was part of normal life. However, I didn't want to follow this path, and being part of a social cause was always something in the back of my mind. I didn't know how to start, so I decided to follow the old saying "Charity begins at home". I evaluated myself and started by helping people close to me. I figured that the family is the back bone of society, so we should help first the people we love in order to form a healthy family environment. Working with my family was a great opportunity to begin. We worked together and established an awesome team, one which trusted and helped each member.

Shortly, I found friends who shared the same values as well as the desire to help each other. I was always there for them when they needed me and they were always there for me. We raised our children together and formed a lifelong bond of friendship.

Later, I felt that I was ready to go to the next level. Moving to the United States gave me the opportunity to identify with social causes involving the Hispanic community. Working with immigrants and helping them cope with the struggles of adapting to their new society was always something I thought I might like to do.

Earning a bachelor's degree has also been one of my dreams. I always thought that the best way to teach is by example, and it didn't feel right for me to tell my kids to study, or to advise people from my community to go back to school and learn English if I wasn't "walking the walk".

It wasn't until I began my academic career at PVCC, that I finally discovered a way to apply community service in a meaningful way. As part of SLICE, I can explore different ways to help not only my community but other worthwhile causes as well.

Loeb mentions the adage "We can't run without first learning how to walk, and we can't walk without first learning how to crawl". I feel that I have developed the sense of service in the same way; one step at a time. However, everyone has different life experiences which mark us in different ways. In my case, I had to deal with my own personal life issues.

At the moment, I haven't found my niche where I can help out the most. I could advise teenagers about teen pregnancy and its consequences, or I could help immigrants adapt to their new society. For now, I'm still exploring, and I am willing to do everything necessary to make a change. Being part of SLICE gives me the chance to find my calling.

I Love You, Mom

Role models are the most important people that influence us in our lives. I have learned the most about making a difference from my mom. She is a single mom with two daughters and still managed to get a college education and a great job. She taught me that you can do anything you set your mind to and that women can do anything that men can do. I also learned a lot about getting involved from my grandma. She is the Director of Volunteer Services at Ottumwa Regional Hospital. Her work makes a huge difference in the community. The volunteers at the hospital save millions of dollars each year. Helping at the Holiday Happenings every year opened my eyes to how important volunteers are! Aside from these two amazing role models, I have a big family and they all serve as my never-ending support system. Every day I get home from volunteering I call one of my family members and talk their ear off about what I accomplished and what I learned that day. They are always as excited as I am and are proud of me for my accomplishments. Their encouragement helps me tremendously and compels me to do more to make a difference. I am so lucky to have such a great family that has taught me so many valuable lessons. Alison Smith, from the book, said that because of her tight-knit family and religious background she already possessed the ethics and morals she needed to become a leader and make a difference. I feel like I can accomplish a lot over my lifetime because of the important messages my family has instilled in me.

The abilities that I have that I can contribute to social activism tie in with the values I have obtained through my family. They have taught me to be hardworking, determined, a good leader, organized, and a people person. Determination is the main thing that keeps me going. I love making a difference in people’s lives. When we go to a service site, they have jobs that we can do for that day. I want to finish them so they see how hard we are willing to work to help them get the job done. And it’s not so bad to see the finished product! One other characteristic of mine is being an animal lover and going to school to achieve one of my life goals of becoming a vet. Sounds off subject, but I think it is an important trait of mine. This trait adds compassion, a loving and caring instinct, and a sense of responsibility to heal to my skills. I have confidence that I can make a difference in the world with the skills I have, whether it’s helping endangered species or helping with the conservation of water.

Making My Life Count

My parents separated at an early age, so I saw both sides of the rich and the poor. My mother is a paralegal with two Bachelor's Degrees, while my dad dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue a career as a rock and roll musician. Once the 80's hair bands started to decay and they started a family, he quit his legendary band and he, unfortuantely, did not have a fall back plan. When my parents split, My brother and I spent the weekdays with my mother at her large abode in Scottsdale. On the weekends, we stayed with our dad, who was squating in our grandma's garage in south Phoenix. My brother and I received a first-hand experience of the difference between the rich and the poor. My mother always told before school, "Be good and get good grades so you don't end up like your father". Not the nicest thing to tell your 7 and 5 year old children. My dad said basically the same thing except more inspiring. He told me after every report card I gave him, "I know you can be the best; you can be the first Roberts to graduate college". I was pumped for a while, then the teenage angst started to stir up inside. I felt unimportant and useless as another 14 year old girl starting high school, preparing to start the rest of her life. My whole family on my dad's side either did not graduate or dropped out of high school, so how was I going to be any different?

Jim Wallis said, "I realized that for most Americans who are white and middle class, it isn't a whole generation of 'us' that is being lost. Rather, it is 'them'. And we tell them what we think of them in clear messages every day: they aren't important, they don't count, they don't exist". If I graduated college, I would be just like every other white middle class person with a degree. I am pushing those thoughts aside and striving to be better than just barely passing. Trying to be important, making my life count, and let people know I exist. I no longer think that there is no point on trying to change, I refuse to settle with society's standards.

Journey of a Thousand Miles.

People have various reasons for not "getting involved" or not volunteering. I have school, work and other "adult" responsibilites that could have made me one of those people.We all have different priorities; most of my friends tell me that they have a life. Well i have one too; the difference is I care about what is going on in my society while all they care about is their social life. One day they will look back and ask themselves if they made a difference. I will look back and know I did.

Reading the chapter of One Step at a Time made me a little upset. It talked about people who began doing community service since they were in elementary school and how now in their twenties they are making a huge difference in their communitites. It made me wish I had started earlier but as I kept reading the chapter Loeb clarified that it didn't matter at what age you started making a difference; the point is that you made one. I feel like now that I'm part of SLICE I am making a difference and I am starting to view aspects of my life differently.

I just turned 22 and I feel like I'm barely starting to crawl in the volunteering world but I know that soon enough I will take my huge first step. I do believe that with my personality and my passion for caring for people I will succeed. I know now, by reading Loeb's book, that it's ok to feel unprepared. You just have to expand yourself from your boundries to find out what kind of person you can be. "Step out on nothing, hoping to land on something". We have to put ourselves out there even if we are afraid of failing, failure is just another stumble on are way to the top.

One Step At A Time.

I feel what holds me back the most from helping out around my community and reaching out to others is my own issues. I feel as though i take on my own roles and responsibilites to a higher extend than they need to be, i feel as though if i took a little less stress of my life, i.e. school, work, homework, or even just laying around because I dont want to do anything pulls me away from what i could be giving to the community. School is a major part of my life and i feel as though if i put alittle pit more time management into it every day i would be open to do more things. Work is another thing that holds me back from alot, when i am not at school i am working, and I am grateful to be one who at this young is not dependent on the week by week pay check. However, i run around like a chicken with my head cut off to do what i need to do for school and work. If i took the time out of my day to just slow down and relax i would be willing to give back to my community. Most of us feel that we need to do everything for ourselves before we reach out and help others and to an extent that is good, but we must know that if we help others along the way it will benefit us in the long run. In my community i feel that my neighbors as well as my family is not involved in much, the simplest things like cleaning up the park, or giving back to less fortunate is not on any ways TOP PRIORITY LISTS. However one person can do alot to change something so little and i feel like us as SLICE can help make that come true. we may not be a huge organization who knocks on everyones door or cleans up every park around town, but we do make a difference in more than one way. LITTLE BY LITTLE,ONE STEP AT A TIME.

In order to help out and take that first step, one has to find what their abilites are as a person and how they can benefit other people. A few abilites i think i have is that i am a good communicater, i can listen to others, as well as i am very open minded when it comes to change and making a difference. I will admit I have not perfected these abilites nor do think i ever will. However within time and with the people i meet along the way each one of these abilites will strengthen.

On a final note, i was reading Soul of a Citzen i was realizing that the people in the book were not looking for fame or being the most popular. They were looking to make and difference and stand up for what they believe in. I feel as a group such as SLICE we have all grown so close together in such a short time, and nobody judges each other on, races,culture,gender, how much money you have, how you were raised, and so on. We all came in opened minded with a positive attitude ready to take on a powerful journey and few it from multiple different points of view.

Held Back?

Many times we get involved in our own lives and many things can hold us back from helping others. For me it can be things like work, school, and our own interests. However, nothing holds us back more than ourselves. Like Leob says, "success is unlikely if we fail to develop the will to change." Many times we make excuses or are too afraid to "step out of our comfort zone." Sometimes our fear of steping out comes from the size of what we think we have to accomplish. Ive gained knowledge from many sources, including from Leob, that small steps are the best way to takle big projects. Many times in school I would get huge porjects and I would be overehelmed and feel like theres a weight on my back. But I learned to take that weight and break it down piece by piece. Finally, I learnd from my faith. Jesus once said that a person who was impoverished and gave what little she could to people gave more than all those rich people who gave large amounts. This shows us that even if we do what little we can we still can help others out. As far as what I do to help people I dont often work at what im good at. When I help out at royal rangers I was never a leader as a kid when I was in there but I wished to develop that skill. Most of the time I don't help others with my skills but I help them and in turn learn new skills of my own. However, I think that the one skill i have that helps others is perseverence. I help, even if i don't completely know how, and I won't give up until I have accomplished that goal!

Ready, Set, SPEAK

I believe that the media can be blamed a substantial amount for the disbelief of a single person having an influence in closing the gap that divides the rich and the poor. The media does not want to show the reality of American life because of the nation's image of being the land of opportunities. By hiding or even forgetting about a problem, it never gets solved. I think Loeb is sharing the success stories in reassurance of how one can make a difference. He is saying there needs to be more Allison Smith's in the office, community centers, or schools standing up " red-faced, hesitant, and [at the time being] embarressed," because Allison Smith was the only one who spoke her opinion. Her story was a prime example of the magnitude a single soul can have on the world. She didn't let herself be her biggest critic because she took the risk and jumped at letting her voice be heard.


A life without being able to listen or have a voice may seem like a Hallelujah moment for any husband, but time would be at a stand still. Everyone has an opinion and it should be heard. I relate to this from my own story from the recent Presidental Election. I was having dinner with both my sisters and their boyfriends as well as my father and step mother. I was finally of age to vote and was enthusiastic for waiting in the what should be dreadful line, but I didn't care because I was given the right to choose who I wanted my next president to be. As we were talking lightly about politics, I found out that I was the only one in the room who registered to vote. It completely shocked me. Everyone of my family members and significant others did not take advantage of their inner voice. My sisters (like in the previous blog) think that my efforts will not be substantial, but what they don't realize the impact community service has had on me. I always say I feel so selfish because I love being involved in community service because of all it gives back to me. I take so much away from it that I know will help me in my future

Making History not Small Talk

The dusty covers, the dog-eared pages, and hardbound spine of history books is where our society sleeps. Within the comfortable confines of history is where we keep our noses. Sure we live in the present, but that existence is mainly limited to the daily routines and habits that we are so familiar with. Our families and friends encourage inspecting the great changes and leaders of the past, but rarely encourage us to get out and make history! Our society has created a mutual feeling of admiration towards social change and activism, but we all look at one another asking, "who's going to be the brave one to go first!" No one wants to take that first leap, for fear of falling on their face in front of everyone.
The first step is to toe the line, come to the edge of action, where realization of the need for action is crystal clear. The next step is well, a step! A tiny-baby step. Several things can reassure us as we make our steps towards change and betterment. The first is that the steps, no matter how big or small, will reach an end. Henry Ford once said, "There are no big problems, there are just a lot of little problems." Another thing to comfort us is the fact that we have the skills to take each step. Our abilities will allow us to do our part, in our own special way. We can not only use our skills alone, but combine them with the unique abilities of others to cooperatively help a cause.
Of the many obstacles that stand between us and reaching out, fear is the one that stands out most prominently. Even though the people who are closest to us may be part of these obstacles, we can rely on our skills and good intentions to help guide each and every step we take. Ford also said, " the only history that is worth a tinker's dam is the history we made today." Lets shut the history book. Class dismissed, lets get out there.

Turn on. Tune in. Drop out.

Throughout my life my mom and dad have pushed me to learn new things and discover my talents. Piano, guitar, and drum lessons helped me develop my creative side and playing sports has helped me develop endurance. I was never encouraged to be active in social change, or community service, because my parents were living with the cynicism that Loeb talks about. I never really became active in service until starting college. I receive most of my motivation and discover new opportunities thanks to the faculty and advisors at school. Since taking the Emerging Leaders class at SCC I have been continually joining new causes and trying to help others any way I can. College has opened me up to a new set of skills I never knew i had. I have been told by my peers that I have the "gift of gab." Since being told that, I have explored new career posibilities, as well as developed a confidence when speaking in public. Fear of change will cloud my future and put me on a path of destruction. I do not want to live a life where I repeat the same routine. Social activism, a clear opinion, and a heart set on change will allow me to make a difference in this world.

I believe the amount of cynicism in this world is growing to the point of complete social detachment. It seems today that most Americans spend their lives sheltered between their job security and homelife, turning on the news to absorb the violence and corrupt politics that this country harbors as commonplace. It seems the poor are only getting poorer and the rich are becoming the super rich. When Loeb discussed the fact that the top one percent of the world are wealthier than the bottom 95% combined, it made me so sick I almost threw up on the eliptical machine at the gym. The media isn't promoting social change, like Loeb said, they are only downsizing the accomplishments of social activists and exploiting the failures of those who try. I am a strong believer in the power of intention and if we don't intend on changing anything, or don't believe we can, nothing will. We can't make a difference in the world if we don't believe in ourselves. It's the encouragement received from others while performing social service that helps me realize my own potential and the potential we have as a whole.

Passions of the Past

I do believe that how you are raised nad the situations you find yourself in in life has an influence on the importance you place on getting involved in the community. I was raised in an extremely poor household. It was everything my mother could do to make sure we could eat and had clothes to wear to school. This situation had definite influences on how I viewed the world growing up.

Most people would believe that this background would make me more apt to go out and want to make a difference in the world and especially for those in need. On the contrary however, the years of struggle did the opposite. I was so used to watching my mother work so hard just to keep us above water that I gained a very self-centered view on the world. It was all about getting and staying ahead myself and fighting that fear of ever being in that situation again. I didn't look at how others struggled only how I was managing my life. I didn't believe it was important to get involved for the community because I never put my head up from the grind long enough to even notice them.
This all changed eventually for me when I began getting involved in the education system. I really think that as the book points out getting involved is the greatest motivator of all. Once you go out there and feel what it's like to work towards making a difference the more you want to do it.

One advantage (or skill) I had once I did finally get involved was my ability through my experiences to put myself on the other side of things. I know exactly what it feels like to never have anything new, even anything that fits. I know what it's like to stay home alone when you are way too young to be left that way because a babysitter is just too expensive.
So while my past kept me from getting involved earlier in life it has left me with definite skills and passions to work with and the ability to put myself in others shoes. I feel strongly about education for the underpriviledged and giving them an equal opprotunity. I believe that we do a disservice to our english language learning children because many times we look at them as a problem and don't see the potential in them. I know that all children should be given the opportunity to grow and become. It is the only way we can break the cycles of poverty that many today live in. These are just some of the passions that I bring with me into the community and fight to fix.
What other skills do I have to use in this arena? I have years of mangement background which helps me see a problem and think through steps to a solution. I bring an ability to communicate and well work with others. Most of all I have a passion for the community. As it said in the first couple chapters of our book it's not as much about what you say, it's about the passion that you speak with.

Risk

Social norms have always impacted the way humans live their life. If society discourages us from getting involved in social activism, we do so, so as not to be considered someone who strays from normalcy. But how is ignoring what is going on around you considered to be normalcy? Just like the previous chapter said, if we are not homeless then we will ignore the fact that someone else is homeless. We become more and more self-centered each and every day. We distance ourselves from the suffering of others because we would rather believe that it is their fault they are homeless or that at least it isn't me. As long as we are complacent, why bother caring about others? This is the mentality that is diminishing the hope and desire to help others for the few who care in society. Through America's cynicism we are convinced that no matter what we do we will not make a difference.

Not getting involved could be compared to self-destructive behavior in my opinion. Standing back and watching is just as destructive as ignoring what is happening and becoming detached. We must not be afraid to take that extra step and try to be the difference we want to see in the world. We are too scared to take risks so we wait for someone else to say something and if they don't then we just go along with our life. We are becoming too comfortable in this self-consuming life style. Why don't we take the risks to be what we want if we are so self-consumed?

I don't understand why we don't want to take risks and act on our dreams. Why not do what we are passionate about? It is hard to see that society can have that big of an impact on people. It has affected me because when people say you can't do something you eventually start to believe them. But I am a person who does not like to give up. Soccer has made me competitive and strong both mentally and physically and I will achieve my dreams and I will do what I love because I will not let someone else be in charge of where my life is going. I love to give to others and can't imagine not being in S.L.I.C.E. now that I am in the program. Many things keep us from getting involved in helping, but don't let those things be other people or your embarrassment to get out there and help.

It is absolutely shocking and overwhelming to read the statistics of the gap between the rich and the poor, the chances of overcoming poverty, the amount of prison mates we have here in America, and looking at this as a comparison to other countries. What happened to the so called "American Dream" or did that ever truly exist. We all hide behind a facade trying to escape reality. However, this is what is causing the problems to become more and more chaotic, almost to the point of not being able to change. Once again there is the negative mentality that we have gone too far to try and change now. If anything by turning all the negativity into positive energy we may be able to change people's outlooks. We need to start now and make changes before it ultimately is too late.

Backwardness

I think this chapter goes back to what we talked about in class a little bit. I feel like we pretty much covered in class, at least for me, the main reasons why I haven't gotten involved in the community in the past. I know for me, currently it's the lack of time. Like I said on my previous post, it's pretty easy to get wrapped up in your own life, your own schedule and forget about everything else. I feel like I do that a lot, especially now being in college and trying to balance social life, homework, work, etc. Also, another big part of the reason I wouldn't/don't get involved a lot of times is because of the ridicule one gets from wanting to be more active in the community. Right now I'm pretty involved in the community... I do a lot of stuff with PTK, am obviously in SLICE, and i volunteer at my church frequently. But as I've been trying to manage my time better and do everything I want to do, I don't feel supported... My friends and family don't ever comment on any of the stuff I do besides "you never hang out with us anymore", "you're always busy", or ask "why are you doing all of that".. I feel like I don't get any encouragement from them. Thankfully I've been plugged in with an awesome, awesome group in SLICE and i'm seriously so happy and thankful to be with a group who do want to make and see a change in this world. I definitely feel encouraged and capable in what i'm doing just by hanging out with this awesome group of people.

The funny thing to me is that I do come from a Christian background... most of my friends are Christian.. and it's part of our faith to have a vision to "love others" and reach out. That message and the fact that i lived next door to slums as a child (and have seen so much poverty.. so much brokenness) have made me want to get involved. It has been through the influence of the churches i've attended that i've gotten a heart for service. So to be honest it's actually kind of backwards! I should be getting full support from them... but am not. Sad, but just like you and I get pushed away from getting involved because of different reasons (i.e. scheduling, not knowing where to get involved, lack of motivation) they do too, and just like us, my friends and family lose sight of community involvement and shy away. But through SLICE I'm super excited for them (my friends and family) to maybe see that our involvement in the community is very important and we shouldn't let anything keep us from getting involved. I hope that they see a change in me as I go through this program, and a change in our community and get involved too! I hope that I can help somehow revive the message I know they've heard about the importance of community involvement and that it'll spark a change in their attitudes.

I'm definitely a good talker. I talk and talk... and talk. I'm pretty good with computers, not the best but I think I know more than the average person... I'm developing some leadership skills for sure... I think with all these abilities I have the capability of teaching English, or teaching someone computer stuff..But especially English because I had to learn the language myself and I still help my mom, dad and cousins with it on occasion (and am still learning the fine details myself). It's actually kind of hard for me to specify any more than that because I don't think I've found my "niche" yet as the book refers to it. But I am looking, and I'm applying all these abilities and some other developing ones to everything I do and am definitely trying to figure out what I'm best at. I'm excited that I get to test some of these abilities out and learn more about myself through SLICE!

Cyniscism... our friend or foe?

The longer we live in this world, we don't realize the impact that our actions and non-actions make. It is basically the attitude of each individual that leads us into the betterment or disaster of our society. Education, gender, religion, ethnic background, economic status, sexual preferment it's merely a fact. A fact, that in certain circumstances we pay far too much attention to. This blinds us from what really is important. Cynicism is our friend and foe today, not other human beings whose color, education, or economic status prevents us from caring for them and vice versa. It is usually seen now a days that caring is abnormal, that individual autonomy is far more important. Cynicism convinces us that there's no point in getting involved, that every person is for sale, that all our motives are debased. We have generalized all the betrayals and failures into thinking that there is no hope. When we try to understand how we got to such tragic assumptions, we only need to look at ourselves and realize that we have become realists, who accept any situation without ever thinking it it's moral, if it's right.

Back then, being a cynic meant to stand up for one's convictions; however, throughout the years we have changed its meaning and now its commonly seen as a negative attitude towards something good. How cynical is that? The fact that we have migrated to such terms where our feelings, opinions don't count anymore it's tragically. This idea is affecting our families, friends, us. How can we believe in something that many others forcefully try to deny? Are we wrong, or simply blind? Should we follow up or make our own path? This is a basic question that we must ask ourselves every day. If we really want to see a change, we must be the change we want to see.

The Odd One Out

In the past many factors have limited me from becoming involved in my community. At home my family claimed the neutral position, and was indifferent to the activities I was involved in. They said what I was doing was good, but would shy away when I asked them to get out there with me which left me unmotivated. The biggest reason I never became involved was that my peers gave off a negative attitude towards social activism. One weekend I asked them if they wanted to work at the food bank they literally responded, "Why would you do that? You're crazy." Sometimes that left me feeling like the red man in the picture above. Why even try if no one in your personal life is going to support you. Luckily I found the right group of people that supported what I did, and even joined me at church my junior year in high school. They really cared about issues in our immediate area and were open to help. Some of the skills that I have to offer are my work ethic, decent communication skills, and that I am technologically apt. Through networking I have found used computers that can be donated to refugees from Catholic Social Services. I can also teach the refugees how to use these computers.


The concept of, "If we convince ourselves that nothing can change, we don't have to risk acting on our dreams." is so true in our society. It's a matter of why even try if I might not make a difference? This concept is instilled in us in subtle ways throughout our lives (i.e. the news, peers, culture) and effectively leads to many not making an attempt to become involved. It has stopped me many times, but one of my coaches in wrestling early on would always say, "the defeats are only a step towards success." If we were to view social activism like this, even ineffective attempts at becoming involved would be bveneficial to making a positive change.

Reflection Questions: Chapters 3 & 4

CHAPTER 3: ONE STEP AT A TIME

This chapter looks at what in our lives has held us back from social activism and also what encourages us to try to get socially involved. Think about the messages you got from your community, your family, and your religion (if you have one) about the importance or unimportance of getting involved in trying to make the world a better place. Discuss these messages. The chapter also talks about how each of us has particular abilities that we enjoy doing that we can use in social activism, such as artistic talent, writing abilities, leadership skills, being a good talker, etc. What abilities or skills do you have or parts of yourself that you might be able to use to help a particular cause?

CHAPTER 4: THE CYNICAL SMIRK

Loeb talks about how the cynicism of our society encourages us to distance ourselves from the suffering of others; how the gap between rich and poor in this country has widened substantially, and how we use cynicism to convince ourselves that there's no point in getting involved. "If we convince ourselves that nothing can change, we don't have to risk acting on our dreams." How has this concept affected you?

One of my best friends Isaac has known me since Freshman year. We both lived in Queen Creek, we both had transitioning parental figures because of our moms, and we both had siblings and were the eldest. We look alike, we have the same interests for the most part, and I treat him like a brother. He moved in with me his senior year and my junior year. We had to share a room, so it was cramped, but we really knew each other and could understand what was going on in each other’s life.
He is loud, one of those people that likes to raise the level of his voice when he gets excited, and it doesn’t ever lower until you get fed up with it and say, “dude, SHHHHHHHHH!!!” His character is really friendly, making himself at home anywhere; polite enough to not be rude, but eccentric enough that his personality usually gets the better of you and you just end up accepting him.
His personality was the polar opposite of mine. I was quite reserved, and full-heartily okay with that. I didn’t like contact with others and I don’t like letting people in to know me. Isaac describes me to people, especially when I had one of my first serious long-term girlfriends, that it was like I had a impenetrable wall surrounding my heart and soul. I didn’t let people in. You could pry and pry, but even if you managed to force an entrance, you just realized that there was another wall.
This always bugged me, not because it seemed sort of harsh, but because it was true. I have always been like that. Maybe its from life experiences that forced that, or maybe it’s the way I chose to adapt, I don’t know. What I do know, is that this was a large part of my character that made me unable to associate with others. I didn’t want to, and I wouldn’t let them in.
When Loeb writes that “when we shrink from the world, our souls shrink too,” I think that isn’t necessarily right in context. My soul didn’t shrink, I just put of these barriers like Isaac described. People do this all the time. Its like having blinders on your eyes to where you can only see a pinpoint of light. If that light is there, and nothing else, that’s all you can see, not all that is there. I think the biggest eye-opening experiences tied to this for me was the fact I was forced to change and to alter my perceptions. One of the best things that helped me do this was becoming involved, not because I had too, but because I realized if I ever wanted my walls to become a bit more flexible, I needed to see what I could do to be out there helping others.
I try to live each day finding a new route in what I wish to see in myself. I know that I still have a steel trap of a heart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see what is going on around me. Isaac has visited me recently and we have had discussions about my walls. He is so surprised about my changes these past two years that I seem to be a completely different person, for the better. He likes that I can talk to him about my feelings, even if they are sparse, because that was something I would never have done before. I find each day a challenge, but something I need to accept and adapt with, not remain shelled away and reluctant to explore.

I think that this ties directly with how Loeb mentions MLK getting a “C” in philosophy. In fact, I think its sort of a joke that it is mentioned at all. Who is to say that you have to be perfect to be a leader? Who says you need straight “A’s” to change the world? If grading were important in life, we would all be under a monarchy. Remember that your grades only count in the educational environment and that no one can know everything at all times, hell Einstein didn’t even graduate. We dwell too much on these little things that supposedly make up a leader, when it takes the courage to let down your walls and just accept that you need to do what is right for you, before you try to help others. Self-respect is more important that trying to respect others. Do you think MLK thought he was a puny man as he spoke to crowds of onlookers? Confidence can go a long way in just assuring that you follow through with your beliefs. In the end, it doesn’t matter how much you tried to impress others, but that you are surprised about what you have found about yourself.

-Jeremy

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world"

I completely agree with Loeb's quote because I've known people who have put off getting involved for that precise reason. In some cases I do believe people are concerned about whether or not they know enough about the cause to get involved or they feel overwhelmed because it is such a complex issue. "We can't imagine how an ordinary human being with ordinary flaws might make a critical difference in a worthy cause." To show that is it ordinary people who come from ordinary backgrounds, Loeb included the detail about Martin Luther King Jr. received a C in his philosophy class. Back in school King was just another student trying to get through school and it wasn't until he got involved in his community did he learn what it meant to be involved.

I concur with Loeb's statement that as long as you follow your beliefs and stand up for what you believe is right, social change can be achieved regardless of absolute knowledge. There are times when I have second guessed myself regarding whether or not my efforts in the community matter because I feel like there is so much that needs to be changed or that I don't see my efforts immediately making a difference. Although I have run into this feeling, I continue to remain hopeful in my pursuits and I am not willing to just stop being involved because I don't see immediate results. Getting involved is the only way to become more familiar with what public involvement requires. Gandhi called his efforts "experiments in truth," because he had to learn about the truth from experience.

Just an average King...

Opportunities don't just come up and slap you in the face. It seems very true that people set aside social service as something to do when their lives are free of stress and responsibilities. The "ideal moment" is never ideal. In fact, the moment for you to take a stand or make a difference can come about when you feel the most distraut. Americans are constantly taught a sense of hopelessness and fear. It seems almost like a control mechanism to "dumb down" our sense of social responsibility. There is no place better than right here, and no time better than right now to make a difference. Feeling unsure, fearful, or out of place with yourself is a humanistic trait that we have to embrace. Fears cannot be conquered if they are never challenged and if we fear that our future seems grim then we need to do something about it now.
I was surprised to learn that Dr. King earned a "C" in philosophy. It proved to me that, in order to change the world, all you have to do is believe that you can. I believe Loeb purposely added this fact about Dr. King to show readers that heros aren't born, they're made.

A Wife as a Purse?

I do agree that our souls shrink as we shrink away from the world. I think that it's so important for us to have a sense of community, to be aware of what's going on in the world around us, and to have at least somewhat of a desire to help improve our environments. I was thinking about something along these lines just the other day. . . How easy is it for us to get wrapped around in our own little lives? How easy is it for unimportant things to become our focus, our drive? I fee like in society today this happens a lot. I was sick in bed and watching "Wife Swap" on Lifetime (I know... don't judge me) and one of the families swapping was the most superficial family I had ever seen in my life (they even admitted to this!). The family was completely all about appearances, all about spending money, and the whole family's focus was on their infants and their participation in sports and beauty pageants. At one point the husband admitted (on national television) that his wife could be compared to a purse! He called his wife an accessory. And said one day his daughter will be one too. I thought that family, especially that husband, was the perfect illustration of complete self-involvement. And what was really scary to me is thinking they aren't the only family in the U.S. to have perspective - you see this kind of thinking everyday just through the media. Either way, it's so important to have a worldly perspective on things - it's not about looking good, or winning competitions - it's about helping others, living life with a community, instead of just in it. Like quoted in the book, "a rich life is trying to leave the world a little better than you found it," as quoted by Cornel West. How can someone live a rich life and better the world if they are so involved with themselves their souls are shrunken, if they are far away? Would that family be able to tell me about any community issues around them? Would they know about how we have thousands of immigrants and refugees just trying to survive on a daily basis? Would most people in our community? My biggest question is how can we solve issues if there is not awareness- if we are shrunk back from the world.

I have definitely stayed silent over a public issue in the past. I think we probably all have at some point. For me, the reason I wouldn't speak up for an issue is feeling I don't know enough about the subject to speak up about it. I have come to realize that that shouldn't keep me from standing up for an issue, and me feeling inadequate should be motivation for me to research the topic more so that in the future I may be an advocate for the issue. And maybe I know more than I think. Maybe the information I do know about a public issue is different from what others around me know and I could help them grow. It's always better to speak up. Something you have to say could really impact somebody else. Of course, I always believe that there is and time and place for some discussions, and although speaking out is always the best choice, it should be done with respectful considerations of those around you. The book talked about how it takes more energy to keep quiet than to voice your opinions and I could not agree more. I consider myself a very passionate person - almost everything I do and believe in, I do so with all my heart. Not speaking up for something that I hold so close to me would be like crushing me, my soul. Although sometimes I have "crushed my soul" by not speaking out, I continue to seek growth by speaking out and by listening and being open to others as they are doing their speaking out.

Discover yourself.

These two chapters really seemed to connect with to a deep level of my spiritual side. I feel that stepping out of you comfort zone and doing the right thing for no personal benefit and giving to the world around us while glorifing God, is the duty of us here on Earth. So, yes i would agree with the quote from chapter 1, if we are going to "shrink from the world..." Then yes we would as a result,"...our souls shrink too." Meaning that the more you learn and pore your heart and soul into God then the richer your soul becomes and the passion to follow him becomes greater as well. I am the type of person who says how I feel always, and speaks about what I feel is right or wrong. Now, I do not think that speaking out is always the best thing to do. I feel that letting outhers take the role and letting things take it course are sometimes the best thing to do, but for me this is the most difficult. It is a fine line and you have to have a good balance of self-control and voice in order for it to be a truely positive thing always.

Waiting for the ideal moment, I do not feel that there is an ideal moment in life and if you keep waiting for one, you are not living your life in the present or to the fullest. I find myself always jumping the gun so to speak. I am not much a waiting kind of girl. However, when it comes to things that may be a tad intimidating or that you do not want to take the time to do... this is when that line comes about. Eventually what happens to these people is they find themselves living wishing they had done some of the things that they held back on. This goes hand in hand with the "Perfect standard." I feel that this is something that is very apparent in teens today. I feel that a lot of them do not even try at school or work because there is such a perfect standard. This I feel leads to depression amoung so many young students as well. I do feel that there is hope though. I want to inspire people and emrace everyone with open arms. This is a struggle though because of course we are all humans. However, I feel that through growth and the word of God I will keep on discovering who I am and hopefully I will be able to help others through the societies pressures of being PERFECT.

Stop Ignoring the World and Be a Part of It

I agree that, “When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink too” because when we ignore what is happening in the world, or even our community, we are looking at life through a narrow window. Unfortunately, that is what most of us find comfortable. We live our lives with our own personal goals, like getting a degree just so we can have a better paying job. We go to work, get paid, and spend our money on useless stuff; we surround ourselves with big screen TV’s, computers, video games, furniture, further and further isolating ourselves from others. We create our perfect little worlds, and we become lonely because what we use to fill that hole in our lives only makes it emptier. And then there are those who Loeb mentioned that are hurt by knowing what is happening in their communities and/or the world, but do nothing about it and become even more depressed because they feel powerless. It is important to know that our lives can gain meaning through the lives of others. When you help another person out, or a group of people, you become empowered knowing that you made a difference to someone. It’s through other people that we leave an impact on the world, and no matter how small, it gives your life meaning.

I generally always stay silent over public issues even though, contradictory to my actions, I believe that it is almost always important to voice your opinion on matters you care about. Although Loeb later states that it is important to speak up no matter what, even if you are not educated on what you’re arguing, I slightly disagree. I think that people sometimes respect your opinion more if you don’t flip-flop on issues and if you know at least a little bit of both sides of the argument in order to know where you stand and so you are able to defend your reasoning.

I think that the “perfect standard” might not always discourage us by making us feel like we are not good enough to help, but rather we think that these heroic figures are going to pop out of nowhere and fix our problems for us. It doesn’t really surprise me that MLK received a “C” in philosophy, regardless of his intelligence. I think Loeb wanted emphasize how our “perfect figures” are/were only human.

The Time To Act Is Now

Often times, it is our own doubts about our less-than-perfect lives that discourage us from getting out into the community and helping others. It is the worry that we will not be able to help those in need because we cannot even set our own lives straight all the time. Some people are just waiting for that perfect timing when all of their own affairs are set in order, but the truth is, nothing will ever be perfect. We just need to come to terms with the fact that life has its ups and down, even when you think everything is settled, everything can change in the blink of an eye. We need to do as much as we can with what we have. There will always be someone less fortunate than each of us. As horrible as we may think our situation is, things could always be worse. On the other hand, things can always be improved as well. This is a point that many people fail to see, perhaps it is due to the fact that many people have developed a “learned helplessness”, as is mentioned in the book. If we do not have the faith and belief that we can improve anything with the right amount of effort and determination, then nothing will change. We need to show those who think that where they have sunk to is where they will stay forever that there is always hope. Action must be taken to show people that the “perfect” moment is now—the appropriate time to join forces for the greater good is immediately. The voices of those affected by the economy and various personal events need to be heard now, before it is too late. There is no use in waiting to make a difference because you may find yourself waiting your whole life and letting opportunities fly by. Eventually your doubts about the perfection of your own life will turn to regrets of not being able to leave this world in better condition than when you came into it.

Work it Out

Imagine yourself at home, on the couch sitting and thinking. You peer down at your skinny arms and the few undesirable pounds that cling to your stomach. You say to yourself that you have to options, to get up and go out to the gym, or stay at home and watch television(Heaven forbid that you miss the next episode of Lost!). Going to the gym and working out is going to be hard work, and you are worried that it will hurt and leave you sore. On the other hand, staying home is easy, and oh-so comfortable.

Such a choice is one that is replicated in our everyday lives. We constantly are confronted with deciding between the hard road or the easy path, and the repercussions from those choices are much larger than we realize. Loeb is concise and accurate when he says that our souls shrink as we shrink from the world. How many times have we not spoken because of our fear of something? Too much do we idly stand by and keep silent what our heart so desparately wants to declare but our mind wont allow it. Speaking up, acting out, or taking a risk may hurt. We may have to pay a price for standing for justice and equality, just as Derrick Bell did. Although he lost his prestigious job, he stayed true to his beliefs and morals that he so bodly declared. He refused to stay in his comfort zone whilst his values melted away.

Although it may hurt to hold fast to your beliefs and morals, the growth that comes after is worth it tenfold. Just as muscles must be torn before they become stronger, our souls must be tested before they can grow.

Stop Shrinking and Start Shining

The quote "When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too," is a very true statment. When we doubt what we have to say and don't speak up for what we believe in we are left with the annoying what if questions that can haunt for years. What if what I had to say could have changed the world? What if I could have made a difference in someones life? These questions do nothing but injure self confidence in what you have to say. When you speak out you have no regrets and you do not have the nagging in your mind of what you might have done. There are times where I have stayed silent even when I desperatly wanted to speak out, but was afraid of being scorned. Those what if questions sometimes still pop up in my mind saying "Why didn't I say something! What if I could have been the one to change a persons life for the better!?" After letting these thoughts creep up we being to wonder how could I have made a difference? We begin to think that to make a change we have to be these "super human" or the "perfect standard." We do not think that as an ordinary person cane make a difference. There is a quote that has stuck with me from the time I first heard it. And it states "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" (Marianne Williamson). This quote reminds me that the role models we look up to and idolize are just people too. That they were just like the rest of us until they spoke out and stopped shrinking away from the spotlight and started to shine.