If nothing else, all of the work that i have done over the past three years has indeed made me a more conscious person. I have been challenged to consider all aspects of my life without exception, plumbing the depths to find what it takes to do this kind of thing responsibly. I feel that it is irresponsible to attempt this kind of thing if you cannot manage to have your heart in it. I have had to become more conscious in every aspect of my life from my appearance and character to my table manners. Living in a house full of women i have learned without fail to put the toilet seat down after use. For someone aspiring to become more conscious this job provides an atmosphere most conducive.
However, one drawback of becoming more conscious means becoming more responsible. If you wish to be in touch with the world you live in and the realities contained therein, then you must take on those realities in yourself. If you wish to be aware then you are faced with the choice to accept and consider what you learn or to ignore it. If you choose to accept and consider it, you must take responsibility for it and do what you can to make it better. Its easy to say that you want a peaceful, loving world but if you truly want those who have very little in our society to have enough we have to be personally willing to sacrifice something. What would you give up to give the less fortunate a better life? It often happens that i fall into a certain rhythm with the children, a certain routine with which i am very comfortable and it is shortly thereafter announced in a meeting that the routine must change into a more labor-intensive routine to fit the changing needs of the child. I am frustrated because i liked the ease and comfort of the old way but the truth is that the child has needs and we need to go from playing in the yard to structured cleaning tasks and writing lessons. The world is the same way. We can be comfortable with the rhythm of our lives. We can choose not to learn about how even by our consumer-choices we are supporting inhumane business practices. Or we can choose to accept that the food in our refrigerator was bought at a good price because it was grown and harvested by humans just like us with families and children who dream like all children do, the difference being that these are being exploited in fields in Florida to pick tomatoes for Taco Bell while they can barely afford to keep their babies alive but you can still get a damn good burrito for 99 cents. I know about the exploitation and the heartbreak and the struggles because i work with the children. I know through their parents, many of whom are my age.
Because of this, i am slowly learning that i have to change the way i live. Consider that by getting good deals at Wal-Mart, you are also supporting the suffering of good people. Know that you don't have to participate in this new evolution of slavery if you make an effort to know the origin of the food you eat and the products you buy. Is it ok to put American children in hot factories to make them sew jeans for people in Malaysia? Then why is the reverse ok? If you buy coffee, look for 'fair trade' coffee and drink happily knowing that you are paying for farmers to have enough to feed their families.
All i ask is that you do not just read these blogs and think that there is anything extraordinary about me or my work. The task of building a better world falls on the shoulders of every single person and their willingness to take responsibility for the world we live in. I would beg that if you are reading this blog, that you resolve to make at least one change in your life that benefits those who need it. It doesn't matter who. You could be more conscious of your water usage or buy espresso drinks at Dunkin' Donuts because they serve only 'fair-trade' espresso. You could smile at that homeless guy you always see or give a flower to someone who has upset you.
There are things that every person can do to make a better world, i can tell you that us volunteers aren't going to be able to manage it alone.
So good night, and good luck.
However, one drawback of becoming more conscious means becoming more responsible. If you wish to be in touch with the world you live in and the realities contained therein, then you must take on those realities in yourself. If you wish to be aware then you are faced with the choice to accept and consider what you learn or to ignore it. If you choose to accept and consider it, you must take responsibility for it and do what you can to make it better. Its easy to say that you want a peaceful, loving world but if you truly want those who have very little in our society to have enough we have to be personally willing to sacrifice something. What would you give up to give the less fortunate a better life? It often happens that i fall into a certain rhythm with the children, a certain routine with which i am very comfortable and it is shortly thereafter announced in a meeting that the routine must change into a more labor-intensive routine to fit the changing needs of the child. I am frustrated because i liked the ease and comfort of the old way but the truth is that the child has needs and we need to go from playing in the yard to structured cleaning tasks and writing lessons. The world is the same way. We can be comfortable with the rhythm of our lives. We can choose not to learn about how even by our consumer-choices we are supporting inhumane business practices. Or we can choose to accept that the food in our refrigerator was bought at a good price because it was grown and harvested by humans just like us with families and children who dream like all children do, the difference being that these are being exploited in fields in Florida to pick tomatoes for Taco Bell while they can barely afford to keep their babies alive but you can still get a damn good burrito for 99 cents. I know about the exploitation and the heartbreak and the struggles because i work with the children. I know through their parents, many of whom are my age.
Because of this, i am slowly learning that i have to change the way i live. Consider that by getting good deals at Wal-Mart, you are also supporting the suffering of good people. Know that you don't have to participate in this new evolution of slavery if you make an effort to know the origin of the food you eat and the products you buy. Is it ok to put American children in hot factories to make them sew jeans for people in Malaysia? Then why is the reverse ok? If you buy coffee, look for 'fair trade' coffee and drink happily knowing that you are paying for farmers to have enough to feed their families.
All i ask is that you do not just read these blogs and think that there is anything extraordinary about me or my work. The task of building a better world falls on the shoulders of every single person and their willingness to take responsibility for the world we live in. I would beg that if you are reading this blog, that you resolve to make at least one change in your life that benefits those who need it. It doesn't matter who. You could be more conscious of your water usage or buy espresso drinks at Dunkin' Donuts because they serve only 'fair-trade' espresso. You could smile at that homeless guy you always see or give a flower to someone who has upset you.
There are things that every person can do to make a better world, i can tell you that us volunteers aren't going to be able to manage it alone.
So good night, and good luck.
posted by derek | 10:16 PM
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