Today is the day to remember that one person can make a difference. Even one person who was persecuted, spied on, and eventually assassinated. One person who was not perfect, but who fought for a cause.
We live in a world that is not just 24/7 information, but information that is supplied with a commercial agenda – to make money. The result is news that appeals to our base emotions. Full of violence and death. We are genetically programmed to pay attention to things that can harm us, and cable news is only too happy to feed that need.
In reality, the world is a pretty wonderful place, full of fascinating people and magnificent places. Stop looking at the world through someone else’s lens (especially a corporate lens). Get out there. Travel. Go to places that are out of your comfort zone, that are so different from your normal life that you will end each vacation a changed person. Some of those places may be just a few blocks from your home, but all of them will require effort to fully see.
Find good causes and fight for them. There are lots of them out there. Find one you can care about.
Live.
8 Comments
Good advice IK.
Travel is good for the individual whether a child going to the end of the block or an adult around the world.
Travel is good for the community. The more people out and about, the safer our streets become. Knowing the neighborhood improves the neighborhood.
Travel is good for our country. As more of us travel we gain and share knowledge which should better inform our electorate.
Travel is good for the world since xenophobia comes from ignorance.
I remember when IK, many years before this blog, used to argue passionately that travel, particularly by bus and train, should be free for all. I didn’t get it then. I do now.
You’re very sweet David!
I agree with all David.
A quick feel good story..
I have 2 sons who are Eagle Scouts.
There was a boy who joined their troop about 6 years ago and from the perspective of most adults and other scouts could have been voted as “least likely to become an Eagle Scout.” He was approaching his 18th birthday in 2014 and decided to dig deep in the perseverance jar and devoted his entire summer to achieving the goal nobody thought he could attain. I and my sons attended his Eagle Scout ceremony this past weekend and were proud when he said my oldest son had really turned him around and showed him he could do it. He thanked my son and I for starting him on the path. I thanked him, but corrected him telling him many mentors helped him but that in the end it was he who made the plan and did the work and who made us all proud.
His big plan upon reaching this milestone is to hike the Appalachian trail this summer and then join the Coast Guard.
Fly high, Eagle Scout!
Very good story .. keep going
“He thanked my son and I for starting him on the path. I thanked him, but corrected him telling him many mentors helped him but that in the end it was he who made the plan and did the work and ”
He thanked I for starting him on the path?” Is this a new form of English?
Really Anonymoose? While I’ll give you 10 out of 10 for English knowledge, you get a zero for several million for tact. A story about Humans helping Humans needs to be congratulated and appreciated, not have its grammar corrected. Well done PatSgt.
Ok, I take it all back. One person can make a difference, until some clown on the internet (too chicken to use their real name) jumps all over him for one stupid grammar error. 🙁
Thanks all.
Idiots don’t bother me at all, I’ve dealt with much worse then a grammar troll.