Journal 32

I wonder what it would be like to revolutionize the way that people think or do things.  It seems as though it might be cool to know that you have left an impact of society.  This would provide a sense of accomplishment in a person's life- knowing that society has been improved because of something that he or she has done.  This is what many people want in life, at least when they are younger.  They see the flaws in others and are convinced that they have the solution to fix everything.  This dream often becomes lost as the person grows older or it is left unsatisfied.  For those who actually come up with a successful idea, product, or whatever the improvement might be, they would probably receive lots of praise, recognition, and respect.  There would, of course, be some opposition as people in general do not like change.  One could come up with a multitude of reasons to be against such diversions from life as they had been accustomed to; it all depends on what the change involves.  Just because an idea is new does not mean, however, that it would be beneficial.  I believe that people should analyze for themselves whether society is changing for the better and if they choose to be a part of it.  For some people, technology is great.  Many people today would find it difficult to live without their electronics, even though they are not necessary for survival.  Others, for instance the Amish, chose that these new inventions were not for them and they continue to live a simpler way of life.  There is nothing wrong with that.  It is good for a person to make decisions based on his or her own beliefs and ideals rather than automatically conforming to society whichever way it goes.  Being able to leave an impact of the way people live is a huge responsibility that should be handled with the utmost consideration, and even then, people should make decisions for themselves on whether the change is for them or not. 

Journal 31

We all know that gossip is wrong.  Yet when something interesting happens, our conscience seems to go out the window.  Gossip is not only wrong morally, it also can have damaging effects on a person.  If the person being talked about hears the conversation, whether by being in a close proximity at the time or by the message spreading, then that person may develop some emotional issues.  This might not be the case if the person has a really strong personality that doesn't let what others say or do affect him or her.  However, that saying that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is often not the case.  I knew a girl back at my old school who had been gossiped about.  She was such a nice person who would smile and ask how your day has been going.  She didn't fit in well with the other girls in her grade, though.  They were pretty much opposites and would prey on her.  The more modest terms that they called her were words like "fat", "ugly", and "stupid".  None of these terms were true about her, but when she heard what the others were saying about her, she became depressed.  I got to talk to her a little here and there and I reassured her that she is smart, pretty, and has an amazing and caring personality, which is what really makes a person beautiful.  She said that she believed what I was saying, but I got the feeling that she wasn't really sure of who she was anymore and deep down she doubted everything that I said.  I tried to spend more time with her after that to make sure that she was doing alright.  As time wore I never saw her eat anything except once in a while she may have brought in a granola bar.  She always wore a jacket.  It was in the high 80's one day in May and she was still wearing that jacket.  I knew why, and I felt like there was nothing that I could do to help.  She eventually recovered.  I invited her to go to church with me and she talked to the pastor for a while and he helped her get through the hatred for herself.  I guess that my point here is that gossip has far-reaching consequences that may go unnoticed to who do it.  Even if the person never finds out that people were talking about him or her, that person's reputation can still be damaged and he or she is not even giving a chance to defend himself or herself.  It takes a special kind of character to not gossip at times, and many times people do it without even realizing, but making the choice to watch what you say is always the best choice.

Journal 30

Civil rights are an important part of any society.  They provide guidance and equality for a nation's citizens. Civil rights are meant to be shared by all citizens under the law, regardless of factors such as creed, race, gender, or the like.  There had been times in history, and still are today, when certain persons were not given their due rights.  People were kept from voting, owning land, having equal opportunities, and much more; immigrants had even been shipped back to their home country without trial.  Clearly our society here in the United States is not perfect.  It never has been and it never will be.  It has, however, improved significantly in the terms of granting people such as women, minorities, and immigrants the same freedoms or at least comparable to those of "normal" citizens.  This happened because people got together and decided that they were tired of being treated as inferior to others with no justifiable reason.  How would African Americans be treated today had the African American Rights Movement not taken place?  What reason would people and the government have to change their attitudes and actions?  I am not so certain tat they would have, at least, not so quickly as had actually taken place.  I cannot even fathom not being allowed to vote when I turn eighteen.  Voting is a right, as I see it, that can easily be left unappreciated, despite its significance.  Our country would not be a democracy if its citizens were withheld the privilege of voting.  How could it be if the people were not able to give their input on how they view the nation should be run?  Now, if only a group of this nation's citizens were given this capability, would the nation then be but a partial democracy since only a portion of the people living within its boundaries are granted the vote?  Whatever they may be, civil rights offer basic freedoms and guidelines which are necessary for the total well-being of those who call the land their home.  

Journal 29

About a year ago, my mom, dad, and I went to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousins in Florida during the summer.  My cousin, Shelby, plays volleyball and I used to play volleyball, so we decided to go to the beach and play together.  The drive was only about fifteen or twenty minutes, I think, and then we arrived at the beach.  We jumped out of the car with the volleyball and found an open space with a net to play at.  Shelby, as I discovered, was a very talented player.  Although the score stayed relatively close up until the end, she had a lead on me from the very beginning.  Not having played for a couple of years, it was a little more challenging for me than for her, who was currently in-season at the time.  We had been playing for quite a while when in-between serves I asked her where our water bottles were at.  We were both dismayed when we realized that in the rush getting to the beach, the water bottles were left at her house.  Despite it being a very hot day and that we were without water, we decided to keep on playing until the game ended.  So we played for a while longer, I am not sure how long it was, until I began to feel really dizzy and weak.  Apparently I fainted from a heat stroke and was unconscious for a while.  When I finally was awake again, I was told that Shelby ran over to get my parents who at the time were in their air-conditioned car in the parking lot and we all went back to the house, knowing that I would be better in a while.  Later that day, we all went to Dairy Queen to get a milkshake.  For whatever reason, the building was empty besides the workers.  When we went to order, the cashier heard us say that I had recently fainted from the heat.  She began talking about today was really hot and how she herself almost got a heat stroke from playing softball for too long.  I told her the story of how my cousin and I had been playing volleyball at the beach.  That’s when she said that she plays volleyball as well.  We talked a bit more about different things and the conversation ended with us scheduling a time to get together and play volleyball with Shelby.  This time, we took plenty of breaks and actually remembered to bring the water.  I ended up becoming friends with Clara, the cashier at Dairy Queen, and we still talk on the phone and on Facebook, and I plan to see her again the next time I am in Florida. 

Journal 28

Once in a while I go over to visit some of my family that lives in a small town about an hour away from where I live.  I have been going there ever since I was little and it has always amazed me.  When people say that in small towns there are no secrets and that everyone knows everyone, well, I guess that it’s true.  When I would go in town with my family, it seemed so astonishing to me, especially when I was younger, that people would walk up to my uncle or aunt and ask how other members of the family had been doing (mentioning them by name), and then my aunt or uncle would do likewise.  This happened a lot.  We would walk in a store and a person working there or perhaps another customer would see us, or perhaps we would see him or her first, and a whole new conversation would begin.  It boggled my mind how the town was such a close-knit community.  “Are there any people here”, I thought, “that don’t know one another?”  Also notable, perhaps tying in with the personal connections is that the people seemed really friendly.  I live outside a small to moderate size city where life is much less personal.  Some people that you pass are a bit rude, workers may be impartial, and if you wait two seconds before turning on a green light then you most likely will get honked at, perhaps with a middle finger.  This is definitely not the case where my family lives.  Even though it is only about an hour’s drive away, the people in general are much more polite, the workers all seem cooperative and friendly, and horns might as well be non-existent.  It is difficult to explain, but the town had its own feel to it.  People there are kind and welcoming.  I really enjoy going to visit.  One just has to make sure that he or she is not going over the speed limit or breaking any other traffic violations, otherwise his or her name will be put in that week’s paper. 

Journal 27

As Americans, I believe that we are very fortunate to have brave men and women who are willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to defend our country.  Such disposition is truly admirable.  Thinking about this, I pondered how I would feel in their shoes- being miles away from home defending my country.  It might be easy to say, and perhaps even believe, that you would not be scared and would choose to die a hero without any second thoughts.  While many service men and women are willing to do, and many have done, the latter, that does not mean that they are machines with no feelings or sense of danger.  If in a risky situation, I believe that they recognize the threat and sometimes perhaps may become a bit nervous.  It is their character that helps them push past this to fight for what they believe in.  I can only imagine being in their position.  Even if they are not in an area of high level threats, they still give up so much.  Many have family and friends that they leave behind.  Due to the distance, communication is limited.  To take away some of the loneliness, their comrades often become like a second family to them.  Personally, since I am not an extremely sociable person, I would probably be able to last a deployment in terms of being away from family and friends, although it would be very lonely. Soldiers also have to undergo lots of training and exercises to stay in top shape.  I felt like I was about to die after doing one hundred burpees at the end of track practice a couple of years ago.  Nothing but determination kept me going and I am sure that it is likewise with the much more difficult training that is given in the military.  All in all, I believe that while being far away from home in an unfamiliar land would carry a bit of uncertainty, loneliness, and a multitude of other feelings, it is a soldier’s willpower to defend his or her country that enables them to keep going. 

Giving

Many people say that giving is better than receiving.  I believe this is true.  Not only do you get a good feeling by doing so, but you are also doing the right thing by helping someone else that may be in need.  In Deuteronomy 15:10, it is written, “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." (Bible Gateway)  This statement points out that giving because one feel like he has to is wrong.  Any amount given should be with joy.  A person should be grateful for the things he is given and thus willingly give to others.  This does not mean, however, that one should have to give excessively.  Again, Deuteronomy states, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you." (Bible Gateway)  In other words, give according to what you have.  It would not be right for a poor man to give away all of his possessions to another; he would need means to support himself.  Giving is not limited to money or items.  Helping others by performing acts of service is also an example.  Anyone, whether rich or poor, can serve others.  This could be anything from moving a lawn to holding the door or helping an elderly person cross the street.  Time is a very important asset and it reveals a lot about one’s character if he is willing to put aside what he was planning on doing to help someone else.  In addition to being the right thing to do, giving items (or especially your time) can be rather fun.  One simply needs to find an area that he is gifted at and use that skill or passion to benefit the lives of others.  If someone loves to cook, then he could volunteer at the local food pantry.  A vocalist could visit nursing homes around Christmas time to sing carol.  There are countless possibilities, but each one is special and essential to improving society step by step.

 "Bible Gateway." Bible Gateway. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.