Borrowing from the Mitchell reading, and zero-ing in on the first sentence of paragraph 20 (“That usually I believe . . .”) as a means to analyze ideas, here’s what I would like each of you to do:
List five of your beliefs or feelings that you currently have (or had in the recent past).
Discuss how you come by those ideas or beliefs?
Look to apply other points of analysis from paragraph 20 to your beliefs.
What happens?
This should be really, really interesting. And feel free to comment on others’ reactions here so we extend our discussion. We have so little time in our class sessions; let’s leverage the blog to unpack some more of what I believe to be two of our more critical readings. Let’s set a deadline of 9am Tuesday, Feb. 19, which will give me a chance to read them before class in the afternoon (hopefully).
Humans are searching for purpose. I think that is why there is so much emphasis on children to figure out who they want to be when they grow up. I’ve come to this conclusion from my own observation. Students become angered when they are given “busy work” and the assignments seem to have to purpose, because students want their efforts to be meaningful. People want their lives to be meaningful because it means that had a purpose.
I believe humans are social by nature. Communal and social institutions provide a structured path for individuals to rank in significance and grow spiritually and socially. One of the most popular institutions is religious organizations, but schools are also a social institution. I believe this because cabin fever has psychological merit, but I cannot test babies in the woods to gain accurate data.
Religion motivates individuals to create and express, providing an outlet of emotion and a reason strengthen skills. Without Buddhism, the Diamond Sutra dated 868 CE, the oldest printed existing book spanning 16 feet may never have been scripted onto scroll. The Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom depicts the life of Siddhartha Gautama and the beliefs in Buddhism, a project of a man in India. This expression was his spiritual calling, and purpose. Religious art also provides for the individual later viewing and analyzing such works in the future.
Overfishing has resulted in the pandemic implosion of paralytic shell disease throughout the Atlantic northeast, particularly within the Long Island Sound. Fishing trolleys often throw back limp lobsters and retain only healthy catch, so the diseased lobsters are left with no healthy mates to reproduce. I believe this because the “right people” believe this. The right people in this situation are the marine biologists that are testing the crab population. I have not done my own testing, so this is a belief I have not discovered. I also wanted to see if my belief that the class doesn’t read the whole response is true.
Physical attraction as the sole basis of a relationship lacks love and a spiritual connection and will lead to less successful relationships and decreased respect for partners. Ever see those couples that are incredibly beautiful but horrific misfits in personality? While physical appearance is a first impression, I believe dating a total “hottie” for the mere fact that he is hot is ridiculous. I don’t respect a person for having good bone structure and symmetry. I respect motivation and generosity. I don’t think this way because anyone has told me I should; I believe this because of my own experiences.
I learned that we went to the moon when I was in Elementary school. My teacher made us do several projects on the subject, all of which involved me dressing up as an astronaut. I never questioned it because it was believed by “the right people,” and it “pleased” me to dress up like an astronaut. However, as I’ve gotten older, I have watched a few documentaries and read multiple articles that present more evidence that we in fact did not go to the moon. Based on factual evidence, I no longer believe we went to the moon.
My parents always told me eating past eight at night would make me fat. I am still not sure if this is true or not because there are many people in other countries that eat around nine or ten at night and as a nation, they tend to be skinnier than us. However, I am aware the food they cook might be different or they simply eat less throughout the day. I think the best way to test it would be to travel to those countries and learn what type of food they are consuming and how much they are consuming.
When I first started driving, my parents told me driving on the highway is harder than driving elsewhere. Since I thought it would be harder, I am way more fearful and careful while driving on the highway than on regular roads. Although it may not be a proven fact that driving on the highway is harder, this belief was embedded within me for such a long time that I am now always a little scared to drive on the highway. This example helps explain how some beliefs may subconsciously affect us so much that we reject the possibility of it being wrong. In essence, fearing the highway more than regular roads is a bit ignorant of me.
My grandma told me microwaves gave you cancer if you stand in front of them when I was really young, and I completely believed it. Whenever I used a microwave, I would run away from it until my food was ready. However, my sophomore year of high school my chemistry teacher explained that this was a myth. It turns out there is no way that microwaves could be strong enough to first penetrate the glass and then, penetrate our skin. Ever since then, I am able to stand in front of a microwave without any fear of acquiring cancer.
My friends in high school told me home schooled kids were socially awkward. I believed it even though I had never met one, but I never even thought to ask my friends how they knew this. I just believed it because “people like me” believed it. However, when I came to Berry, I met several home schooled kids who are not socially awkward. Likewise, I met some who were, but I also met kids who were not home schooled who most people would label as “socially awkward.” Based on what I have “tested and found coherent and consistent,” anyone can be socially awkward regardless of their past schooling system.
I was very close to not reading all of Missy’s response, but I was intrigued by the diseased lobsters and their mates so I continued to read. Anyway, I agree with the belief that humans are social by nature, but like she said, this is due to the psychological proof that is available. I have not been able to test this myself, and I think there are many other beliefs that I may not test because I have too much trust in “the right people.” Based on several examples in my life, I have learned that many people like to conclude that myths are facts. The real challenge from now on will be to focus on backing up my beliefs on solid evidence that I have found, not just evidence I’ve heard.
I thought that I would start off with a lighter topic and then move my way into heavier ideas and beliefs, so my first belief is that Disney movies are the best genre of movie. I came by this belief because they are my favorite type of movie, and I have dozens of blissful childhood memories that include Disney movies or characters. You could say that I like them so much because they teach good morals, but my real reason for loving them is that they make me happy. I’m always left smiling at the end of a Disney movie, wishing that I could be a princess myself. I have no proof whatsoever that Disney movies are any good, simply my own opinion and the favorable opinions of many children from my generation. We all grew up watching these movies, therefore, for many of us, they have become near and dear to our hearts.
My second belief is that everyone should read. This doesn’t just mean actually reading the books assigned for school (although that would be nice too). It also means reading on your own; finding books with topics that interest you and immersing yourself in a different world for a little while. This brief reprieve from reality is why I love reading so much. Similarly to watching Disney movies, it lets me experience a different walk of life for a short period of time and it generally leaves me with a pleasant, if slightly drowsy feeling. There has been research to show how beneficial reading is, and these scientific studies have had a little effect on my belief that everyone should read. More so than that, however, I believe that reading has greatly benefitted me intellectually, so I believe that others should take advantage of this enjoyable opportunity to improve themselves as well.
I also believe that people should travel because it will help to expand their horizons (literally and figuratively) and educate them about other cultures and ways of thinking and doing things. This belief is not really based on much, because I haven’t traveled all that much, besides a short trip to Costa Rica this past summer. However, I still strongly believe in the benefits of travelling, and am looking forward to experiencing those benefits for myself in the future. I think that this belief came from hearing others talk about their travel experiences. Also, I think that there’s always been a sort of cool wisdom and enlightened air surrounding those who have recently returned from travels abroad. It’s as if they have truly experienced life, and the rest of us homebodies are just waiting for our turn to do the same. This sort of feeling is really not based on much at all, but nevertheless it fuels my belief that travelling is beneficial.
On a more serious note, I think that we should abolish the death penalty. It is not our job to decide who should live and who should die. Also, people can be wrongly accused. I seriously doubt that many people have been wrongly sentenced to the death penalty, but it could happen. Either way, I don’t think that it is humane for us to sentence people to death. They should simply be given a life in prison. I have heard arguments in favor of the death penalty, arguing that prisons are overpopulated enough as it is, that it’s expensive to imprison someone for a lifetime. Even though these are very valid arguments, I still believe that the death penalty is wrong.
My last belief is that parents should not spank their children. I think that it only instills in us a fear of getting caught; it doesn’t tell us why what we did was wrong. If anything, it only teaches us that violence can be used to solve problems. As a kid, my parents did not use physical punishment, but instead put us in time out, and made us think about why we were being punished. There have been studies that show physical punishment is bad, and I think that there have also been studies that say it does no harm. Either way, I personally believe that violence should never be used to solve problems, and that is why I do not believe in spanking.
One of the biggest beliefs that has been instilled in me thus far is that happiness is subjective. My parents always expected me to go to Harvard and get the best of the best. They always implied that going to a top school, getting a great job, and making a lot of money would be the only path to happiness. I believed this wholeheartedly up until my junior year. After graduating high school, I went against their wishes and took a year off. I didn’t do anything but try and find myself and what would make me happy. I backpacked across the wilderness out west and when I got home they did not support me monetarily. Although I did not have the material goods I had once been privileged with, I found I was still just as happy as I had been, if not happier. Not everyone needs the same things to be happy. Some need money, some need love, some need companionship, and some need space to themselves. Everyone is different, and therefore different things make them happy.
This leads me to my second and third beliefs. I believe that everyone should take time off from school. It doesn’t have to be a gap year between high school and college, but there should be a gap year in there somewhere. Everyone should have the opportunity to explore themselves and the world we live in without having to worry about schoolwork and the rest of our lives. They will still be there a year from now.
My third belief is that everyone should travel. I agree with Emily in that traveling simply expands your horizons. It opens your eyes to things you never dreamed you’d see or understand. I have never been out of the country, but I have been to every state in the continental US- that includes the five that I have lived in. I believe that traveling makes a person who they are. Having to adapt and meet new people is one of the greatest gifts you can be given because it gives you tools you can use every day and in some ways it makes you into who you are.
A fourth belief I have is about body image. My mom struggled with body image and eating disorders when she was my age and she has always tried to prevent this from happening with me. But in a way it made me even more self conscious in high school. I truly believed that the only way to be happy was to be beautiful and skinny as a rail. Around the time of my gap year, I finally decided it was better to be happy and healthy! Once again, I’ll bring up the media. I hate it!!!!! I think it is the biggest waste of time and money and the only influences young girls and boys in horrible ways. I realize that’s a bold statement, but it is one of my beliefs.
My biggest belief is that everyone should spend time in the wilderness. I lived out of a backpack for six months- no phones, music, cars, lights, mirrors, showers, lighters, matches, bps’s, etc. It was just me, the people I was with, and the outdoors. I learned more in that six month period than I have in any other time period in my twenty plus years of life. I believe that you can never begin to know yourself with the distractions of our era. I also believe that being in the outdoors with nothing but the basics to begin to truly appreciate the hugeness of our world and the infinite possibilities it offers.
I lived in Maryland when I was younger and moved to Georgia when I was in fifth grade. Before I moved to Georgia, I believed that southerners were racist. I believed this because the “right people” (my classmates) told me. However, when I moved to Georgia, I was able to test this belief by meeting many southerners. While I have met some racist people, I have learned that few southerners are actually racist.
I believe that climate change is a serious problem. The “right people” (scientists) have told me this and I have read several articles and seen some documentaries about it. I have also seen evidence–more extreme weather and rising temperatures. However, I have not personally tested it, and I have heard from several people who do not believe it to be true. but I have chosen to believe that climate change is real and problematic.
I support banning assault weapons. Assault weapons are not used for self defense or hunting and can only lead to unnecessary death. I have had this opinion for a while but my beliefs were confirmed after the multiple shootings last year and when I learned that 1900 people had been killed by guns in just the two months since the shooting at Newtown. These events are the evidence I use to support my belief.
I agree with Kayla Jo about body image. This is actually probably my biggest passion. Most girls I know have recovered from eating disorders or are suffering from one now. This is the evidence I used to form this belief. I think that media literacy is not taught often enough. Most photos have been edited, and the women who girls look up to are often unhealthy. It does not help that we live in a fat-shaming society which constantly discusses the “obesity epidemic.” The media also depicts women as weak. “Strong female roles” are the exception, not the norm (there’s even a designated category for these smart women on Netflix). Two documentaries I have seen, Miss Representation and the Killing Us Softly series, have also helped me form this belief.
I support gay rights. The “right people” (my parents and friends) have always supported tolerance, but I have also formed this belief by having several close friends who are gay, and they have had a very positive influence on my life. My morals also tell me that it is not right to discriminate against anyone for who they are, and this has helped me form this belief as well.
When talking about beliefs the first thing I think about is spiritual beliefs so my first belief would have to be the Christian creation story of how the world came to be. This belief originated from an upbringing in the church because of my parents but has grown to be my own through the years mainly in the past two years of college. Professors and other students have really challenged me with the controversy between creationism and evolution making me read and search for education in order to have a background on why I belief in creation rather than just because I was told to. Yes this belief pleases me and I still do not think I am completely unbiased when looking at other ideas but I am at least growing my knowledge of the subject in order to have a better understanding.
My second belief would include technology and its positive role in society. So many people would like to complain how technology has harmed our society through social networking sites and other tools of enjoyment, but I see it as an advancement and the means to learning new things. Developing technology leads to even more development and more knowledge. The LHC in Switzerland is a high energy particle acclerator that tests for energies not possible to record over twenty years ago. From this we can learn about particles created in these high energy areas and their impact on the world. Our understanding of the world becomes better with these advancements in technology. This is a personal view from experience and from observation and I can not say that I know technology is more good than bad but it definitely seems to be the case.
Thirdly I believe a healthy marriage will lead to good child development. I have only experienced a lasting marriage between my parents so I see that as good and then I compare this to problems my friends have faced through the years with divorced parents. It seems to me much harder as a child but I do not necessarily know because I have never witnessed a divorce and can not say from personal experience. I only belief this based on what I do know.
I believe team sports participation can help someone later in a career field. One learns how to play with teamates and succeed as a team when playing sports and this can easily transfer to the work field where teams are put together and deadlines are set. I have participated in team sports since I was four years old and I feel my relationship skills with others have been affected positively because of that. I have known sports all my life so this belief is biased but I know of the friendships I make while playing and i believe this to be a skill usuable anywhere in life.
Lastly I believe in a college education. Maybe not just for the education part but going away to college really helped me grow up and is still helping me mature. Living on my own with the safety net of college is a great way to learn what is right and what is wrong. I have grown so much in only two years and I think this to be one of the main reasons for going to college. It really does help prepare for the real world without being thrown completely into it. Again this belief comes from my own experience and I do not know any other side.
Everyone has a purpose and everyone is beautiful, no matter what they may have been told before and no matter what culture has told them how they’re supposed to look. I believe that our culture has caused us to become so superficial that we don’t allow anything to penetrate the shiny exterior which is defined as perfect. American culture and fashion have destroyed the image of how both the beautiful man and beautiful woman are “supposed” to look. I believe that imperfections are what really hold the beauty in the world. I know that many times this is a subject that is very touchy to many individuals because they have felt the sting of rejection because someone told them that they held no beauty. I believe this because in the past I struggled with eating disorders trying to look like the ideal image which shatters any girl’s self esteem in middle and high school. I believe that everyone is beautiful and loved, regardless of how much they are told otherwise.
I believe that love is the strongest bond that holds us together as human beings. Instead of just classifying romantic love as the glue for society, I believe that true love comes from many different sources: romantic, familial and platonic. I understand how important they are in shaping who we are as adults and how they influence our countless decisions. Without these types of social interaction, we become less than human. Humans are meant to be social creatures, as Plato suggested.
I believe that religion should not be based on those around us but should rather be a spiritual expression of beliefs and a relationship with a supreme being, no matter who that being may be. I believe that humans do not need a specific method of worship in which to be moral and that morals are not ultimately derived from a relationship with God or anyone else. I believe these things because I know many atheists and agnostics who are wonderful and generous people with good hearts for service, but don’t have a present relationship with God.
I believe that the Golden Rule which we are taught in Kindergarten applies to almost every facet of life: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I think that if everyone participated in this saying that the world would be a better place. There wouldn’t be violence, there wouldn’t be crime, there wouldn’t be acts of malicious intent against someone else and there could be the chance for many people to live happily without societal issues.
I believe in the power of sunshine. Being a Florida girl, we get a lot of sun, and it almost becomes an addiction for me. Not only does the sun help to synthesize the necessary vitamin D, but being out in the sun is healthy for your skin, hair, lungs, you name it. But this applies to being outdoors in general as well. Whenever I’m feeling glum or sluggish and it’s a relatively sunny day, I’ll go for a quick run, walk or bike ride and just breathe in the beautiful air and sun. It has healing properties and de-stresses me, like I’m sure it does most people. I hate being cooped up inside of a house like a chicken and I can’t imagine being stuck in a world without sunshine. Like Mitchell suggested, I like being around people who think like I do. Maybe this is why I’ve chosen the friends I have, the activities which I am currently participating, or even how my relationship with my best friend and now boyfriend have developed. They both share my beliefs and challenge me to discover more about myself.
I believe that you can never truly believe something unless you come by it on your own. My parents and family have always been Christians and have always expected me to believe the same things they do. When I went to high school, I came into contact with many different religions backgrounds. I found that although I said I was a Christian, I didn’t really and truly believe in all those things I had always said I did. I didn’t really believe in anything, because I had never thought about it for myself. It is important to explore things for yourself and find your beliefs. If you just go along with what you are told to belief, that’s not really believing in something, its following a trend. In the end, questioning your beliefs and then finding the answers makes your belief grow and become stronger.
On that note, I believe it is important to come into contact with many different kinds of people so that you can be exposed to the wide range of thinking that is out there. Learning about different kinds of people can also help you become more compassionate and understanding. Growing up I was always exposed to the prejudices of the people around me, and then when I went to school and spent time with my friends of various ethnicities I could never understand the basis for the prejudices. I was lucky to have been around these different people so that I could become a more understanding individual.
I believe that animals are very important in human lives. I have always been around animals and I feel as though I have learned a lot from them. Responsibility, kindness, and patience are just a few examples of the characteristics I learned from working with animals.
I believe it is important to look at every issue from both sides. Just from my experiences I have found that in a moment, another person can appear to be totally in the wrong, but when you take the time to carefully consider the situation from their side there is usually a reason behind their behavior. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume the best in everyone. I believe that people are intrinsically good and any disagreements should be approached with compassion.
Lastly, not to be a sappy romantic, but I have always believed that everyone has a “special someone” out there that is made to be with them. I believe this because of the relationships that I have seen around me. Sometimes there is a couple where you just know that they are the only people in the whole entire world for each other. Perhaps I just read to many romance novels
I believe I will follow the template set by Emily and begin with my less weighty beliefs and follow with the more profound beliefs.
I believe fully that horses are more intelligent than people give them credit for. I came to this conclusion by watching my horses, in particular my own, and noticing that when others ride them, they know who has experience and who does not. Some choose to exploit this and toss the individual while others will be gentle with the person. Also, many can figure out how to untie themselves or unlatch gates on their own and do so consistently.
I also believe that it is not right to discriminate against people because of their sexual preference as I have many friends who are gay or lesbian. This sentiment is in complete contrast with the views of many of my family members, and it creates some tension at home.
As tax-paying citizens, we have a right to know what the government is doing, in particular our head executive. As such, the idea of executive privilege should not exist and much information that is considered confidential should be revealed to the public. I came to believe this when my parents started mentioning things that the general public was unaware of and was not allowed to know, and I was very worried about what else the government was keeping secret.
Working relationships are not possible without a strong foundation in communication. I know this from watching the relationships of those close to me and making my own work. I don’t mean just romantic relationships, either, because misunderstandings can occur between friends and cause problems. As such, I believe a little talking goes a long way.
There is a God. I believed this when I was little because the “right people” told me it was true, but I went through a period of doubt through most of high school. When I came to Berry, I had some individuals who were very strong in their faith and very knowledgeable about Christianity to explain some aspects of the religion I was worried about. Through some intense soul-searching, I finally came back to God and there is no doubt in my mind that he is very real and very powerful.
I believe that it is important to learn the ability to adapt and overcome circumstances. This may sound like a strange concept to base a belief on, but I come from experience in saying that being able to adapt to new surroundings is essential to growing as a person. I have moved seven times in my eighteen years (eight if you count college). Each move has come with different people, different mindsets, different views, different cultures, and a different lifestyle. I have come to believe that being able to adapt to a new home has helped me become a better person. A better person in that I have learned how to accept others, and how not to judge based on first impressions. I believe that adapting to a new environment builds character and personality.
My second belief is that animals have the same rights as humans. I am not a vegetarian or a vegan–maybe that makes me a hypocrite, but I still believe that killing animals for unnatural purposes is a crime. Animals can feel physical pain, but they can also feel emotional pain. If you have a pet- a dog or a cat- think of a time when that pet seemed sad beyond compare because they new you were leaving. This is not just an “I’m hungry and you’re not feeding me” primitive emotion; rather, it is a feeling. Animals should be treated with respect for their lives and their bodies. Animals also impact human lives everyday. Their are rescue animals, guide dogs, hospital visiting animals, and just loving pets.
I believe that family is at the core of a person’s stability in life. I have a semi-large immediate family and an even larger extended family. My family is one huge unit. I see my uncles as my dads, my aunts as my moms, my cousins as siblings, and my grandparents as old parents. We use each other as a support system. This is what family should be like I think. Maybe I believe that because “people like me” believe it, but experience has showed me how important strong family bonds can be in times of trouble. Family teaches love and respect and accountability. Family provides a safe environment for learning from mistakes. Family provides a safety net. Family provides a push in the right direction. Family is a way of life.
A silly belief I have is that people should take time out of each day to dance… yes, dance. Dancing has something in it that can melt away all the stress and hardship of a day’s work. You may find this weird or embarrassing, but I firmly believe it. I believe this perhaps because for me the “right people” believe it. I have been a dancer since I was a toddler, and all my dance teachers have expressed their love and respect for dancing to me in one shape or form. Dancing allows one to be free from stress. You do not have to be a good dancer. I just believe that taking a little time to shake it can make any day a little better.
And finally, I believe that everyone has someone out there for them. This is just a belief that each person has someone who they are meant to be with. And that someone is what finally makes you whole. I believe it is important to discover ones self before finding this other person, but one cannot be truly whole until that second half is found. I am not overly romantic about the belief, but I think that the person meant for you should be your best friend. I believe this merely because of the relationships around me. I see my parents’ relationship, and it reflects this belief. Some people call it “soul mates.” Everyone has a “soul mate,” they just have to be willing to find him or her.
I believe that the Christian God created the universe and human beings. I came to have this belief because I have experienced God and know Him personally (with this experience comes the belief that what He says in the Bible is true). However, over the years, as I have studied Christianity in conjunction with science, logic, and argumentation, I have gained a firmer foundation for that belief. Granted, I don’t know nearly everything there is to know about the issue (I would be foolish to say so), but I have learned through this study that a belief in the Christian God and His power is rational in that it is consistent with the way the world works, human experience, etc.
I believe that psychosomatic (if that’s the word I’m looking for; science majors can correct me) drugs are for the most part pointless as a long term cure for these illnesses. I am no science major and I can’t back this up with evidence, but I have seen just from my own experience that specifically depression is never cured by drugs, but is rather cured through an intense, all-out mental and spiritual attack on the root emotional causes of that depression. In short, I refuse to believe that a drug will cure me when I’m sad when the real problem isn’t JUST the chemical imbalance in my brain (the drugs can at best treat these imbalances symptomatically), but something deeper than a physiological process.
I believe that God is not a watchmaker but that he intervenes in human history. I have personally seen the result of God’s answers to prayer. (However, I have also studied David Hume’s argument against miracles, and, given that it really isn’t a good one, I am more prone to believe that it’s perfectly reasonable to believe that an all-powerful God can do whatever he wants in terms of making Himself and His agency in human affairs known us)
I believe in the legitimacy of compatibilist freedom. In layman’s terms, I think that we are the happiest not necessarily when we conform to whatever situation we’re in (that would be bad in a lot of cases), but that once we find out what our purpose is as humans, as men and women, as children, as students, etc. and we EMBRACE it, that is when we will be the most “free.” This speaks to the paradox that Dr. Carroll brought up in class about how when Christians become more “like Christ,” they will become more “themselves.” I have seen this truth at work in my life; I can’t empirically verify it, yet I know without a doubt that I am happier and more free in the arms of Christ that I would ever be on my own. I also know (and I’m probably going to open a Pandora’s Box with this one, but I’m going to go for it anyway) that when I act as a woman (i.e. a servant and a helper for men and for all people) and quit trying to fight that reality of what I am, THAT is when I am the happiest, the most free.
Lastly (and I touched on this last class), I believe that social media and technology (as commonly understood; e.g. texting, iPhones, etc.) is not necessarily destroying mankind, but it is severely crippling it. I do not have statistical proof of this phenomenon, but I have seen it at work in my own life. I witness all around me every day the breakdown of fruitful, meaningful relationships because of Facebook, Twitter, etc. People ask me every day why I don’t have a Facebook, and although I often suppress my emotions in my responses to this question, if I did express my opinion on this issue to the fullest, I would probably weep. I adamantly believe that if social networking didn’t exist, the world would be a better place.
Sorry, in the paragraph about mental illness/drugs, I meant “mental illnesses,” not “these illnesses.”
First and foremost, I believe that everything happens for a reason. My parents were firm believers in this principle while I was growing up, so they made sure that I understood what they meant. Because of their influence as my parents, I accepted their principle entirely and blindly. However, this is not to say it isn’t true. Since moving away to college, I can see how particular situations in my life have prepared me to be who I am today at Berry. At first, I believed this because of my parents, then because of personal experience, and then, sometime in between, because of my religious beliefs (Matthew 5:45 and Romans 8:28.)
Secondly, I think that having a twin, or siblings in general, teaches you how to be intentional with your positive behavior and attitude. When my sister and I first got to Berry, we hit a huge speed bump in our relationship because, unlike at home, we had to intentionally try to hang out. We used to see each other every day, ride to school together, hang out with the same friends, and such, but here at Berry, we had to find the time to be with each other. This, I think, has helped me realize how intentional I need to be with ALL of my relationships. They don’t just happen by magic; I have to invest in them and help them develop and grow.
Thirdly, I think travel is the best medicine. Physically or mentally, trying to find a place or rest, testing what you think is reality, or just wanting to experience the world, I think that traveling is the best way to solve these issues. Sometimes, I think that we as Americans follow trends and fads blindly, so I think it would be incredible to escape this trap and the idea of the American Dream and see what other countries are like. To transcend ourselves and our selfishness be learning more about others and their way of living is not only interesting and exciting, I think that it can help us improve as a society as well. I don’t have much personal experience with traveling internationally, but I have been all over the eastern United States. If there are such differences between Florida and Pennsylvania, just imagine what we might find if we look beyond the US.
Fourthly, I think that sometimes we have to help ourselves, or invest in ourselves, before we begin to invest into others in our greatest capacity possible. This does not mean that we should neglect to help others on the way to becoming the best we can be to help others in the best way we can as individuals. For example, I want to become a doctor. I think that this is one of the greatest ways that I will be able to help my fellow citizens of the US and the world. However, I can’t just wake up this morning and start giving vaccinations and preforming surgeries. WIthout the proper training and investing in myself, I would be counterproductive in my mission to heling others. I think idea also entertains the thought that we need to invest in ourselves emotionally and spiritually, to strengthen ourselves in both regards, in order to help people in our fullest potential.
And lastly, on a less serious note, I believe that dogs, and animals in general, can teach us a lot about ourselves as humans. My family has always had at least one pet dog at a time, usually two. Because of the amazing experiences I have had with my pets in the past, I will forever try to have dogs in my life. As a younger individual, I think having a pet animal taught me how to really love someone or something besides myself. And what is great about dogs is that, even if you get mad or angry with them, they always come right back around in the end to love on you and show you that they care. Seeing this model of genuine love I think taught me how to love others selflessly and how to truly care about others more than about myself.
Being “wrong” or “failing” at something is terrible and should be avoided at all costs. This is something that I’ve always struggled with, and I think it has to do with the American culture and the importance placed on “success.” In order to be somebody, or be happy, we are taught that we can never fail, that we must have all the answers figured out. Yet this is unrealistic and untrue. Since coming to Berry, I’ve been able to see that it’s not so much in the goal, but in the journey it took to get there (succeed or fail) because you will still be affected as a person. Besides, if you’re learning and growing from an experience, it’s not a total waste or failure.
In dating relationships, women should not initiate anything. I had a conversation with Missy about this once, and I came to realize that we see the issue of dating/how it should be done properly so differently because of where we were raised. Because I’ve always grown up in the South, I’ve just always thought that we girls need to wait on the boy to make a move, but in the North, this isn’t though necessary.
After high school, the next necessary step is college. I suppose it’s the area in Georgia I was raised, but everyone I know either went to college or they are going. My parents went to college, so I guess they always expected me to as well. I forget that some people take different paths and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Family is the most relationship you can have. This belief is taught in numerous cultures, including American culture. I love my family and would do anything for them, however, when we read Gross National Happiness in Democracy and It’s Friendly Critics last semester, I found out that technically people don’t need familial relationships and do just as well (or better) with close friendships.
America’s system of law is the best and most effective it can be. Well obviously last semester completely changed how I view our law. I guess as Americans though, we are taught that our country has it “figured out” when really we’re still flawed.
Timestamp test: 1:15pm EST