There was a time when I stopped watching TV, or listening to
the radio and believe it or not, stopped going online and checking my
emails. I always joked about living in
my own world.
Truth is I found it easier than keeping up with current
events. I can't do that anymore.
It's ridiculous really; what I was doing was pretending,
more like lying to myself.
If I don't watch the news and stay out of serious conversations
maybe my world would remain unaffected.
I can't just pop my head out when the weather looks safe and
promising. No, I can't live in my bubble
anymore.
Yes, the world we live in is ugly, full of violence and crime. It seems senseless that innocent people are dying
daily.
I vow to acknowledge the darkness we reside in by becoming a
solider of light.
Let me educate myself with its ugly ways and use that power to
help clean it up.
Running away from my responsibilities is no longer an option. What counts now is this moment on.
The more time I spend reading the newspaper, checking
newsfeed updates and listening to NPR, I realize surviving these hard times
means tuning in and staying aware.
I must gather my tools,
take to heart the lessons of my professors, keep myself surround with young
ambitious peers and pull from everyone I encounter.
We are the generation that matter because we are the here and
now. Let us too pay tribute to those who
paved our way.
No one is perfect, but I WANT TO TRY.
I want to stop judging others for their differences and
spend more time treating people with respect and show the world more love.
I didn't set any New Year resolutions. Why should I, I thought, 2012 and the end of
time, so childish.
Well here's one now:
I will wake up every morning more thankful and see the glass half
full.
I will not procrastinate because I know now that I am a part
of a bigger picture and that my delay affects those around me too.
I will not put others down or speak ill of my neighbors, nor
will I listen to others bash each other.
I will try to be more
helpful and understanding because someone else along the way has and will
continue to show me the courtesy of patience.
I could go on and on, but simplistically put, I will strive
to be a better person and just.
I don't know where I get my arrogance, or why I feel so self-entitled. The truth is I am the person I am today (my
good qualities) because someone else took time out of their life to help mold
me.
I am a direct result
of teachers, family members, friends, co-workers, religious beliefs etc.
We've all heard the cliché, life is short. Yeah so, then maybe every second should count.
I want to thank those who keep me in-check and continue to
positively affect my life and hope that one day
I too may be a person of influence
to someone.
And why the sudden thought?
Because I NOW watch the news, because I can no longer live in my own world
or stay ignorant in the dark.
