Well, I’m not sure I even want to follow up Lauren’s blog because she’s said it all so perfectly.
It’s been an emotional time since we’ve been back, and I’ve spent the last two weeks super busy (from work to weddings to summer trips) – pretty much keeping myself busy so that I don’t have to write this blog.
Because writing this blog means I have to come face to face with the realizations from our trip; that I’ll have to try and balance my current lifestyle with my guilt and urge to fight for a better of quality of life for all people.; that I’ll have to realize that I might not ever be as truly happy as the people we met in Nigeria and so many others like them.
Life can seem unfair and unjust – my main mantra has always been that your quality of life
should NOT depend on where you were born – but as I grow older I am discovering what I didn’t want to know…that a lot of it IS all about where you’re born, what tools you were given or what you seek out (education, food, a house, health).
Some of the lucky ones rise above their poverty or their situation and make a great life for themselves and are able to give back to others. My next stride is helping people at home (and myself) open their eyes to the world that exists out there – the world that we tune out – the world that we need to give back to.
It could be a bum on the street corner by your house, a family in need of sustainable food, a neighbor that can’t pay their electricity bill, or a barefoot child – just look around you and take it all in – don’t continue to ignore it and think, “there’s nothing I can do.”
Poverty exists everywhere – and there’s no way that we will be able to eradicate it completely – but there are small steps we can take to help put a dent in it. Donating your income is great (and very necessary!!!), and I am much appreciative of all of our donors – but I urge everyone to become hands on as well.
There’s no way that I can make someone really understand what happened in that slum in Lagos, or that village school in Benin – they’ll tune it out and absorb it into the rest of their day (just like I normally would have). What you really need to do is become a part of the action (locally or globally) – make a difference and you’ll see what a difference it makes in you.
Andrew and Frank have impressed me so much, and I can say without a doubt that they are my role models. I look forward to watching them continue to shine and to what other endeavors the year will bring us.
Thank you to the Davidson community and to my personal donors for helping change my life, and so many others.
Because writing this blog means I have to come face to face with the realizations from our trip; that I’ll have to try and balance my current lifestyle with my guilt and urge to fight for a better of quality of life for all people.; that I’ll have to realize that I might not ever be as truly happy as the people we met in Nigeria and so many others like them.
Life can seem unfair and unjust – my main mantra has always been that your quality of life
Some of the lucky ones rise above their poverty or their situation and make a great life for themselves and are able to give back to others. My next stride is helping people at home (and myself) open their eyes to the world that exists out there – the world that we tune out – the world that we need to give back to.
It could be a bum on the street corner by your house, a family in need of sustainable food, a neighbor that can’t pay their electricity bill, or a barefoot child – just look around you and take it all in – don’t continue to ignore it and think, “there’s nothing I can do.”
There’s no way that I can make someone really understand what happened in that slum in Lagos, or that village school in Benin – they’ll tune it out and absorb it into the rest of their day (just like I normally would have). What you really need to do is become a part of the action (locally or globally) – make a difference and you’ll see what a difference it makes in you.
Andrew and Frank have impressed me so much, and I can say without a doubt that they are my role models. I look forward to watching them continue to shine and to what other endeavors the year will bring us.
Thank you to the Davidson community and to my personal donors for helping change my life, and so many others.
