Enough is enough

It is unfortunate how it sometimes takes death to remind us to cherish life. While certainly not an isolated incident, the nine lives taken in Charleston, SC on the night of July 17, 2015 are a vivid reminder of the inner problems we as individuals and as a country still face. Despite the words we write or conversations we have, little change has occurred as many of the same issues we've dealt with for centuries are repeatedly slapping us in the face. Will we continue to hide, sticking with the status quo and anxiously expecting someone else to fix them? Or will we proactively seek solutions on an individual and societal level, thereby putting the interests of humanity before our own?

Either way, it's time for a serious self-examination. We cannot continue to label ourselves by race, sex, religion, or political affiliation. While all of these help to define us and in some way strive to unite, more often they end up tearing us apart, creating arguments where there should be dialogues. Instead, we can utilize our intellect and gifts as human beings (i.e. communication, education, critical and rational thinking, love, respect, empathy) to facilitate change and recognize that we are all equal. We are ONE. That knowledge is more powerful and unifying than anything.

Simplicity

We live in a busy world. High speed, high intensity. High stress. It seems everything is go, go, go 24/7/365, leaving us little time to "sit back and smell the roses." Taking a break might mean someone else jumping in front of you, whether that be at the supermarket, at your job, or on the court. I've grown accustomed to this life as it is what I grew up in. Consciously or subconsciously, social and cultural norms are affecting our day-to-day thoughts and actions. And they are constantly evolving as we ourselves are. Beautiful, yet at times, terrifying.

Take a look at TV commercials for example. An advertisement by Coca-Cola or Coors may entice us to go to the fridge and grab one. Same is true for movies and popcorn, two words that go hand-in-hand. Even if we're not at the theater, we often feel the need to make popcorn when watching a movie from the comforts of our own home.

While I do appreciate the busyness, I have had a few moments since returning to the US where I long for Peace Corps simplicity. As an outsider, I was originally unaware of many Philippine social and cultural norms and in some cases, they didn't apply. This may sound strange, but there is a sense of freedom that you have as a foreigner. I was oblivious to this freedom in the moment, but I recognize it now that I have returned to the US. The freedom from your own norms and from the restrictions we place on ourselves. The removal of these norms and distractions allowed me to focus on what I value and craft my own personal ideology that I can turn to amidst the busyness.