10/20/09
For many years, I have had this pie in the sky dream of opening orphanages and a clinic in Africa for children whose parents have died of AIDS (of course, I wouldn’t discriminate against children who were orphaned for other reasons). This dream did not stem from just one place. I contribute it to a multitude of experiences and interests: my desire to work in pediatric medicine when I get my degree, my genetically-programmed maternal draw towards children, my fascination with epidemics (namely AIDS and TB) and desire to figure out how the hell they are relatively controlled in this country and yet killing people by the millions in the developing world. There’s more to it than economics. Lastly, Africa is close to my heart, as it was home to my father, grandparents, and great-grandparents who were pioneers from England seeking adventure and signed up to work for the Rhodesian colonial government. I’ve grown up feeling both in awe of Zimbabwe’s (and later, the rest of Africa’s) landscape, history, people and diversity as well as feeling indebted to those whom colonialism touched negatively (I DO recognize the positives that colonialism brought e.g. infrastructure, medicine etc but even that is debatable as to how much it has helped, which is a whole discussion in and of itself). With all of the media and medical attention focused on the AIDS crisis in Africa, I cannot help but feel compelled to contribute my share, in some way. Monetary contribution is good and necessary, but I feel the need to dedicate time and personal effort as well. Enter my dream of opening and running an orphanage and clinic there. Upon further exploration of this dream, I’ve come to realize that this dream is somewhat selfish. Like Ayn Rand, I am a true believer that selfishness is a great thing when it ends up helping others. However, I’ve come to believe that my opening an orphanage may be selfish in the bad way. You’ve all heard the stories about how neglect in orphanages stunts emotional and intellectual development in children, and all is lost if this happens between infancy and age 2. So upon further reflection, I’ve decided that it would be better to support foster care in Africa. I recognize that there would have to be financial support for the families who take orphans in but, call me an optimist, I think people are, in their heart of hearts, charitable. If they have the means to help and someone in need is in front of them, many people will help. I need to explore this idea a lot more, but until I find a reason to think this is not a good option for the children, I’m sticking to it.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Autumn
9/18/08
I used to dread fall because it signified that winter was near. I hated winter because colors seemed to evaporate from nature and everything was less illuminated. Less colors and less illumination signified death to me. But lately, I’ve been training myself to live more in the present, and to not see one thing as merely a prelude to something else. I want to appreciate the uniqueness of the very moment that I’m living in. So this fall, I am, for the first time in many years, loving the cool breezes that rush through my bedroom window, and happily donning my long sleeves and long pants. I relish in the pleasure of drinking a warm cup of tea and letting it warm my body on the inside while the cool winds chill my skin on the outside. I no longer see the turning of leaves as a sign of doom but rather as merely a sign of change, a reaffirmation that there is only one constant that we can depend on, and that is change.
I used to dread fall because it signified that winter was near. I hated winter because colors seemed to evaporate from nature and everything was less illuminated. Less colors and less illumination signified death to me. But lately, I’ve been training myself to live more in the present, and to not see one thing as merely a prelude to something else. I want to appreciate the uniqueness of the very moment that I’m living in. So this fall, I am, for the first time in many years, loving the cool breezes that rush through my bedroom window, and happily donning my long sleeves and long pants. I relish in the pleasure of drinking a warm cup of tea and letting it warm my body on the inside while the cool winds chill my skin on the outside. I no longer see the turning of leaves as a sign of doom but rather as merely a sign of change, a reaffirmation that there is only one constant that we can depend on, and that is change.
First time blogging
2/9/09
I've never done a blog before but thought it would be a great way to flesh out my thoughts on whatever random subject pops into my mind. I have a few journal entries that I've kept on my computer over the past year so I'll start with posting some of those.
As the title of my blog indicates, the purpose of my blogging/journaling is mostly for my benefit and not necessarily to inform, educate, or impress others. I hope, however, that by unpacking my own ideas, it will positively impact whatever I set out to achieve. As Lao-tzu once said, "The secret is as ancient as the study of philosophy - it originates with man's first inclination to understand himself."
I've never done a blog before but thought it would be a great way to flesh out my thoughts on whatever random subject pops into my mind. I have a few journal entries that I've kept on my computer over the past year so I'll start with posting some of those.
As the title of my blog indicates, the purpose of my blogging/journaling is mostly for my benefit and not necessarily to inform, educate, or impress others. I hope, however, that by unpacking my own ideas, it will positively impact whatever I set out to achieve. As Lao-tzu once said, "The secret is as ancient as the study of philosophy - it originates with man's first inclination to understand himself."
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