Page A6 - December 9, 2009 - the caribooaadvisor
Challenge Day reminds us
to speak up and speak out
By Juli Harland
Last week I had the
honor of being involved in
a day full of sharing, relationships and hugs as far as
the eye could see. No, it
was not a weekend at
granny's place but a day
spent as an adult leader at
Challenge Day.
Challenge Day is based
on a Gandhi quote: "Be the
change you want to see in
the world." It is a program
primarily for youth, but
the effects on everyone
involved: the youth, the
adult leaders, peer leaders,
organizers - everyone, is
profound. Built on a principle that we are not alone,
and that many of us have
been through much of the
same hurts and joys, the
program encourages communication, inclusiveness,
and kindness.
It also brought to light
the many ways in which
we, as a society, tend to not
share ourselves or our
thoughts with those we
care about, let alone casual
friends and neighbors.
How many of us tend to
wear 'masks' or hide
behind the facade of 'everything is just fine', or how
we portray our desired
image of ourselves on others to avoid facing (and
showing) who we really are.
And it was a good reminder
that sometimes in life you
don't get a second chance
to share or say the things
you wanted to say; to let
people know who we are
on the inside, or what differences they make in our
lives.
Throughout the day
bridges were overcome,
walls were torn down,
apologies were made and
divisions were blurred. And
that was between classmates and their peers; classmates and their teachers
and adults. If great changes
could happen between
those who hardly know
each other, imagine the
impact if we spoke out in
our own homes with family, with friends and loved
ones.
Many of us spend much
of our lives, our homes,
with family. We may know
what kind of cereal they
like, what tv shows they
can't miss and what time
they get up in the morning,
but how often do we ask
about what their hopes and
dreams for the future are?
How often do we let down
our guard and talk about
what is going on for us? Or,
god forbid, ask for help
when we need it? How
often do we let them know
how much they mean to us
and how our lives would be
different if they weren't a
part of it?
My guess is not too
often.
We can get caught up in
the mundaneness of living.
We can tell ourselves that
they already know what we
think or feel. We can get
comfortable and just 'go
with the flow', not thinking that we may not get
another chance to bring
our loved ones a little clos-
er and make their lives, and
our own, a little richer in
the process.
The complete meaning
of this Challenge Day this
year came alongside some
very personal reminders of
why it is important to
speak our minds. Close to
one year ago we lost our
much-loved and respected
editor here at the Advisor Ernie Engemoen and only
months ago our family lost
a dear friend - Brad Blood.
In both cases there were
plenty of opportunities to
share with them about how
they enriched my own life,
and I wish I could say that
I did so at every opportunity, but to be honest I did
not.
Ernie, you told me to
not worry so much about
what people said, to maintain my positive attitude,
and to just know that I was
damn good at what I did.
That meant a lot to me, I
appreciated your laughter
and your encouragement.
Brad, you stared down
challenges and took them
by the horns. I admired
your courage. You loved
people without condition
or question, what a great
quality. Your dedication
and enthusiasm for creativity was motivating.
I am sorry I never
shared those sentiments
more when these two great
men were still alive in front
of me.
Be the change you want
to see in the world. Reach
out. Share. Recognize our
sameness. Celebrate our
differences. We are not
alone. Remind someone of
that today.
jharland@caribooadvisor.com