This past Tuesday I was on my way to work at my kitchen shift for Project Angel Heart. One of my friends kindly lent me her car so I could get there easily. On my way out, I was reversing the car in the parking lot and reversed straight into a pole. The entire back window smashed. I could not believe what had just happened. In disbelief, I got out of the car to assess the damage. My first reaction was that I had to go to Project Angel Heart or I was going to be late. After a frantic call to my older sister we decided that I could not leave the car in the parking lot without a back window, leaving easily accessibility to any thief. After returning back to school much later and dealing with the inevitable drama of a car accident all my friends were appalled that something so horrible could happen when I was on my way to serve the community. One boy was very upset saying, “That’s what you get for doing a good deed.” This made me thing about people’s connotations with community service. What do people say to you when you declare you are going to serve the community? What are people’s general reactions to doing selfless act without any strings attached? This particular thought did not cross my mind, I do not expect to be rewarded for doing a kind act. To me, that is just the same thing as saying, “Why would I hold the door open for this elderly lady, what good will it do me?” One cannot debate every action they do and the consequences that it will lead to. I do not contemplate all decision is my life, is that a good or bad thing? It means I am more impulsive and act on first reactions. At the same time it means I am more inclined to do something that will benefit others. How do you react in these impulsive situations and how does that effect your life?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
WEEKLY BLOG
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ReplyDeleteI think in situations such as the one Milly described of opening the door for another person, acting on impulse is perfectly harmless to both of the parties involved. There are tiny situations like this one that don't require a lot of long-term logic. However, in other situations the impulsive instinct may get one into trouble. If one is extremely impulsive, they are likely to give in to peer pressure more easily. In fact, some extremely impulsive people may not even think twice about peer pressure; if they are the tiniest bit inclined to do something, they likely will. Even if it is something potentially harmful or dangerous. These people often do not think about the big picture.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when doing a service for the community, reward or reaction should not be expected. While it is always nice to be recognized for one's work, the larger importance of community service is helping others and giving back. Milly's car incident was unfortunate, but I am glad she didn't write it off as a sort of poor reaction to her trying to help the community.
Believe it or not, not everyone sees community service as a good thing. Some people think it is a waste of time and ask me why I would spend a lot of time participating in it. In high school, I volunteered for something once a week. My mom would always get aggravated and tell me that I didn’t have enough time to volunteer. Both my mother and my brother were astonished when I said I wanted to go to the Dominican Republic to live at an orphanage during Spring Break. I had to fight to go there and even when I went they weren’t very interested in the stories I had to tell. They felt that I did not make a big difference and thought I completely wasted my time.
ReplyDeleteThey are the type of people that think actions through and try their very best to not do things off of impulses. They think through the impulse first before they act on it. Sometimes it is extremely useful and stops them from doing things that are not the best for them, but sometimes they hold back too much and do not get to experience things to the fullest. I am the type of person goes forward in life because of impulses. I can sometimes end up in places that I hate and wonder why I decided to go there. But, in other cases, I’ve ended up at a place that I really enjoy and learn a lot from. In both cases, I expand more as a person and understand myself better.
Believe it or not, not everyone sees community service as a good thing. Some people think it is a waste of time and ask me why I would spend a lot of time participating in it. In high school, I volunteered for something once a week. My mom would always get aggravated and tell me that I didn’t have enough time to volunteer. Both my mother and my brother were astonished when I said I wanted to go to the Dominican Republic to live at an orphanage during Spring Break. I had to fight to go there and even when I went they weren’t very interested in the stories I had to tell. They felt that I did not make a big difference and thought I completely wasted my time.
ReplyDeleteThey are the type of people that think actions through and try their very best to not do things off of impulses. They think through the impulse first before they act on it. Sometimes it is extremely useful and stops them from doing things that are not the best for them, but sometimes they hold back too much and do not get to experience things to the fullest. I am the type of person goes forward in life because of impulses. I can sometimes end up in places that I hate and wonder why I decided to go there. But, in other cases, I’ve ended up at a place that I really enjoy and learn a lot from. In both cases, I expand more as a person and understand myself better.
Milly-
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your accident! I am very surprised about the reaction that you got from some people regarding community service as useless unless rewarded or compensated. When I think about everything that my community has given me and provided me with, I don't understand why anyone can be discouraged by giving back. In this sense, I guess I don't participate in community service selflessly. Does one ever truly serve their peers or their community without hoping for something in return? I personally love the feeling of significance and accomplishment when I help others or do community service work; this in itself is a benefit that I expect when volunteering. Does this make me a selfish or self-interested citizen?
In response to your reflection on impulsive tendencies, I agree wholeheartedly; although it is smart to weigh the positive and negative outcomes of a decision, it is ridiculous and potentially even harmful to over-think your own judgment. If you second guess yourself or contradict your gut feeling, it could limit any new or significant experiences that you would otherwise benefit you. I have regretted many of the decisions that I made after going against my instinct. If you never take any risks, you will never grow as an individual.
In no way could I be considered an impulsive person. I plan, agonize over, and delay every decision I have to make, from writing, to shopping, to school, and even to community service. Yet while it takes me ridiculous amounts of time to conclude upon an action, I believe that my lack of spontaneity does not inhibit me, but ironically, lends itself to my improvement, and in some way, my community’s. My indecisiveness prevents me from making irrational decisions I would later come to regret and constantly pushes me to grow, as I choose to put myself in situations that I would impulsively avoid due only to their difficulty. My hesitant personality also allows me to volunteer. Like the many people, I think, I am an inherently selfish person. I look to please myself more than others in many situations, and the decisions I eventually make are made because they will most benefit me. So, because this is my nature (though I do try and hinder it, of course…), impulsiveness would not only put me in many awkward situations far too often, it would also prevent me from doing community service. However, it is over time that I make choices, and time allows me to weigh the pros and cons of a situation, and in the case of volunteerism, finally push outside the box my selfishness often keeps me trapped in. It allows me to see the meaning of community service outside myself. If I were to act impulsively, I would only ever see things in direct relation to my needs and my wants. Thankfully for all, however, I am not an impulsive person.
ReplyDeleteOh My Gosh Milly, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident! When things like that happen, you just can't believe it and especially on your way to do time at PAH!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to see how differently people react to community service work. Some people see it as a great and helpful act, while others view it as simply a waste of time. Many of my friends did not understand why I chose to volunteer my time. They would often say you are not getting paid for it, so why do it? or you aren't going to make a difference things are just going to continue being bad. These remarks infuriated me and caused many arguments. In the end I still choose to participate in community service because of what it does for me, and I know even though the result is not always large, it is still a difference. I am definitely not an impulsive person and would rather analyze decisions and outcomes. I have now started to realize this may be holding me back and I may need to start being more impulsive. Either way, I feel both traits are effective in the context of volunteering and making a difference.
I can't believe somebody criticized your desire to do community service. I can understand somebody not wanting to participate themselves, but there cannot possibly be a good reason for them to frown upon those who do act. Why would they think that giving back to the community is bad? Do they think that it hurts the community or the person giving? And why would it hurt any of the people involved? If somebody thought through an impulse and still wanted to help, then the desire must be valid on some level. On the other hand, perhaps the person criticizing spoke based on an impulse rather than actually thinking through their thought process. Impulsive thinking can go either way. It can be detrimental to those acting, or those being acted on. But it can also be helpful. As Milly pointed out, holding a door open for the person behind you is impulsive and results in good things. If more people had simple, yet good impulses, and actually acted on them maybe the entire community would be better off.
ReplyDeleteHere is Zach's comment:
ReplyDeleteI have always been a person that has no problem serving others. I have been a Boy Scout or Cub Scout for virtually all my remembered life and have always been taught it is the right thing to do no matter what anyone else tells you. As a Boy Scout in high school you catch a lot of flack for the things you are doing: helping others, service projects, volunteering, just being a Boy Scout. As more an more people criticize you for what you do, the general norm is to give up and change your lifestyle, but at that point in my life I had already realized that getting Eagle Scout, helping others, and continuing down my own path was the right thing for me to do. Service may not be right for everyone and who am I to say any different? I believe every person should have the strength to follow their own path and not be changed around by others. Second guessing yourself when criticized is only normal, but changing your ways because someone else tells you should is pathetic in my eyes. If you are impulsive, wonderful! As long as you do what you want and are not disappointed in yourself there is no reason for you to listen to anyone else when they say it’s not the right thing to do. Follow your heart if I may be cliché.