Development after death

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Once I have lived, completely developed and fulfilled my potential in life, the question of ‘what happens next’ naturally follows.
I’m not entirely sure, what I believe happens after death.
The idea of a heaven and hell, a reincarnation process, or the atheistic view that there is nothing beyond the grave – all cross my mind as realistic possibilities. Although I do not have any developed or particular beliefs on the matter, the poem ‘ Pass On’ by Michael Lee resonated with me. I like the idea that we live on, that a part of the person we are here is not entirely lost.
His Ideal is an extension of Newtons scientific theory – that energy is neither created nor destroyed – giving it a believable, well-founded basis. This poem, the story in which he found his deceased friends, nine years later in a strangers basketball skills, could be taken to mean literal reincarnation, similar to Buddhist Teachings, or simply as a nice sentiment that character traits are not forgotten. I really like the line that states “the theory of six degrees of separation was never meant to see how many people we could find, it was a set of directions to see how many people we can find that we have lost”. I’m not sure I genuinely believe it at its face value, but I would certainly like to think we don’t die, but rather ‘pass on’.

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tuck quote

This quote featured in Natalie Babbit’s novel and Disney’s movie adaptation ‘Tuck everlasting‘, conveys that life’s scarcity isn’t necessarily a negative and emphasises that we should make the most of the time we are granted.
From the first moment I heard this quote as a child, I adopted it’s philosophy and developed an attitude , striving to fulfill life’s potential.

Future Aspirations

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With only a matter of weeks before year 12 graduation, I find myself at a crossroad between my present situation and the possibilities that lay ahead in my future. Over the last few years, the question “what are you going to do after school?” has become a topic of conversation that I dread. With a tentative tone in my voice, representative of my uncertainty, I quickly answer that I want to travel, take a gap year and probably study law at university; having not given much thought about the reality of those ambitions.
As the last day of school draws near, this question, only usually asked by well-meaning and curious adults has become a constant matter for my internal thought. It is only now, that I’m realising I better consider some realistic answers and figure out what it is I’m going to do next. I can’t pretend like I know the future or who it is I’m going to develop into, oddly enough life never usually progresses as you intended or unfolds in a manner you expect. Therefore it is purposeless to even try and contemplate who I will develop into from this point forward. I do however know, who it is I want to be, and can envision what the life I want, as of this moment, looks like.
Ultimately, I want to be a good person, and I don’t intend to utilise the word ‘good’ in the senseless everyday kind of manner, but rather in the most honest of its intentions. I want to become a person of valour, kindness, respect, patience and unselfish dedication.
An author I truly admire, John Green, wrote in one of his works – that the “marks humans leave are too often scars”. I hope I do not leave behind scars. I hope the life I lead enables me to leave behind etchings of positivity. I strive to have a positive impact on the world that surrounds me and in the lives of those I encounter and will continue to do so through the course of my life.
More specifically I have three goals that I hope to achieve in life, again these are mere ideals – not a map nor a check list that I will necessarily complete.

Travel the World
I hope to travel; to kick start an international adventure next year and never stop exploring the world that surrounds me. I would love to visit anywhere and everywhere – to see as much as I can in the time I am granted. This world is full of wonder, picturesque scenery and amazing people; I have this overwhelming desire to experience as much of it as I can, a feeling that can only be explained as wanderlust.
I am planning to take a ‘Gap year’ In 2014, with the intention to work for the first part of the year and travel for the rest. I am in the midst of planning a 6 week backpacking tour around the U.S. with the reputable company ‘Trek America’. If both time and money permit I would also love to go to the United Kingdom. I want to travel to be a major part of my life, incorporating it into every aspect of who I will become.
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Cultivate a Career
Like most, I aspire to have a fulfilling and successful career. Earning money has never particularly been a motivator, nor a means to my definition of success. As much as I would appreciate financial security, a far greater part of me wishes to help others. I hope whatever career I end up having, or line of work I pursue, that I am able to help people in a practical and significant matter. I have applied to study a double degree of law and communications in advertising at university but also have desires to work in the wedding planning industry. In terms of future studies and potential careers, my future is still very uncertain – a fact that I’ve only recently come to terms with. I’ve take comfort in a recent realisation, that no matter where I end up doing or what interests I pursue, I have the ability to be happy and successful.
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Create a Family
The last of my goals, is too, very common. I wish to have family. I hope that I will one day meet a man that I want to spend the rest of my life with – that I want to commit my love and life to wholeheartedly. I really appreciate the family I’ve come from, the home my parents made for us, and the way they have guided me. I hope I can one day return the favour to my own children. I’m not one to plan too far ahead, so unlike many at this stage in life, I don’t fantasise about who my partner will be, how many kids we’ll have, what gender they’ll be or what I want to name them – and in all honesty I don’t think I’ll mind too much. I don’t only want to be a paternal parent, but I also want to be an adoptive mother. I personally think it would be a much more difficult, but fulfilling task to change, rather than create, a child’s life. I find it incredibly sad, that so many children, particularly teenagers that are often deemed “un-adoptable” are left without a home and are not adequately supported or loved. I would like to provide at least one child, that might not otherwise have the opportunity to reach their full potential to do so.

I hold the belief that however my future will unfold it will, for whatever reason, have meant to have happened and is somewhat out of my control. So although the prospect of leaving school is rather daunting, I take comfort in the belief that things will be okay in the end

Do Unto Others

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Raised in a Christian family, from a very young age I’ve been taught fundamental values that are depicted in the bible and conveyed by church teachings. As I age, explore and experience life, I am developing my own belief system and set of values, it must be duly noted that it is a system that falls subject to constant questioning and doubt. At this point in time, at the tender age of 17, I still have huge question marks surrounding religion, faith and a whole hearted belief in any form of higher being. I don’t have all the answers; I don’t believe I have all the answers and perhaps I never will feel that way –perhaps I’ll never have the faith to believe in any one particular religion or God with complete certainty. However, asking these questions is an important step in the process of self-discovery and vital if I’m ever to become a religious person.
To put it simply, I don’t agree with every aspect of the church or its teachings and I’m not sure what it is I do believe. However, I am very aware of the positive impact that being raised with religious surroundings has had toward my development.
I’m glad I was raised a Christian and have attended a Catholic high school – I believe it has broadened my knowledge, opened my eyes up to the world, kept me grounded, and indicated why it’s important to be a respectful individual. Although I disagree with many of the beliefs; I appreciate many of the Christian values. Values such as forgiveness, redemption, equality, love and acceptance, are not exclusively religious, I believe these values are indicative of being a good , wholesome person.
Jesus’ ideal that we “should do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is one particular value that I hold dear to my development. It was this teaching that first sparked my strong sense of empathy and compassion. I believe, in order to achieve peace and understanding on both individualistic and global scales, all of mankind should treat others as they wish to be treated. This simple rule infers that every person would then be treated with respect and dignity – two foundational contributors of peace and harmony. It is a value I have come to appreciate and on a daily basis, impacts how it is I behave.

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Lessons From Harper Lee

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bird

Sometimes you read something, see something on TV or listen to a song that completely changes your life; these moments are rare so when they do happen they are monumental.
As a requirement of the Year Ten ‘literary perspectives’ course in English, I read Harper Lee’s classic ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.
The novel soon became one of my favourites – faring so high on my list, for its contextualized depiction of inequality, portrayal of human nature and timeless wisdom. The novel did not only entertain or educate me, it seemed to understand me – summarising many of my own values and ideals that I hadn’t yet been able to describe or explain to myself. One quote in particular, leapt off the page and landed among my core values. Atticus Finch, one of the protagonists, is quoted saying “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. This sentence both inspires my great appreciation for objectivity and describes the very reasoning behind my tendency to be empathetic. Just as I value compassion, I value empathy and believe that it fosters understanding and respect, and in turn fosters peace. The phrase worded perfectly by Harper Lee, has enabled me to develop a sense of justice and inspires me to act fairly- a defining factor in who I am, how I behave and how it is I’ve developed.

Image source: Original painting, Georgia Johnson 2013

Compassion is the measure of a man

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Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
The Dalai Lama

Compassion can be defined as a “sympathetic pity or concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others”; it is the ability to look outside of one’s self and display kindness altruistically.
Tibetan Buddhists consider the Dalai Lama to be not only a spiritual leader or mentor, but also an embodiment of compassion. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso’s selfless work which aims to foster peace between China and Tibet is an expose of his care and compassion for others. A man of wisdom, the 14th Dalai Lama has indicated the vitality of compassion in our world, saying “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. (that) Without them humanity cannot survive”. I have come to consider this belief to be fact, and greatly value the virtue of compassion in others. I really admire people that are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to help and support their fellow men, particularly in situations of spontaneity or in circumstances that might necessarily involve or impact them.

One particular American television show “What would you do?” stages varying situations to observe how people respond in “everyday” situations that require compassion, tactful thinking and immediate action. The often controversial scenarios are played out by actors and secretly filmed on hidden cameras.
The episodes feature confronting and differing situations that raise ethical dilemmas, moral contemplation and pose a difficult question, to the unknowing general public one that asks “should I get involved”. Particular episodes have featured scenarios in which racist remarks are made publicly, individuals are stranded with flat tires, teenagers fall subject to their parent’s abuse, or affairs have been exposed, with personal lives unraveling in a public place. The popular show demonstrates the vast capability of human compassion. After a scenario takes place those present are told it was all part of a setup, often those that are captured helping, speaking out or stepping up to remark that they did it “without thinking”, that actively demonstrating compassion was an instinctive reaction. I strive to be like those individuals; with compassion so deeply engrained into my being that it can transcend into action instinctively and instantaneously.
I believe that compassion and empathy inspire understanding, and it is understanding that creates peace – thus the world would be a much better, peaceful place, if everybody displayed a bit more compassion more often. I hope that through the course of my life – I can benefit that cause.