Scenes From a Midwest Memorial Day Weekend

I thank His Holiness

"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life."

The 14th Dalai Lama

I can't think of any better way to kick off the summer than to hear the Dalai Lama. The University of Northern Iowa brought him to speak on campus. I, having a very kind and generous friend, had the privilege of attending the panel discussion and the keynote address. While the topic was "Education" the Dalai Lama touched on several issues and ideas; everything from nuclear disarmament to overpopulation to human nature. One of the lessons I came away with was that it is our nature, he says, to be happy, compassionate and caring toward one another and our world. But social injustices and the fact that not everyone experiences compassion, can lead one to violence. Not just physical violence, but exploitation, isolation and other harms as well. If we forget that other people are human beings, with feelings, emotions and needs, then that is a form of harm. When we create an "us against them" we do harm. Too often, he said, people get wrapped up in secondary interests (ie: religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, class, education, etc.) and lose sight of what is more important. Not these categories, but the primary category of "one human family" is what we should be most concerned with.

Mind you, the Dalai Lama is not an idealist, he is very knowledgeable about political implications and social realities. He is thoughtful, cheerful insightful and keenly attuned to global happenings. I was thinking of an episode of "This American Life" about a four year old who was able discern a striking comparison between the lives of Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr. I thought about the messages of Jesus and MLK Jr and thought about the Dalai Lama. I suppose it is his messages (you know- really controversial, like "Happiness comes from the inside.") along with the status as the exiled spiritual and political leader of Tibet, that afford the Dalai Lama with a secret service detail and, for all attendees, metal detectors. A "Free Speech Area" was established across from the arena in which he spoke. As far as I could tell, nobody was exercising their right to protest the Dalai Lama.

Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of the day for me, was when he set expectations for the keynote address. He informed us that he couldn't heal people, and he was skeptical of people who promised healing. He informed us that this was not going to be formal, because formality puts distance between people. He made sure we understood he was just speaking to us on a human level-- one human being to another. Nothing more, nothing less.

Introductions

I'd like to introduce you to a new blog I enjoy following: Sam's Truck. Sam is three year old with a splendid imagination, a penchant for fighting carnivorous deer and a father willing to depart with five dollars and four bottles of Yuengling to acquire Sam's Truck. It is a delightful documentary of the adventures (both actual and imaginary) of one of my favorite three year old boys and his awesome family.

Mile Stone- Half way done with the program- In theory

Lessons learned this semester:

1. I'm not as organized as I pretend I am. I'm working on remedying this and maybe a new piece of technology will help.

2. I have good friends in Iowa. That doesn't mean they will stay here. That doesn't mean I don't miss all of my friends everywhere else. That doesn't mean that I can stop trying to meet new people and make new friends.

3. I am not able to subsist off of processed convenience foods. I tried. I hated myself. Getting straight "A's" is not worth eating frozen pizza every night and I wouldn't get straight "A's" anyway.

4. When you toss and turn and can't go back to sleep because you are thinking too much, thank your mind for thinking so much and for all its hard work. Be kind to yourself. Tell it you don't need it to think right now and that it should reward itself with some sleep. Strangely, it works.

5. Your best is good enough and if it isn't then maybe that path should be reconsidered.

6. Things will get done. Sometimes by grace. Sometimes coercion. Sometimes because of amazingly helpful and caring friends. Often times by really hard work. It will get done.

7. Get exercise. You know you want to. You know you feel better when you do. Even if you don't think you have time. Just do it.


8. Pay it forward. I can never fully repay friends and classmates for what they have done and taught me. I can only pay it forward.

9. Perspective. It is rarely gained by gazing at a textbook or a computer screen.

A weekend in Denver

Oh, finals. It will be so nice once you are finally over! I have a paper due Monday and two finals (one cumulative) on Tuesday. Tuesday night? I already have PLANS! (Fun ones)

Last weekend I was in Denver for a conference. I can't express how nice it was to have some of my IA friends hangout with me in Denver and my Denver friends hang out with me in general. The weekend provided a nice melding of past and present and a time to really enjoy the presence of good friends. I have good friends in Iowa. But it took some time to develop the awesome friendships of Denver. I'm not positive, but I think the recipe for good friendships is a sprinkle of chemistry, a dash of circumstance and a some time. I have good friends in Iowa and I think with the seasoning that only time allows, those friends will become lifelong friends like my Denver and Kansas friends.

To all those I was fortunate enough to see, thank you! For those I couldn't see this time around. I will be back. And of course, you can always come visit me too.