PeaceJam | What do I REALLY want to get out of PeaceJam?

What do I REALLY want to get out of PeaceJam?

Posted 10/16/2009 at 6:56 PM by Amanda F

OK, so this is a question I have been getting asked a lot, this and what is PeaceJam? So I've sort of answered it a couple of times and all those answers were true, but I thought about it a lot today because I’m going to be a mentor at the PeaceJam slam at Florida State University tomorrow.
I finally really figured it out. What I really want from PeaceJam is to be inspired. It is so easy to just turn on the news every morning and not be surprised by all the horrible things happening around the world. That’s not what I want to feel. I always want to feel empathy and I always want to be surprised and moved by all the things that need fixing in this world. I want to be inspired to know that they aren’t the norm, and they definitely aren’t the rule. It is so easy to sit back watch the new and think “oh, another civil war just broke out here” or “another famine happened here, what can I do?” I want to be inspired to make a difference in the world, and I really think PeaceJam can help me with this. Anyway I’m really excited and I’ll just have to post what happens tomorrow.

Share |

1 2 ►

Brett E wrote:

It is so easy to sit back watch the new and think “oh, another civil war just broke out here” or “another famine happened here, what can I do?”

wow, that sounds just like me lately. It's sad to be saying things like that... =(

I'm sure you'll get a big blast of inspiration tomorrow! And then come back for double when the conference happens =)

posted 10/16/2009 at 9:13 PM

Penpa D wrote:
Hope you have an awesome time tomorrow Amanda! I hope you find more than what you asked for from PeaceJam.:)
posted 10/16/2009 at 9:27 PM

Ellinda M wrote:
Ditto all that up there!
posted 10/19/2009 at 10:52 AM

Mary M wrote:
It's easy to get desensitized by media or even ignore issues sometimes. Your post is an important reminder for all of us to stay educated on what is happening in our communities and the world. And to stay inspired and never stop being people of action! I hope the slam was awesome!
posted 10/19/2009 at 2:44 PM

Kate P wrote:
This post reminded me of a DIFFERENT quote I read recently. Well, it's more like a tiny story than a quote, I guess. Anyway, I found it inspiring and I hope ya'll like it! 'One time when I was a child, I was feeling very upset and angry at one point. I think I was around seven or eight. And there was this old woman, who I later become very close to. But the first time I ever met her, I was walking down the street kicking stones with my head down, and I was feeling very lonely. I was basically feeling that nobody loved me very much and that people weren't taking care of me. So I was walking along angry at the world, kicking stones. And this woman said, "Child, don't let the world harden your heart.And I always remember that. It was the first real teaching I received, I think. It's still a teaching I remember."' -pema chodron
posted 11/2/2009 at 11:06 AM

Kate C wrote:
Hey there Amanda How was the Slam? Rudy came home excited! He said it was great. I would love to hear about your experience.
posted 11/2/2009 at 3:03 PM