musings while travelling
1) i had a talk with my aunt before leaving for my around the world trip, and she commended me for staying a christian through university, citing that this is often very difficult and not everyone succeeds. i was thinking, though, that all the people i know who really struggled with their faith to the point of potentially giving it up, are all mostly done with university. it seems that switching to the working world is even harder than going through with ones studies... mm suggested that its not so much school vs work environment, but a changing of lifestyle in general that creates that stress... or maybe no generalities can be made since faith is quite personal, and thus each case needs to be handled on an individual basis. i firmly believe that your studies should be a time where you are challenged on every level, including your faith, your beliefs on science, your political views, etc. my mother insisted that i go to a school where that would happen, and i think it did, as evidence by my far more liberal attitudes now. but that said, someone can be challenged, change their minds, and then change them back again. back to the issue at hand, how can we create a loving and supportive environment for all people being challenged on every level to not feel too overwhelmed and to have a save space to think?
2) having too many friends means that you cant always trust whos going to keep their mouth shut, and thus a rant to someone two degrees removed (excluding the one degree through me) from someone else, can still get around. this is why mm and i gossip between ourselves. gets all our emotions out about someone/something, and doesnt go anywhere else. i still have the urge to gossip with other people who are in no way linked to the person involved, but thats backfired way too many times. in short, i should just stop gossiping all together. but wheres the line between gossiping, and getting a load off your shoulders?
3) internet is necessary. i dont care what people say against facebook and msn, but it is fantastic to keep in touch with people, and flat out necessary when other means are too expensive/impractical due to time differences. and i like keeping in touch with people
2) having too many friends means that you cant always trust whos going to keep their mouth shut, and thus a rant to someone two degrees removed (excluding the one degree through me) from someone else, can still get around. this is why mm and i gossip between ourselves. gets all our emotions out about someone/something, and doesnt go anywhere else. i still have the urge to gossip with other people who are in no way linked to the person involved, but thats backfired way too many times. in short, i should just stop gossiping all together. but wheres the line between gossiping, and getting a load off your shoulders?
3) internet is necessary. i dont care what people say against facebook and msn, but it is fantastic to keep in touch with people, and flat out necessary when other means are too expensive/impractical due to time differences. and i like keeping in touch with people