Trav's Thoughts

I started a journey about this time last year.  It has gone well so far.  And it continues every day.  I'm always finding things I can do better.

So today I wish to re-dedicate to the re-dedication I put into words on 9 September 2010.

This is always a tough time of year for me, as we approach the commemoration of the terrorist attacks of 11 Sept 2001.  I can feel it coming as August turns to September.  As each day passes, I can't help but be retrospective, which leads me to introspection, and then to a new dedication.

Dedication:  The act of binding yourself, intellectually or emotionally, to a course of action. 

So here's what I'm going to do.

• I'm a kind person.  I like the way being kind makes me feel.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to being kind.
• I believe that when one is denied the inalienable rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...then those rights become meaningless for all.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to advocating for equal rights for all.
• I was taught that there is honor in service itself, not in the type of service.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to serving in the way that seems best to me.
• I was taught that knowledge is power.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to learning all kinds of things.
• I realize that spirituality is a uniquely personal thing, and I understand that not all faiths and forms of spirituality easily stand side by side, and that some may reject any form of faith or spirituality.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to respecting the faith and spirituality, or lack thereof, of all.
• I believe that hate and prejudice are learned behaviors, mainly based in ignorance and fear.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to becoming more aware of my prejudices, to understanding the root causes of them, and to overcoming and eliminating them. 
• I was taught that I am responsible for my actions, my words, and my choices.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to positive actions, positive words, and positive choices.  I shall own them all.
• I believe that diversity need not be divisive.  So I shall re-dedicate myself to the celebration of infinite diversity in infinite combination. 

I'm not perfect.  I'm an idealist.  I strive to be the best person I can be.  And periodically, I need reminders that being a good person requires patience and persistence.



Reason 58:  I blog for peace so that I shall continuously renew the patience and persistence I need to re-dedicate myself every year to a path of fulfillment based in knowledge, responsibility, service, and respect for diversity.