Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth. For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love. - Francis Bacon
Odd, the things that make you think. Many say that it would be imposible for someone doing my job to get lonely. It is pretty obvious, isn't it? I spend every day surrounded with undergraduates and others in the field of higher education. Many of them are great people... many of them kind, considerate, and someone concerned with my well being. At least I would like to think so.
Have you ever stood in the middle of a crowd at a concert, or even in the middle of a crowd at a high school football game, or a theater show? Next to you, you are almost sure to find someone else. Sure, they may be there, but why? Are they there because they care about you? Of course not. A crowd is not company. As a matter of fact, a crowd is just that.
Solitude. There is nothing happy about that word. It means being alone. I've come to realize that solitude and being alone do not necessarily need to represent something bad. As I stand in the midst of the crowd, it becomes more clear to me who does care. I begin to realize what is truly important in my life. Sometimes, my realizations frighten me.
It can be lonely out there, even when several smiling faces surround you. However, my lonliness has helped me realize the difference between being alone and having someone there for you. Lonliness can be inspired by us, but can only exist if there is no one else there to help you fight it. Sometimes, we overlook the truth and we don't really understand what it means to be alone. While the crowd does not usually yield friends, I know I am not alone. I've met people who are.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Drawing the Line
Nearly eight months have gone by, I have traveled through 23 states, visited 30 college campuses, and met hundreds of people. Strange to think of how little time has gone by and how much life has changed in the process. When I look back, I don't really know what I was expecting to get out of this experience. I figured it would be an opportunity to contribute to Phi Psi while traveling the country. I guess I never really understood how much I would be able to take from my travels.
Every time I get into my car and drive down a highway to some new place, I ask myself, "who am I going to meet next? What problems are they facing? Did I ever have any of those problems? Can I help? If not, who should they turn to?"
When we accept a responsibility in life, we often find ourselves facing a challenge. The challenge is understanding your responsibility. While I realize that there really is no clause in my contract that says I need to make sure that I spend a Saturday night hanging out with some of the guys or that I should listen to a guy when he needs someone to lend him an ear. I guess the one thing that can always get in the way is remembering that I took this job because I wanted to give back to Phi Psi. Sure, I am off the clock most of the time, but in some small way, understanding the seperation is confusing. I am happy to stand by my brothers as a brother, not as some guy that works for "NATIONALS". Sometimes you just have to know where to draw the line.
Every time I get into my car and drive down a highway to some new place, I ask myself, "who am I going to meet next? What problems are they facing? Did I ever have any of those problems? Can I help? If not, who should they turn to?"
When we accept a responsibility in life, we often find ourselves facing a challenge. The challenge is understanding your responsibility. While I realize that there really is no clause in my contract that says I need to make sure that I spend a Saturday night hanging out with some of the guys or that I should listen to a guy when he needs someone to lend him an ear. I guess the one thing that can always get in the way is remembering that I took this job because I wanted to give back to Phi Psi. Sure, I am off the clock most of the time, but in some small way, understanding the seperation is confusing. I am happy to stand by my brothers as a brother, not as some guy that works for "NATIONALS". Sometimes you just have to know where to draw the line.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
"To these beliefs I pledge my life..."
"The Alpha Tau Omega fraternity is being closed because of damage to the chapter house and risk-management issues, university (of Michigan) and fraternity officials said Monday."
- The Detroit Free Press (April 12, 2005)
"Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity faces charges after allegedly holding an unregistered party last month. University Police reports state the party had more than 300 people in attendance. However, partygoers are contesting those and other allegations.
- Independent Florida Alligator (April 12, 2005)
" The Chico State senior is accused of supplying vodka to 10 underage pledges at the Sigma Chi fraternity house Jan. 20."
-Chico Enterprise Record (April 12, 2005)
"The Tufts Greek world is currently in a tailspin after the revelation that the Delta Tau Delta (DTD) fraternity, long a staple of fraternity life at Tufts, will be closing for a year following numerous violations uncovered after a pledge was taken to the hospital during a fraternity event."
- The Tufts Daily (April 12, 2005)
"Police in Arkadelphia are trying to figure out what sparked a huge brawl between two fraternities at Henderson State University. Police say between 50 and 75 people were involved. "
- KATV 7, Arkadelphia (April 11, 2005)
"It happened at Delta Tau Delta fraternity house overnight, where a party turned into a fight. People were asked to leave and gunshots soon followed."
-WISH TV 8, Indianapolis, (April 8, 2005)
Everyday, I read stuff like this and I stop and ask myself, "what are we doing?" What are we doing to ourselves? This is the news that people read, watch, and hear everyday. These are the things people use to form an opinion of the Greek World. Sure, we are doing great things too, but we are supposed to. We have all agreed to that. Sure, boys will be boys, I know. We accept that because we want to. Do we accept terrorists will be terrorists, Or George W. will be George W., or even that administrators will be administrators. Many believe that all three are hurting the lives of others. Where does the Boys will be Boys theory differ? Sure, our decisions aren't made to hurt someone, but how often does it happen? We pledge our lives to being ABOVE AVERAGE people, to respect, honor, courage, and love. Then we look for an excuse whenever we can't hold up our end of the agreement, but we become upset when others can't hold up theirs.
We live so much of our lives applying pressure to ourselves because we choose to....not because we have to. and the end results are frightening. Most of us would give our lives to accomplish some superficial, dumb, worthless task like getting a piece of ass, out-drinking someone else, or even to make money. How many people give their lives trying to be happy? AN HONEST SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS? But I think even as much as you and I look for that, we have to stop and ask ourselves how much we are letting the outside get in. How much control are we taking of our lives and how much control we are giving outside forces.
Today has been an enlightening day for me. How about you?
- The Detroit Free Press (April 12, 2005)
"Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity faces charges after allegedly holding an unregistered party last month. University Police reports state the party had more than 300 people in attendance. However, partygoers are contesting those and other allegations.
- Independent Florida Alligator (April 12, 2005)
" The Chico State senior is accused of supplying vodka to 10 underage pledges at the Sigma Chi fraternity house Jan. 20."
-Chico Enterprise Record (April 12, 2005)
"The Tufts Greek world is currently in a tailspin after the revelation that the Delta Tau Delta (DTD) fraternity, long a staple of fraternity life at Tufts, will be closing for a year following numerous violations uncovered after a pledge was taken to the hospital during a fraternity event."
- The Tufts Daily (April 12, 2005)
"Police in Arkadelphia are trying to figure out what sparked a huge brawl between two fraternities at Henderson State University. Police say between 50 and 75 people were involved. "
- KATV 7, Arkadelphia (April 11, 2005)
"It happened at Delta Tau Delta fraternity house overnight, where a party turned into a fight. People were asked to leave and gunshots soon followed."
-WISH TV 8, Indianapolis, (April 8, 2005)
Everyday, I read stuff like this and I stop and ask myself, "what are we doing?" What are we doing to ourselves? This is the news that people read, watch, and hear everyday. These are the things people use to form an opinion of the Greek World. Sure, we are doing great things too, but we are supposed to. We have all agreed to that. Sure, boys will be boys, I know. We accept that because we want to. Do we accept terrorists will be terrorists, Or George W. will be George W., or even that administrators will be administrators. Many believe that all three are hurting the lives of others. Where does the Boys will be Boys theory differ? Sure, our decisions aren't made to hurt someone, but how often does it happen? We pledge our lives to being ABOVE AVERAGE people, to respect, honor, courage, and love. Then we look for an excuse whenever we can't hold up our end of the agreement, but we become upset when others can't hold up theirs.
We live so much of our lives applying pressure to ourselves because we choose to....not because we have to. and the end results are frightening. Most of us would give our lives to accomplish some superficial, dumb, worthless task like getting a piece of ass, out-drinking someone else, or even to make money. How many people give their lives trying to be happy? AN HONEST SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS? But I think even as much as you and I look for that, we have to stop and ask ourselves how much we are letting the outside get in. How much control are we taking of our lives and how much control we are giving outside forces.
Today has been an enlightening day for me. How about you?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
