Hunger Interest and Action

Tomorrow I have no school. I decided I should do something interesting, preferably outdoors since I know it will be nice out. I thought to myself, what if I just walk? I could pick a direction and walk, stopping halfway through the day to turn around and walk back home. But why would I do something like that? Why simply walk? Here's why:

I'm going to wear a t-shirt that says "THP.org" on it, to advertise The Hunger Project. I'll also wear a sign on cardboard that says, "20,000 DIE FROM HUNGER EVERY DAY," and I will eat nothing all day.

I am protesting hunger. I suspect that most people already know that there are millions of hungry people, so I'm not trying to raise awareness, per se. But I am trying to draw interest. Interest and action.

Although I know most people have work or school tomorrow, it can't hurt to ask: does anyone want to walk too, in your hometown? Even just for part of the day. Write a shocking statistic on a piece of cardboard and carry it. Who knows what kind of difference this could make? *idealistically hopeful smile* :)

P.S. Yes, I know my previous post said this blog is on hiatus, but I just had to post this.

Hiatus

This blog is on hiatus until the school year ends, because I just don't have enough time/energy to work on it between school and my personal interests. Also, my creativity tends to decrease in the spring (I don't know why. And it peaks in autumn.). I don't want to sacrifice quality just so that I can keep my blog current. Sorry to any readers (do I even have any regular readers? I don't know). May 1st I'll be back!

Small Talk to Conversation

Starting a conversation with someone you don't know very well can be challenging. Once you run out of small talk ("Nice weather" and "These éclairs are good"), what do you talk about? Do you panic in the awkward silence and blurt the first thing that comes to mind? Wouldn't you rather have a meaningful conversation instead of a series of increasingly irrelevant sentences?

This is the key to conversation: find a shared interest. Mention some things that you enjoy doing, find interesting, or are passionate about. If the person reacts to any of them (even if they react negatively), there is the potential for a good discussion (or a friendly, respectful debate). However, be very careful if you start talking about religion or politics, because people can get very upset about those things.

One other thing is extremely important. In fact, it's essential. Be honest with your conversation partner. I cannot emphasize this enough. Most people can understand that not everyone cares about the same things. Never pretend you care. If he or she starts talking about something that bores you, politely say so, or discretely change the subject. If you smile, nod, and make friendly remarks without meaning any of it, the person will get the sense that you are fake. It might not register consciously, but it will be in the back of their minds the next time you meet. Being honest, on the other hand, will give them the sense that you are open and candid, which builds trust between you. Trust is fertile soil for friendship.

I'm not going to give you any complicated conversation guidelines, because those would only distract you when an opportunity to talk arises. You only need to remember these two things: find a shared interest, and be honest. After that, just let it flow.

Meet People: social functions

I won't spend much time explaining why it's so rewarding to meet new people, since I hope it's fairly obvious. Instead, I will focus on a possible situation and strategy for meeting people. Social functions are one of the most common situations available for making acquaintances. Most people already go to various meetings, parties, and gatherings, but often they don't talk to unfamiliar people. They tend to form a group with people they already know, standing in a closed circle that inadvertently excludes outsiders. Without their friends present, they often become wallflowers, fading into the background. Other people seem to drift through the room, passing from group to group and talking with lots of new people. These are the social butterflies.

Which group are you in?

If you're the wallflower type, try this: pluck yourself from the wall, and join a group that looks friendly and receptive. Introduce yourself, maybe tell why you are there, and ask what they had been discussing (unless you already know, in which case you can state your opinion or ask a question). Be a good listener--wallflower types tend to be good at this--but don't be afraid to put your two cents in. Think about the topic, examine your viewpoint, and state your opinions when it is appropriate to do so. Feel free to disagree with someone else's opinion. Someone who always agrees is about as interesting as a pull-string doll. If you're nervous about talking to unfamiliar people, ask yourself if it really matters whether you sound like a fool or not. Do these people have authority over you? If not, why bother trying to appeal to them? Don't let shyness or timidity hold you back from being assertive and social.

As for social butterflies, you don't need much advice on this topic. You already meet new people all the time. Here is my only suggestion: actively seek out those people that stand on the sidelines. If you are a social butterfly, alight on a wallflower.

Keep Learning

It's very important to keep learning as an adult. Most people finish school, get a job, settle down, and severely decrease the amount they learn. Gradually, the things they learned in school fade and their ability to learn fades with it. Yes, your learning capacity can decrease. Use it or lose it.

People who keep learning as adults get a lot of benefits. They experience a much smaller decrease in learning capacity. Their memories stay sharper as they age. They stay up-to-date on changes in society and technology, so they remain useful in their jobs and respected in social circles.

Learning is exciting if you are interested in the topic. All of the cool adults I know are learning something interesting that they get excited about. Two of the most fascinating people I know are actually studying to get their pilot's licenses. Another person studied and tested for her amateur radio license. Another, who hated his weekly piano lessons as a child, has taken a liking to classical music and decided to take piano lessons again, and he has already had a successful recital.

Find something that interests you. Foreign languages, computer game programming, an art like sketching or sculpting, or--if you're ambitious--a new career skill set. Community colleges provide a lot of options for adult education. Community centers usually offer a host of seasonal classes, generally more Arts-oriented. Almost all have a price tag attached, but it's not too difficult to save up. Locate one of these places and ask for a catalog so you can see how many cool choices there are. Find a fun way to keep your mind flexible and active. Stay sharp; keep learning.

Look Out Windows

Take time to pause for a moment and look out a window. Just pause. Stop walking so hurriedly (if you're in a crowded hallway, take care not to stop suddenly). Where are you going that's so important you can't even stop to enjoy the view of the outside world? How many hours do you spend looking at a computer screen that isn't even half as interesting as a window?

As you look out the window, you might feel the urge to go outside. At lunch break, or after work/school/whatever, do it! Go outside and sit for a moment, or walk around in a leisurely manner. Pay attention to your senses. Feel the sun on your head and shoulders, the wind on your skin, and the ground or pavement under your shoes. Smell pine trees or flowers, or the hot dogs cooking at the stand down the street. See the blue-gray sky, the multitudes of people or the lack of people, and the shapes of the things around you. Learn to appreciate the beauty of both countryside and city. See the city as a giant jungle gym, or a computer chip, or anything that you find interesting.

Look out windows, and see more than what others see.