Lesson #1: Unity

I feel like unity is the best title for this post because I want to center it around the Olympics that are going on right now in London. I could chose from an array of words like support, generosity, or even helping hands (though that one is a bit cheesy for my liking). The theme throughout the post will be closer to the word "support," but I want to tie that back into being unified. I want my theme to be that through support, bond's are forged.

As Major Payne would say "The root of unit is unity, without the Y."

We start our lives in family units. Bond with our parents and our siblings. As our world expands we have teachers and friends. Then we think of it on a global scale; We're all connected by living on this planet. Yet there is still so much unrest and discord. Then once every two years we have the Olympics. Yes, we hear stories of sabotage, like the Israeli gymnast being killed, or watch the water of a water-polo match turn blood red between two feuding countries. Still, I feel like they bring out the best in people, because of the support that the athletes give each other. You see them hug each other on the podiums, or right after a race, knowing they don't speak the same language but they both worked so hard to get to be there with the other. Then we see the support of an entire country backing their athletes with cheers that carry them through to the finish. You hear peoples stories, you watch them rise and sometimes fall. You connect with the athletes and die a little inside when you see one fail.

My experience: I was watching the men swim a race, and the entire time a South Korean swimmer was in the lead, then at the very end a Chinese swimmer caught up with him and beat him for the gold. I started the race hoping for the American, because that's my country, but the Korean had such stamina to stay that far ahead of the rest that I rooted for him most of the race. I was devastated when he was overtaken.

My lesson: Each of those swimmers were amazing. Each qualified for the Olympics (a feat in itself). Although I don't know any of them, I want them all to do their best. The thing I love most is watching the athletes support each other--hug and high-five. I've learned while watching my own brother pole-vault to cheer on every man. The vaulters don't care who wins as much as they care to see someone break a personal record. I've seen them be genuinely happy that a rival beat them because he was having a bad season thus far.

Essentially, it's about coming together to support someone in a personal quest. The unit of pole-vaulters, and the unit of swimmers all share the same goal. Do better. Go higher, farther, faster. This bond can carry us through. If we bond with the wrong people, it can bring us down just as quickly (that will be a post for another day).

My questions: If we see how unity can lift us, why the contention? Why still have wars?

I realize the answer to my own questions here. We may all share the same goal, but we want to attain it in different ways. (I know, wars tend to be started because someone disagrees with the goal set by the other person--yet we can't just get along or be diplomatic about it...) In political thinking, foreign affairs are a touchy subject that I really don't want to mess with.

My challenge: Support those you are united with. Create more bonds, support more people, become unified.  Don't worry as much about rivalries, rather worry about your "rival" and know they aren't so different from yourself. They have a goal, maybe all they need is the support.

Introductory Post

Greetings.

After having a blog for years and years, I realized that almost all of my posts were the same. I recall events in my life, talk about how fun it was or how happy I was or anything else it made me feel. It's like an online journal of a calender. Very little have I mentioned the lessons I've learned in life and the truths of life and love and all other emotions. This time, my feelings will be expressed in understanding why I feel the way I do.

This blog will be dedicated to things I learn, and cherish. Events spark these happenings, but this time what I learn from them will come out. I'm excited to start this blog as I undergo nursing school. I will be working with experienced nurses who deal with people all day long, smart and dumb ones alike. Not only that, but I will get to work with these kinds of people. As a CNA now, I work with the elderly. The things they have to teach will always be worthwhile. Not only that, but I work with their families, I see the emotions they feel at each stage of their parents lives as well as their own.

In my last blog I have often blogged about death and the things that come along with it. Expect a few posts about things like that. I also have many friends preparing to be married, so expect posts about starting a life with someone. I have friends who are pregnant, so there will be posts on the newness of life. I have opinions about media, style, friendships, drugs, pornography, stupidity, schooling, working, parenting, doing your duty, missions, trials, service, military, and all sorts of other things. I've learned things, I will continue to learn things, and I will share what I have learned with you.

My goal is to blog twice a month about something different each time. Wish me luck!

Mary