Au

Of all the things we can do, meeting new people may be one of the most powerful parts of our lives. People are what make this world what we know it to be. People are living, breathing, doing.

Alive.

The earth is spectacular without humanity generally, but for me at least it is the human spirit and ingenuity that make this earth our great world. Cultures that are diverse. Creativity that generates invention, beauty, and betterment. Conflict that divides us, and the needs that unite us. Everything I talk about has to do with humanity. I may despise society every once in a while, but society is also exceptionally important to me. I want to make the world a better place. But why? I want to help improve lives. I want to make this world better for the people who populate it. The children of the next generation. I guess I am an idealist in that way, but we need our idealists.

When we meet new people we grow. We learn. We become aware. Space camp was a great chance to learn about more people and the complexities of their lives. We have to learn to step into the shoes of others and understand how other people live. I was watching a tv show on CMT about party kids who have no self-discipline and no direction. At one point I thought to myself, "wow, it would be awesome to party every night and live without any expectations. it would be so free and relaxing." But as much as I want that freedom, I realize that these kids are suffering. The parties, the girlfriends, the booze, it's all a short-term solution for a lack of fulfillment. These lost teenagers are an unfortunate result of society's lack of cohesion. But I can do my part to be better than that. I can do my part to even help these teens. It might sound mean but these teenagers' flaws inspire me to be a better person. I don't want to end up like that in the future. I don't want to be untrustworthy and unfulfilled. If only I could constantly be reminded that I don't want to live such a life.

So I will Au. Meet (in Japanese). I will learn about the other people in my community, greater Seattle metro, state, and world. That is how we become better individuals and eventually a better society.

On a day like today when the thermometer rises to 103 setting a record far above the all-time of 100, we all suffer. At least in the Seattle area we do. Nobody has AC. Everyone feels the triple digit heat. For one day all of us poor and rich, young and old, of all races and religions, of all political affiliations and sexual orientations finally are united by God's insufferable heat. We work together to make sure we survive. We attempt to make the best of it. And it is at these times when God reminds us that we all just need to get along.