elissasmith.ca

Over the summer I allotted myself 4 months to reflect on my personal direction. It is nearing the end of the summer and I feel that it is time to write my thoughts, publish them on my website and send them to people whose values and opinions I respect.

I will not delve into the processes that lead me to my beliefs; it is enough to say that it has been an emotionally and mentally intense learning curve. I am not ashamed of my conclusions, I am proud of them. I am excited to move on, more confident in my convictions and beliefs.

Here is a list of 6 major conclusions that I made over the summer. I am still open to critical self-reflection so please tell me if you think that I am headed in the wrong direction.

1. I create my own reality. If I change my mind, I change my choices, I change my life, and I can ultimately change my world!

2. I have realized that everything that I used to be scared of; government, the UN, NGOs, and money are social constructions. The good news is that I am a social being therefore I can enter into these worlds, and there is nothing to be scared of!

3. I appreciate the power of thought. I used to live in a world where numbers and rational facts ruled the world. The truth is that decision makers and business leaders rule the world and these people live in a world of words and ideas. I have come to the realization that if I am to change the world I am going to have to live in the world of words and ideas.

4. I have immersed myself in activist/hippy culture this summer. I believe that the environmental and social justice movement is built upon respect, fun, love, and community. This summer I learnt that “hippy culture” can also be seen as to altruistic, self-sacrificing and non rewarding of a movement deeming it largely unappealing to the majority and to the mainstream. It is with this understanding of the mass perception of “hippy culture” that I believe it is ever more important to target our programs at a broad range of individuals and truly “meet people where they are at” without being judgmental and alienating the mainstream lifestyle choice.

5. The more money one has the more they can effect change, be it negative or positive change. Therefore making money will be useful if I want to make positive change. If I choose to make money; I will make it ethically, I will invest it ethically, I will use it for ethical purposes, and I will distribute any excess ethically.

6. I will challenge myself to be as effective an organizer as possible while keeping within my sustainability values. For example, I will be aware of how much I fly, how environmentally harmful communication technology is, and where the funding for my projects comes from. I will strive to seek a balance between these awareness and my desire to be an effective organizer who is both efficient and working for global systematic change.