A Lesson in Self Reflection

Feb 20 2012 Published by under Megan E., Uncategorized 

by Megan E.

I donʼt know about you guys, but for me it can be really easy to fall into a technology rut. I get so wrapped up in school, work, and friends that I forget to appreciate the nicer things in life. I neglect to explore all the incredible things in my city that lie just outside my apartment door. So I decided to do something about it.

A beautiful weekend and some much needed free time led me to check out San Franciscoʼs coast line. Armed with a favorite book, some serious snacks, and my trusty backpack, I spent a glorious two and a half hours relaxing, reading, and taking in the
scenery. And it was nice.

Immediately I felt my mind clear and my muscles relax. It felt great to do something so simple, just walk. I explored the caves and ruins of Sutro Baths and then continued on along the coast to a spot overlooking Golden Gate Bridge. The afternoon light gave the water a magical glow and I watched the sun begin to set past the oceanʼs horizon.

As I got back on the bus to head home, I thought back on the experience I had. I realized that no matter how busy we get, its so important to set time aside for self reflection. If you never take a moment to appreciate what you already have in life, you end up just going through the motions without considering the importance of your actions.

Beyond reports, research papers, meetings, and deadlines, we have to remember to enjoy the time we have right now. Without doing that, youʼre just allowing those reports, research papers, meetings, and deadlines take over your life.

While itʼs no doubt important to pursue your goals, we must do so without compromising what matters. As our generation matures we must understand that the little things are important too. That thereʼs a world that lies beyond technological innovation and
success, that life exists without Facebook, and that sometimes all you need is a nice walk.

Keeping this in mind, Iʼve decided to devote at least a few hours a week to getting outside and exploring the city Iʼve grown to love. No matter how hectic life gets, Iʼm pledging to make time for myself.

And I suggest you do the same.

Weʼre a generation made up of some incredible young people. Millennials have proven time and time again that weʼre focused, engaged, and committed to finding solutions to the ills that pervade society. But as I have stated previously, all work and no play can make a Millennial lose the very inspiration that incited the work in the first place.

So take a break. Disconnect. Go outside. Live your life.

When you return to your goals, youʼll remember what made you set them in the first place. Youʼll find that inspiration that drove you to where you are today. Most importantly, youʼll gain the strength to keep fighting for the things you believe in.

And believe me, its worth it.

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To learn more from or connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme.
You can also follow the entire Millennial Chat team here.
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What do you do in order to make some time for yourself?
In what ways do you try to disconnect and make sure you ‘smell the breeze’ every now and again?
Comment below, join the discussion on Facebook, or tweet us!
(Kind of ironic we asked you this after this post, huh?)

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I AM SOMEBODY!

Jan 17 2012 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

These were the words that most stood out to me from the double feature movie event I attended last night at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

This event, showcasing one film about the Watts Music Festival and another about the Black Power Movement, served to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. by educating others about how the movement changed following his assassination.

It’s events like this one that truly celebrate the impact that MLK had. It seems to me like a lot of people think of yesterday as just another day off and don’t think about why we get that day off.

Instead of taking the opportunity to go on a mini vacation or lounge around all day, Millennials should take time to think critically about King, his impact, and the state of the movement today.

To be blunt, King’s work is by no means over. Racism is not a thing of the past, as much as we’d like to believe it. And until every child of color grows up with the same chance of succeeding as a white child, we must continue Dr. King’s fight. Racism stems from so many factors, it’s impossible to go through them all here. But the quote “I am somebody”, suggests an exceedingly important one.

It has always been my belief that the key to ending racism both personally and on a larger scale lies in understanding the person behind the label. It’s incredibly easy to judge someone based off their appearance instead of taking the effort to see them as something more. Underneath it all, we are all people.

Regardless of our pasts, our socio-economic status, the choices we make (or don’t make), the clothes we wear, the way we style our hair, our politics, and our skin color, we are all people. We have fears, dreams, anxieties, successes, and failures. We are all somebody.

And we all deserve the freedom to be ourselves without judgement nor condemnation. A person’s skin color should never affect the jobs they are offered, the neighborhoods they live in, the schools they attend, and the way they are treated everyday. Every child should grow up, proud of who they are, proud to be somebody incredible.

At the end of the day, that’s what Dr. King hoped for. Once that concept is embraced by all, everything else will begin to fall into place. Once we all understand and appreciate the humanity within the individual, we can begin to truly make Dr. King’s vision a reality.

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To learn more from or connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
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