Thanksgiving 2011–Lauren’s Reflections
This year will be my first Thanksgiving away from my family. Instead, I will be spending it with my ‘adoptive’ family- about 30 of my fantastic and close-nit friend group. I love this time of year. A chance to sit back (hopefully amidst the holiday mayhem) and reflect on the things that we do well as individuals, friends, communities and countries, and the things we can improve upon. I am a big believer in not just looking at the challenges that face us, but the ways we can create solutions.
This year, I have been fortunate enough to work on a lot of campaigns and projects, talk to incredible organizers and youth leaders, and have opportunities to build a stronger sense of who I am as a person. One of those projects is working with the Revolution Hunger initiative, and the youth leaders who are making it happen everyday. I am always greatly appreciative of how much creativity, ingenuity, passion and leadership skills young people have in our country- and these young people are constantly discovering new ways to look at our countries and worlds biggest challenges.
One piece that has inspired me, is this video by Oxfam and their GROW program. Just like Revolution Hunger, this project is looking at the root causes of these challenges worldwide, and offers a glimmer of hope in how we can all be a part of that change. I love the way it highlights such diversity and experience, and seeing how we are truly part of a larger global network of humans, fighting for better lives.
Whenever I face challenges in my life, I have come to realize that I have a large network of people to rely on. A community of friends, family, and even those who I don’t know, who inspire me to look beyond the small things and challenge me to think about the bigger things in life, while appreciating what I have. Not all people may have this, and I hope I am to build on the work of many in the past to create a better future for others- a gift that I have been given for being born in the place I greaw up. Through our work at Revolution Hunger, I hope that we can spark a passion inside young people to create not only families and communities who are free from hunger, but create families and communities who give one another support, love and empathy. So while I may not be with family this year, they will be with me in spirit. That’s what this season of gratitude is for me, and I openly and passionately look forward to the future.
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