It's not just about rhinestones, ribbons, and tutus. And it's certainly not easy or cute. In fact, it's remarkable how much sweat, hard work, and time goes into making ballet look effortless. I tolerate bruised toenails, muscle cramps, and raw blisters because of the fleeting moment when everything finally comes together onstage, but it all starts in the studio...
When I sit down and truly think about what myself and my story, I think about all the material items I possess. I think about how in some countries people don’t even have clean water to drink and how I want to make a difference in the world even if it is small. I think about how I am feeling called to greater things than to help myself. I think about how I want to be able to go to another country and show orphans a brighter side of life, and how I want to build relationships with people from different cultures...
Squatting, with a thousand flies swarming around me and maggots wriggling around my feet, the stench from human feces overwhelms my senses. I struggle to maintain balance, because my skin making contact with the ground will almost guarantee that I will be infected with some disease or worms. As I try to keep my meager dinner of vegetables and rice porridge down, I think to myself: I have never appreciated sit down toilets so much...
Here I was, standing in front of a timeless work of art. I could feel the footprints of millions of tourists from all over the world beneath my feet. This was a famous face, a priceless one, recognizable by almost every person who had ever heard the term "artwork." And all I could think was, "Man, I'd like to get a selfie with the Mona Lisa."..
My mom always told me that when I was a child, she hated taking me places like the mall or even the grocery store. Why? I always pointed at everything I saw, wanting to know what everything was and how everything worked. I all but tired out my parents with my incessant questions about the toaster, oven, and even the lamp...
The Tragedy of the Commons
"The Tragedy of the Commons" by Garrett Hardin and "Green and Competitive: Ending the Stalemate" by Michael Porter are two articles that express the issues among the common areas around the world in which we all must share amongst one another. Over the years, we have implemented many laws and regulations in order to curb the major issues (i.e. pollution, breeding, etc.), but as it turns out, like everything else, there are loopholes and flaws...
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