Western State College Journal Discussion

During the movie, when Charlie’s plane crashed he found himself in a difficult survival situation that almost cost him his life. Knowing what you know now after completing this course in the context of his survival situation: 1. What specifically did Charlie do well? 2. What specifically did he do poorly? 3. What would you do differently if you were in his situation? 4. From time of the crash to the end of the movie, what skills did you see that interested you and what skills are you called to develop further?

Quote for October 26, 2005

“My experience leads me to believe that the main distinction between those who fully participate in their communities and those who withdraw into private life doesn’t rest in the active citizens’ grasp of complex issues, or their innate moral strength. Instead, those who get involved view their place in the world very differently. They have learned specific lessons about approaching social change: that they don’t need to wait for the perfect circumstances, the perfect cause, or the perfect level of knowledge to take a stand; that they can proceed step by step, so that they don’t get overwhelmed before they start. They savor the journey of engagement and draw strength from its challenges. Taking the long view, they come to trust that the fruits of their efforts will ripple outward, in ways they can rarely anticipate.” – Paul Rogat Loeb

Quote for October 25, 2005

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” – Albert Schweitzer

Quote for October 21, 2005

“A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” - William Shedd

Quote for October 20, 2005

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Patanjali

Quote for October 19, 2005

“It’s not the situation that’s causing your stress, it’s your thoughts, and you can change that right here and now. You can choose to be peaceful right here and now. Peace is a choice, and it has nothing to do with what other people do or think.” - Gerald Jampolsky

Quote for October 14, 2005

“One final paragraph of advice: Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast…a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it is still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the grizz, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk bound people with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this: you will outlive the bastards.” - Edward Abbey

Quote for October 12, 2005

“The trick is what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same…” – Carlos Castaneda

Quote for October 11, 2005

“All people dream, but unequally. Those that dream at night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake the next day to find that their dreams were just vanity. But those who dream during the day with their eyes wide open are dangerous folk; they act out their dreams to make them reality.” – T. E. Lawrence

Quote for October 7, 2005

“This is the true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; The being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” -George Bernard Shaw

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