Actions Speak Louder Than Words

"you ask me why I do not write something... I think one's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results." This quote by Florence Nightingale influenced the title of my blog. I chose the first title because, over my several years in undergrad, I have written hundreds of pages pontificating about how I think the world should be. Sometimes, the subsequent reactions were "Joe, this was good, but not exactly what I assigned." I would comeback with "I know, but..." and then I would do the assignment over. Well, I want to turn my words into more than moral hubris.

Aristotle's quote, "Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions," influences the subtitle. I chose the second title because isolated acts of activism rarely amount to anything. Results take continuity. Change doesn't come in a day or a week, it takes years of gradual improvement and unrelenting dedication to the change one wants to see--often with setbacks and obstacles along the way.

Well, having recently graduated, I have a chance to turn my pontification into something tangible. If you want something to change, go change it. Hence, I will start my career in activism as a City Year Rep. on Tuesday 13th January. I'm very excited! As hard as it may be to believe, I love doing more than talking.

I hope through my actions with City Year Boston I can attain moral excellence through habitual service. I want to make my feelings about poverty, education, and social justice mean something--I want my feelings distilled into actions which bring results. City Year has been praised for its results, so, here I go.

In the infamous words of Dr. Collar "you're not here just to punch your ticket to the good life! No one is gonna stamp your forehead!" It seems I took that to heart as I'll qualify for food stamps. But, what I don't make in money I'm sure ill make in friends and the satisfaction of helping ones who don't yet know how to help themselves. I hope you all enjoy my blog. I'll try to keep up with it daily. I'm sure everyday will be an adventure....