A few years ago, I discovered a book called “Change the World for Ten Bucks.” I suppose you might think that this is a big idealistic or silly, I mean, who can really change the world for ten bucks? But I doubt you’ve actually laid eyes on this book. 
The reason I like this book is because for ten dollars, you get to sift through a book that has numerous actions you can take to make the world a better place. Now I don’t know about you, but I joined the world of student affairs for that very purpose: I believe that I can make the world a better place. Since joining the CSSA program*, I’ve realized that I may occasionally be a bit idealistic and that perhaps my idealism blinds me of the realities that make equality and equity more difficult. But the thing I realized when I pulled this book my shelf the other day is that even though it’s hard, demanding, and sometimes can be daunting, I can and will help change the world in small chunks with small actions that make the world a little bit better.
As I mentioned above, this book has many actions you can take. There’s one action in particular that I want to talk about in this post. That is, “Spend time with someone from a different generation.”
I’m thirty years old. According to my cousin Aaron, I’m already passed the 33.3% mark of my life expectancy. I’m kind of in that vague land of adulthood otherwise known as “my thirties.” For me, it’s easy to spend time with people from different generations and honestly, sometimes I prefer it. There’s something magical about taking my eight-year-old niece out for ice cream. For her, life is still about friends and hugs and making sure she gets time to play. For my four-year-old niece, it’s even simpler. She has yet to join public school so she’s incredibly happy to give hugs, eat candy, and tell me she loves me to get out of getting in trouble. This is how life is supposed to be, right?
The thing I realized recently about this concept of spending time with people from other generations is that when you do, you can see why positive change matters. I talk my grandfather occasionally and am usually annoyed by his “When I was a kid, a hot dog cost 5 cents” speech. I always inform him that it’s the year 2014 and if he doesn’t want to pay $5 for a hot dog, he better drive to Costco to get a cheaper one. Now I don’t think that the inflated prices of hot dogs necessary show positive change, but if I want to find positive change, I can.
Hot dogs = gross food = people shouldn’t buy them = make them expensive so people will stop eating them.
Genius, right? I think so.
What I really think is that even though the world can stink sometimes and people are dumped on for no good reason, I am able to make change in the world. I’m not saying that I, Sharece Michelle Bunn, am able to save the world or even make it a happy place for all or any of that crap, but I can make it a little better through small interactions I have daily. And you know what, no amount of theory, discussion, or “reality” can take that away from me.
Thanks for tuning in!
Rece
Note: For those of you new to my blog or my life, the CSSA program is the College Student Services Administration program at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.
(Also – this post does not fit the “Oregon theme” of February on PBG.)
Peanut Butter Girl 