Extra Hour(s)... How Will You Make a Difference?

As I began to look towards the end of next week I noticed two things about my upcoming calendar of events: The first thing I noticed is that my summer is filled with many different events that I normally don't get the opportunity to do during the school year. These things extend from traveling home to see my parents to training seminars that will increase my knowledge in my profession. The second thing that I noticed is that I have some days this summer in which I have nothing planned (this is not normal for me). I began to wonder what your (the student's) calendars would look like for the summer. With this I thought, what will you and I do with that "extra" time?

An hour here, a half day there, maybe an entire day of well... nothing. If we were to add up all of our wasted time doing "nothing", we could probably do some amazing things. Now, defining "doing nothing" must at least have some parameters put on it before we go forward. When I refer to doing nothing, I mean those moments in which you can't even remember the next day what it is you spent those moments doing.

As most of you can assume, I have always been a big fan of staying busy, and in order to do so I almost always carry something to read with me. In my car you will find a book or magazine (currently Time Magazine), same with my backpack (currently Five to Rule Them All). In my house you will find magazines on the coffee table (not those celebrity mags that have more pictures than words). Next to my bed one will find an array of books yet to be read, and let's not forget that the Kindle has about 18 titles yet to be delved into... But this isn't about reading, this is about doing.

I want you to help me in the upcoming week to think of some ways in which we can make our wasted moments in life more meaningful and purpose driven. How can we help society and our world progress? How can we challenge our minds, bodies and hearts towards achieving our future goals and dreams? How can we help our communities become better places to live, work, and play? Take a moment to comment on what both you and I could do with our extra time this summer. Who knows, maybe we can reflect back on our summer and realize how much we actually accomplished, and how much of a difference we made.

Progressive Thinking,

C.S.

Some ideas:

Tutor a sibling or friend in Math or Reading

Start a community group to solve an issue in your neighborhood

Begin working to save money for college

Grow a garden

Cure Cancer