This American Life : Unfulfilled Dreams

  This week for my writing class I was asked to listen to some podcasts from either TEDRadioCast or This American Life. This is the first one I listened to for the assignment and it was interesting. It talks a lot about different peoples' journeys towards self-improvement and some interesting ideas about how they go about it.

    Here's the full episode: Self-Improvement Kick if you are interested in listening to all of it. Now for you who haven't listened to it, I'm gonna try and convince you to do so. The first part of the podcast relates the experience of an American teacher in South Korea and what she discovered about the South Korean culture. According to the podcast, South Korea is the number one country for plastic surgery. The South Koreans try and alter their bodies to appear more like western civilization—specifically Americans. In the high school where this teacher works on all of the walls there are mirrors, I might mention this is an all girl school, which were placed there by the principal so the girls would be encouraged to maintain their figures and try and be more beautiful. Obviously shocked by this, the teacher had a discussion with her students about what is truly important when considering one's own self-image. Listen to it; it is enlightening. 

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives#2014

     Might I add my own commentary to this? I would like to just point out that the effect of our own over-sexualized society not only effects our views and our people but it also has a far reaching effect—touching many, many other countries and people all over the world. It may be time to reconsider what we consider as important as a society and country as beautiful and important. Just saying...

     Now, the experience of Daryl Watson was very empowering for me to hear. I really liked to hear what he had to say about his personal spiritual journey and how it turned out. The missionary in me wanted to scream and shake him, but obviously that doesn't really work when your facing a computer screen. But the whole story just reiterated to me the fact that there are many people out there who are looking for a higher purpose in life and for the truth. We need to be ready at all times to help those who have these questions so they too can have the knowledge that we have in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

     The last part, which you must listen to the full version in order to hear it, talks about the dream for a better world. A group of people tried an experiment in Honduras, trying to pull the country out of poverty by a social experiment. I want you to listen to it so I'm not going to give anything away, but I will say it was very intriguing for me to think about and listen to.

     Anyways, hope you take time to listen to it and think about its implications in your own life. And after you think about it, write down your ideas: ideas are the seeds which lead to social innovation and improvement.

With love,

Will Glade

The one walking beside you.