Serving in a developing country and in a region where there's often various types of lack has forced me to recognize and to confront attitudes of entitlement in myself and in others. Living most of this life in the U.S. where there's an abundance of products, services, avenues, and ideas has developed a tendency to overlook undeserved privileges of citizenship and culture. I wasn't entitled to a breadth of childhood experiences, but I had them. I wasn't entitled to a standard of education, but I received one. I wasn't entitled to gainful work experiences and compensation, but they were available (eventually). In many places, these things are available insufficiently . This IS NOT about criticizing the U.S. Praise God for birthing me in such a place and for allowing me to exist outside its borders to see more clearly. This piece is about accepting personal responsibility and asserting the fact that nothing is accidental, nothing is guaranteed, and we aren't entitled to anything. Paths of discovery must be forged and considerable work must be done in order to seize opportunities in life. Serving in a developing country and in a region where there's often various types of lack has made me more grateful, more reflective, and more inclined to differentiated effort. I think one way to counteract attitudes of entitlement which morph silently within is to consciously ask ourselves how we can use our circumstances (whatever their measure) to help others. I've written this exact sentence and have it posted in view before I leave the house in order to influence my mindset..
I've seen entitlement in the workplace. It indicates itself by enthusiastically saying, "This is my experience or that's my job or that's my assignment!" all while quietly and carelessly disregarding or even refusing information that protects the availability of such things in the first place. Learning to address these attitudes among peers appropriately and with respect for the reality that we are all at various stages of development takes planning and considerable thought. Frequently, acting in accordance with principles even at the cost of being alone or uncomfortable has been necessary in my journey. While the embrace of unentitlement stings initially, afterwards you're freed to real learning and to real growth. Embracing unentitlement has been humbling, yet it has enabled me to connect more authentically with the world. The totality and fruition of this experience is making me (by God's grace) a better citizen, better leader, and better person.
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A Concise Lesson from Year One is a statement I wrote recalling an experience in-country where I learned the increasing value and importance of mere listening without judgement.
It was ultimately published in the spring 2014 edition of Peaceworks, Peace Corps Morocco's literary magazine. A Concise Lesson from Year One By Jeremy Kyle Houston Your presence can liberate people. I remember walking down the street in my training site just before sunset. The narrow streets were dimly lit by the dusking sky. Walking or ‘taking a turn’ as I now know it can be an incredibly social experience in Morocco. As I exchanged pleasantries, a relatively familiar young person approached me. “I don’t believe in God,” he stated quickly and quietly. My first reaction was an internal state of alertness as these types of conversations are flagged with good reason as ones to avoid. Compassion soon followed as he relieved, “I can’t say that to people here.” The purity and humility in the exchange transformed the air from weighted to buoyant. I smiled realizing that what he needed least was a doctrinal explanation or a statement of faith, but rather someone to simply listen - without judgment, without an agenda, and without a compulsion to fix. The same conversation has found me more than once in this collectivist culture, and I always feel a sense of responsibility and unmerited favor in listening to people reveal themselves more honestly. Being present for people to do so is powerful. Allowing it is necessary if we hope to glean any understanding from the complexities of a world rapidly in flux. This is peace work. And this is what we have volunteered to do. |
AuthorWelcome. After years as a manager in the education field, I accepted an invitation in 2014 to serve with the U.S. Peace Corps in Africa in the Youth Development sector. There have been no regrets. Disclaimer: The contents of this site and opinions expressed therein are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the Peace Corps, the US Government, or the Kingdom of Morocco.
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