Dr. Jeff Hutchinson, Center for Adolescent Health
Welcome 2021! This month’s suggested reading list focuses on Service and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and advocacy continues.
January does not have a cultural recognition title but includes Poverty Awareness, Global Family Day, World Braille Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 18, 2021, marks the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. The third Monday in January is “a day on, not a day off,” and the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
Article
This article can be a blueprint to service: “7 Fast and Powerful Ways You Can Serve Others: Are you using your ability to change someone’s life?”
- Share with someone a cause you feel passionate towards.
- Pick one of the seven ways to serve and do it.
- Ask someone close to you to also pick a cause to serve.
Books
“Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success” by Adam Grant. This book describes the three characteristics we all have: giver, taker and matcher. Adam Grant argues that being more of a giver builds relationships and success.
- Describe the situations in your life where you are a giver, taker and matcher.
- What are the barriers that keep us from being more generous?
- Reach out to someone you consider a “giver” and thank them.
“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande. This book is a personal reflection on dealing with our mortality and the changes we’ve seen in how we treat the elderly. This book stresses how important it is to recognize the wishes of the people we seek to help.
- After reading the book you should feel the need to talk to family members about their wishes. What makes that conversation difficult?
- Describe a time you realized that your help was not helping.
- Let your elders know how special they are.
Listen
Please listen to the entire “I have a dream” speech: https://youtu.be/1UV1fs8lAbg. Many of Dr. King’s points remain true today.
- What does being judged by the content of your character mean?
- What did you learn listening to the speech that you never knew before?
- What is your dream for the future?
Service is a challenge when we are low on energy, resources and time. 2020 asked so much of each person that retreating from service feels like the only way to take care of ourselves. Service to others is actually one of the best things we can do to help give us hope and move us forward.
Stay well and know that every journey is better with a friend.