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April 04, 2005
Basic Human Needs - Participation
Being (qualities): receptiveness, dedication, sense of humor.
Having (things): responsibilities, duties, work, rights.
Doing (actions): cooperate, dissent, express opinions.
Interacting (settings): associations, parties, churches, neighborhoods.
The next main question is about participation. Here in Sweden, I think that participation is one of my most-fulfilled needs. My classmates have provided me with such a sense of community. Their receptiveness to me, their dedication to the program, and their overall sense of humor has sustained me through what might have been a difficult transition away from the "real world".
Similarly, while I have been unemployed for almost a year, I feel like school (and particularly my thesis) has continued to provide me with responsibility, duty, work and rights.
And above all, this year has taught me the importance of cooperation and dissent—and how welcoming it is to have a group of friends that allow you to express opinions and then think them through together.
As I look to the next couple of months, I will be deciding on a bunch of life-changing things: where to live, what job to take, etc. Having two job interviews this week, I want to keep in mind that participation is essential. I need to have a job (and choose a place to live) where I have a real opportunity to engage in "big" issues. And right now, I just don't have a feeling about these potential jobs—one way or the other.
Photo Credit: This one is Kevin's (again), taken during last November's class trip to northern Sweden.
