At the end of 2009, I took my family on a quick trip to New York City, in large measure to celebrate my daughter's birthday and treat her to a broadway show. We packed a lot into a two-day trip, including a visit to the International Center of Photography and a tour of the United Nations. The ICP included a photographic exhibit of people in different walks of life in Shanghai, as well as a fascinating video montage (four simultaneous projections on four walls of a room) of life in Mumbai. What was striking about these and other exhibits was the abject poverty of some of the subjects, many of whom seemed to go about their daily routines unfazed by the difficulties they faced, often surrounded by family or friends. While it is impossible to truly know what the people in the pictures were like, or to fully appreciate their circumstances, the exhibits were a reminder that what is "normal" is relative, and of the endurance and triumph of the human spirit in the most challenging of settings.
The UN tour, although less artistic, was just as eye-opening. The tour emphasizes the UN's work on such important issues as sheltering political refugees, combatting malaria and eliminating land mines. I found the desperate circumstances of the refugees particularly moving and disturbing, and was grateful that there are organizations devoted to caring for the world's outcasts. I came away wanting to learn more about the UN and the efficacy of its programs to feed and shelter the poor, to educate children, and to protect the vulnerable.
We all have opportunities to better the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. My opportunities in the immediate future will primarily involve working with an excellent volunteer organization of lawyers in Boston whose mission includes access to justice and outreach to the community. While much of my time and energy is devoted to servicing clients and providing for my family, I also look forward to making 2010 a year of continuing to support organizations that make a difference in the lives of others. From working with hundreds of professionals who volunteer their time to such organizations, as well as many dedicated staff members, I have learned that there is no shortage of good people who want to make the world a better place, and who are prepared to devote their own time, resources and talents to doing so. I am blessed to have the opportunity of continuing to work with them in the year ahead.
The UN tour, although less artistic, was just as eye-opening. The tour emphasizes the UN's work on such important issues as sheltering political refugees, combatting malaria and eliminating land mines. I found the desperate circumstances of the refugees particularly moving and disturbing, and was grateful that there are organizations devoted to caring for the world's outcasts. I came away wanting to learn more about the UN and the efficacy of its programs to feed and shelter the poor, to educate children, and to protect the vulnerable.
We all have opportunities to better the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. My opportunities in the immediate future will primarily involve working with an excellent volunteer organization of lawyers in Boston whose mission includes access to justice and outreach to the community. While much of my time and energy is devoted to servicing clients and providing for my family, I also look forward to making 2010 a year of continuing to support organizations that make a difference in the lives of others. From working with hundreds of professionals who volunteer their time to such organizations, as well as many dedicated staff members, I have learned that there is no shortage of good people who want to make the world a better place, and who are prepared to devote their own time, resources and talents to doing so. I am blessed to have the opportunity of continuing to work with them in the year ahead.
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