Standouts - The Beat Within

Editor’s Note
editor’s note
Volume 17.01/02
Welcome to the first issue of 2012. It is with great honor
to given this platform to INga BUchbinder, who has
played such an important role the last six months.
We are thrilled about the new year and all the possibilities.
With that said, we wish all you readers a wonderful new year,
and here is The Beat’s Program Director with the first editorial
note of the New Year. Take it away Inga!
Once again it’s a brand new year. A clean slate. A fresh start.
I read someone’s status on Facebook that essentially asked
why people trip over the first of the year and say they will
change all this stuff in their lives—it’s really just another day.
In some ways, I don’t disagree. What really makes January 1
any different from December 31? Every day the date changes.
It’s always a brand new day, one you have never seen before
and will never see again.
But on the other hand, January 1 is like another chance—
and it comes every year! A whole year ahead of you to make
different choices, take a new path. So what choices will you
make this year that will make 2012 different from 2011?
Many of you wrote about your New Year’s Resolutions for this
issue and many of those pieces talk about turning your lives
around.
The resolutions I always hear about are losing weight,
going to the gym more, eating healthy, making money, getting
a better job, reading more books and traveling more. All of
these things are important, but shouldn’t we be conscious
about these decisions every day and not just January 1 of
every year? Shouldn’t we always strive to live a healthy and
fulfilling life—however that may be for you. I read a fun fact
in a magazine that most people’s resolutions don’t even make
it to February 1. People forget about them, get lazy, give up
because it’s too hard, etc. That’s fair enough, change is hard.
Even I’m not a fan of change.
So, I challenge all of you Beat readers and writers,
even those of you who didn’t write about your resolution, to
really contemplate how you can make 2012 the best year for
yourself, how you can strive to succeed and make the hard
changes that will put you on the right track. Don’t give up—
that’s the most important part. Don’t get discouraged. Ask for
help. Take small steps, believe in yourself. All of you have the
ability to complete your resolutions of going back to school,
getting your degrees, getting a job and supporting your
families, changing your lifestyles, finding things that you are
passionate about. So do it. When we inevitably get to January
1 2013, wouldn’t it be nice to look back and see how far you’ve
come, how much you did just because you had the ambition
and drive in yourself to get it done? Trust me, you’ll feel great.
With all that said, here are the topics for this first issue of
2012. Topics from 17.01:
“Saved- What does it mean to you to be saved? How do you
define saved? Does it mean being saved from ferocious dogs?
From being trapped in a burning house? Saved by the bell? Tell
us of a time you were saved. Saved from what? How were you
saved? Is it true, for many, you have to sin to get saved? If that’s
true for you what sins have you committed, and how have you
addressed the sin? What did you do to get saved? If you feel
you have been saved by your God, be specific and tell us how
TheBeatWithin.org
Page 2
your God came into your life. What did you do to help your God
help YOU? Who is ultimately responsible for your salvation
(being saved)? Is it your higher power, your family, a teacher, a
mentor, a counselor? Tell us about this person, spirit, or thing
that has helped/saved you. What transpired? With this said,
breakdown what being saved means to you.”
“It Won’t Go Away - What is something you can’t seem to be
able to escape from? That is something you don’t want around,
but won’t go away. Think about your habits, your lifestyle, a
certain memory, and the people in your life. Now tell us of the
thing(s) you would like to change in your life, and in detail give
us your thoughts on what it is you wish you could escape from,
but for some reason you can’t.”
“A True Leader - Is being a true leader a trait people are
born with or a skill acquired through practice? We ask you, if
true leaders are born or created? Many people think a leader
is something you acquire and are molded for. Have you ever
witnessed someone who just naturally takes the reigns and
heads a project? Or maybe it’s an athlete who has the ability to
inspire their team and the team follows them fearlessly? With
that said, are you a leader? Give us the details. Now if you are
not sure, then tell us (famous or not) who is a leader in your
eyes, and what makes him/her such a leader.”
Topics from 17.02: “The Pen versus The Sword- The old
saying “the pen is mightier than the sword” that ink in a pen
can be more powerful than the blade of knife or in today’s
terms, the bullet of the gun. Yet, many of you would disagree.
You might feel that the bullet in the gun is mightier, that it
can inflict great harm and fear, which the pen can’t. Does
this saying still mean the same thing today? Can the pen (or
writing) be more powerful than a gun/violence? Now from
where you sit today, we know you have serious thoughts on the
pen and the gun?”
“The Safe Place - When we get stressed or angry, sometimes
we go for a walk, hide in our bed or pick up our guitar, because
it’s a place that feels safe. What or where is your “safe place”? Is
it a real, physical place like your home, your bed, your favorite
park, is it a place that you go in your mind when you need to
escape, is it an activity that calms you down like playing an
instrument or drawing? Why is it a safe place for you--what
positive memories do you have about it?”
“Soul - Here’s the dictionary definition of “soul”: “the
spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal,
regarded as immortal. A person’s moral or emotional nature or
sense of identity.” How would you describe your soul? Does it
have a color? Specific adjectives (happy, beautiful, ambitious)
that describe it? Tell The Beat about your soul. My soul...”
And finally, “My New Year’s resolution is….
In closing, we thank Inga for her kind words, we thank
you writers and artists who contributed to The Beat Within’s
first issue of 2012! Mad props to you all! We can’t express
this enough, but we do wish you all a great year ahead, and
we most definitely look forward to reading your entries and
sharing them with the world.
This issue goes out to you teachers/you writers and artists
who are open to learning and growing as you confidently express
yourselves and share with our community, while dealing with
the many obstacles, as you move forward with your lives. We
could not be The Beat Within without your words and wisdom.