All of us are experts at practicing virtue at a distance. ~Theodore M. Hesburgh

Patience

Saturday- I realized, the I am definitely NOT the most patient person in the world. I’ve already flipped out a few times over simple things. First, I tried just to walk away, and listen to some music in my room, then when that didn’t calm me down, I went for a subtle bike ride. I tried so hard, to keep myself calm, and patient. But when it comes to my 9 year old brother… I don’t think the Pope would have enough patience.

Sunday- Today was much simpler. I was away at the house of a girl I baby sit for, watching her little girl. It was okay, I had music playing, I had someone around me that couldn’t talk or give me any attitude, and she slept pretty much the whole time. I was very patient, and I could keep my head, and not flip out.
Monday- We went to look at houses in Newport today. It was going good, we found a good place, and mom was saying how good it was going to be. I was doing good with my patience, no siblings around to fight with, and everything started to look up.
Tuesday- The ability to endure delay, trouble, pain or hardship. I definitely don’t have the ability to be patient. At all. I tried listening to music, I tried going for a walk, I tried sitting with the horse in the barn. Nothing worked. I was grumpy, crabby, snippy, and I had no patience for anyone or anything.
Wednesday- I think I switch back and forth. Patience to no patience, to patience again. I was up at camp last night and all day today. I think its something about the fresh air, and not being around town and people. I was able to have my time, to think, and be patient with myself, and those around me.
Thursday- Wahoo! Two days in a row of good patience. I even was able to carry my patience from camp, all the way home, and through out the day.
Friday- AHH! My brother is definitely a test to my patience. I have already locked myself in my room about 3 times today, and its not even 9 pm! So far I’ve already threatened to throw him down the stairs. He wouldn’t stop mouthing off to me. And I wanted to flip out on him. I walked away, and tried to focus on myself, and what I wanted to get out of this virtue thing.

I chose to practice patience, because I am not a very patient person, and I have to work on waiting, and having somewhat of an ability to deal with older kids with some patience would be good. I want to find out, that by practicing this virtue, if I will come out a more calm, patient person. Patience- The capacity of enduring hardship or inconvenience without complaint. Even though Ben didn’t practice the virtue of patience, he must have had quite a bit of patience in order to deal with all the virtue practicing. I plan on taking each day, one at a time, and paying special attention to my virtue. I’m going to try and focus as much as possible, without being to dramatic with it. My plan is to try and keep track of what I am doing, and what I can be doing better.

Overall, I think I could of done much better on my virtue practice. I don’t think I was as focused as I could have been and I’m going to continue working on this specific one, and it will hopefully make me a better friend and person.

Spirit Bear---mini report 1

Circle Justice is justice that seeks healing in a way contrary to the regular punishmental ways. It is made up of all the individuals, organizations, and institutions who make up the community and that are willing to heal and help those wrongfully convicted, and those convicted who are seeking peace. Its goals include making the community safer,satisfying victims' needs and giving offenders skills to escape the cycle of crime and punishment. They work in various ways, finding more appropriate ways to help heal instead of punishing. It helps re-evaluate the relationship between the victim and the offender so that each one can forgive the other, and themselves. The steps of circle justice consist of five 1. Offender pleads guilty in court and agrees to accept sentenceimposed by circle of community members. Offender applies to a communityjustice committee. 2. If accepted, the offender and committee work out a "social compact'' listing things the offender will begin doing immediately toshow his or her sincerity. 3. A trained facilitator meets with victim, offender and others toexplain the circle process. The facilitator may arrange smaller``healing circles'' for victims and offenders as a start. 4. The facilitator convenes a larger sentencing circle that includesinterested community members and people from the court system. Afterone or more meetings, the circle reaches a consensus on the sentence,which can include some of the steps the offender has already taken. Ifanyone in the circle can't agree, a judge decides the sentence. 5. The offender regularly returns to the circle to discuss his orher progress. Circle members, especially his supporters, help him gettraining, counseling or other assistance needed to fulfill his sentenceand become a productive person. If the circle becomes convinced thatthe offender won't complete the sentence, he or she is sent back to court" (Fred Olson University Of Anchorage Alaska)Cole goes through circle justice. At first he thinks its a joke, and eventually he realizes that this might be his only chance at change. Circle justice is a meeting set in a circle, with several different steps. The idea of a circle, is it has no beginning and it has no ending. I think this will signify that Cole can restart his life at any moment, just as easy that at any moment, it could end. The circle signifies his life, and how it will change over the course of this book.


works cited

Olson, Fred H. "Article About Circle of Justice." 4 June 1999. Twin Cities Frenet. 24 June 2008 http://freenet.msp.mn.us/~fholson/circles-mn/circ-stb.htm.

"Circle Justice." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 24 June 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_Justice."Circle Justice." Wikipedia.