I am only one person, and I cannot do everything. But just because I cannot do everything, does not mean that I will refuse to do that which I can.
Helen Keller
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Anne's Journal
by Tim Cimino
In the story on the Home Page, Anne does a tremendous amount in one year. It may seem that Anne is an overachiever. But here's a
summary of what she does week by week for the first four months. It will help you realize that what Anne did isn't all that
incredible, especially since she got Buddy support to help keep her on track. Note that web site resources are italicized the first time
they appear in the journal.
Week 1
I went to the All Around website. I read the Home Page. Then I went to the Resources Page, but I didn't have time to
do the Short Course in Goodness. So I read some of the Upgrades for Humanity Page. It makes a ton of sense!
Then I went to Key Stories and looked at the cartoon with all of the people. It hit home that I can do a lot of good!
I decide to study this web site in more detail later. (20 minutes)
I went back and read the Short Course in Goodness. When I looked through the resources on the Resource Page, I realized
that some of these will be very useful to me. (50 min.)
Later in the week, I read about the Life Pact Program. I know that I don't have the discipline to do this on my own,
so I read through the Buddy System Page and then immediately call Tasha to ask her if she wants to be my Buddy. (45 min.)
Week 2
I reread the Life Pact Program Page. I really like the CLEAR method! With my first call to Tasha, we both made the goal to
look at all of the materials mentioned on the Life Pact Page to get an idea of how they fit together. (15 min. for the call.
One hour to do the reading.) Tasha agreed to read the Short Course in Goodness, so she can catch up with me.
When Tasha called me, we found out that we both did the reading and are even more excited about the program.
We talked about some of the insights about doing more good. The Gun Angel story impresses both of us. Before we make a Life Pact,
we decide to do one of the four assessments. We go with the recommended assessment, the Lifestyle Review. We chat about other
things, too. (30 min. for the part of the call related to All Around.)
The Lifestyle Review took 90 minutes to do.
Week 3
In our first call of the week, we talked about all the insights and ideas for action that we gained from the Lifestyle Review.
Instead of taking 10 minutes for the call, we actually went almost an hour! But Tasha said to think of this as being like
Sounding Board. So I decide that it's part of my Capacity Building hour of CLEAR. (1 hour)
I felt a little guilty that I haven't made my Life Pact and that I'm not doing CLEAR yet, but Tasha thinks we need to ease
into it. We set a goal to start to think of four-month goals to put on our Life Pacts. To get ideas, we both agreed to read
through the CLEAR Actions Menu. (50 min. to read the menu and make a list of possible goals.)
In our second call of the week, I told her that I still don't feel like I'm ready to make four month goals. I decide that I'll
do the Well Analogy Exercise to figure out what my priorities ought to be. Tasha goes along with that idea.
(1 hour for the
Well Analogy)
Week 4
In our first call of the week we discussed insights from the Well Analogy. Tasha says that it was better than a $50 seminar!
My big insight was that being nonassertive is my biggest obstacle. In my personal relationships and at work, I let people
push me around, and in trying to please others, I end up doing the things they should be doing. I decided to pay for an
All Around membership so I can use the Integrating Assertiveness resource. Tasha thought that I could save the money by
finding some free materials on the Internet, or by getting a library book. But I pointed out that we already got far more
than $25 worth of value, and that there seems to be at least three times as many materials available to members. Besides,
the money will help World Peace One offer these programs to many more people. Tasha sees my point and she also joins. (1 hour phone call)
We commit to working at least 90 minutes on assertiveness before the next call. But I can't resist looking at some of the
materials on the member side of the website for about a half hour. (2 hrs.)
In our second call we make it short. Instead of talking about assertiveness, we decide that it's time to create a Life Pact,
or at least make a first draft.
I draft my first Life Pact and it's very simple. It takes about an hour. Here are the major goals for four months:
Capacity Building: 1. Work on and practice assertiveness to the point where I can use it as needed. 2. Cut fixed costs so
that I can save at least $100 a month.
Live my mission: 1. Use the Life Mission Statements and Process Statements resource to explore for my mission 2. Otherwise,
choose activities that give me deep enjoyment.
Empower Others: 1. Continue my work teaching literacy. 2. Tell Doris at church about the Wise Giving resource. 3. Tell
Tom about the political resources mentioned on the member link page.
Add to the world's stability: 1. Learn more about the Golden Rule 2.0 by reading about it on
the public side of the All Around website. 2. Take the Ecological Lifestyle Assessment. 3. Read the Wise Giving material,
and make contributions once I cut my costs. 4. Do whatever seems best week to week, maybe using the CLEAR Actions Menu when I
need an idea.
Ripple Effect: 1. Reread the Upgrades for Humanity Page, so it sinks in. 2. Tell my pastor at church about the All Around
Program, and suggest the possibility of starting a Discussion & Action Group. 2. Look in my personal address book and email or
call one person a week, pointing out a benefit of All Around that they would be personally interested in.
Week 5
CLEAR this week was thrown out the window because my friend Sarah had a family crisis, and I was there for emotional support.
Right after that, I got a bad cold and didn't feel like doing anything for a few days.
Week 6
First Call: We discuss our Life Pacts. Tasha isn't done and needs a few more days. I slowly begin to work on my CLEAR goals.
Week 7
C: I spent 1 hour shopping for cheaper utilities, phone and Internet service. I save $50/ month, so far. I spend a second hour
working on assertiveness.
L: I pulled out my guitar and played it.
E: Literacy volunteering.
A: I read the article about the Golden Rule 2.0 and the Dam story that illustrates it.
R: [Nothing this week.]
Week 8
C: I spend another hour trying to cut fixed costs. I begin to explore finding a cheaper apartment.
L: Played my guitar again.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I take the Ecological Lifestyle Assessment.
R: I call an out-of-town friend to tell him how All Around can help him.
Week 9
C: More apartment hunting.
L: Guitar again. I write a song!
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I re-read the Wise Giving article that I had skimmed. It has new meaning now that I understand the Golden Rule 2.0.
R: I wrote a personal note to an out-of-town friend about how All Around can help her.
Week 10
C: I practice the assertiveness exercises with Tasha.
L: I practice my song on the guitar.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I begin doing research to find good environmental charities and I donate to one.
R: I call and tell an out of town friend how All Around can help him and his volunteer program.
Week 11
C: More practice of assertiveness. I am now mentally ready to use the skill in real life situations.
L: I tell my boyfriend that we need to talk about making changes in our relationship. I will be using my assertiveness soon!
E: I copy the article on Wise Giving and give it Doris at Church. I tell her that I think that her women's group would love the article and also many other things on the All Around web site. I recommend that she read the Short Course in Goodness so that she can have access to all of the general resources.
A: I re-register myself as a voter since my registration lapsed.
R: I tell a staff person at the Literacy program
Week 12
C: Tasha and I finish working on the Integrating Assertiveness material, except for the reviews.
L: I negotiate some changes with my boyfriend that make us immediately both happier.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I find an internet site about environmental issues and read up on a few.
R: I call an out-of-town friend and tell her how All Around can help her.
Week 13
C: More research on finding a cheaper apartment.
L: I begin working on the Life Mission and Process Statements material. I do the first of four sections.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I do internet research and make some calls to find out the best charities that help poor people get the means to sustain themselves. Micro businesses for women in poor countries sounds like a good idea. I make a donation.
R: I call an out-of-town friend to tell him how All Around can help him reach his goals.
Week 14
C: I find an apartment that will save me $80 a month, and it's better!
L: I get an idea for helping my boss look good and give me some more interesting work at the same time. I ask for a meeting, and plan out my assertiveness statement.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I write a letter to my two Senators about an environment issue: water quality.
R: I wrote a personal note to an out-of-town friend about how All Around can help her.
Week 15
C: I review the assertiveness. Tasha says that she needs to make a change and can no longer be my buddy in two weeks. I need to find another Buddy!
L: I meet with my boss and she likes the plan! It's a go!
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I get my bike repaired and begin to use it for short trips (this helps health and environment and finances-but just a bit.)
R: I wrote a personal note to an out-of-town friend about how All Around can help her.
Week 16
C: I ask another acquaintance named Maria to be my Buddy. Maria seems like she would follow through with contacts, and she's told me before of some goals that she'd like to do. We talk, and I walk her through the process.
L: I do the second part of the Life Mission material.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: Since the bike is fixed and we had a nice day, I make a long trip for exercise (and pleasure.)
R: I wrote a personal note to an out-of-town friend about how All Around can help him.
Week 17
This week it's time to move apartments. I take a vacation from CLEAR! Ironically, I have to use my assertiveness skills twice! It feels so good to be able to handle the situations!
Week 18
C: I do another review of the assertiveness skills. I've got it now!
L: I do the third part of the Life Mission material. I now have a vision of becoming a computer graphic artist, but I'm not sure if it's for me.
E: Literacy volunteering
A: I write a letter to my Congressman about air quality standards.
R: I wrote a personal note to an out-of-town friend about how All Around can help her.
Week 19
L: I do the fourth part of the Life Mission material. I now have a vision of becoming a computer graphic artist, but I'm not sure if it's for me.
It's almost near the end of my four-month Life Pact, so I spend the week evaluating my efforts in all five areas. I redo the Lifestyle Review and find that I have done a ton! I do a first draft of goals for my next Life Pact.
Week 20
CLEAR: I finish creating a new Life Pact for the next four months. I will take a graphic design class, continue teaching
literacy, and be part of the Discussion & Action Group to study the book Door of Doors.
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