Leo Ameika

Mrs. Bonsall
B5
9/16/14

Adaptability Award
First of all Id like to thank my audience. I would not continue to learn the lessons that I
do if it werent for the influence of my teachers, peers, and even those that are not friends of
mine. The ability to adapt to outside stimulus is necessary for the survival of human beings;
achieving adaptability can be done by accepting change, gaining a neutral perspective, and
letting go of the things that you hold no power over.
Change; it is the one thing that is inevitable. Nothing stays the same, and although the
fast pace of life can be hard to keep up with, accepting it can be extremely beneficial. I find that
the easiest way to accept change is to live in the moment. Look at life as simply a string of
change, and stay in the present. By being fully authentic with your thoughts and feelings, and
keeping focused on your goals and current events, change will become your present, instead of a
concept that you must accept. You do not need to look at your lifetime as a series of separate
stages, but as a constant tide that is ebbing and flowing. When you experience something
suddenly, let whatever emotions or thoughts you have run wild for the time being, and after
youve settled, you have adjusted. Additionally, never fake feelings or push feelings away in
order to achieve maximal control over your life that will only cause pain to those around you,
including yourself.
There is a state of being, a looking glass to peer through, that I call neutral perspective.
Many people believe that their way of seeing things is correct or best, but if you have that
mindset, push it aside for a moment. When I was younger, I stressed over finding a way to make
good decisions even over how to feel about a certain event without a judgment clouded by
my current emotions. Whenever I felt a burst of fear or anger, I wanted to immediately act on
that feeling in order to solve whatever problem was affecting me. Whether it be punching
someone or screaming at the top of my lungs, the animalistic need to solve my internal conflict
in an external manner was overwhelming. But instead of acting on those troubling emotions, I sat
down and gazed through the Binoculars of Neutral Perspective. By doing so, I cleared away all
of my emotions and thoughts, and literally felt nothing for the time being. I completely and
absolutely detached myself from the world, if only for a brief minute. The only thing that I
would focus on was the one thing glaring at me from through the neutral perspective: my issue or
conflict. If Becky gossiped about me to Charlotte, and I really just wanted to whack her in the
face for payback, I would hold myself still for a cool-down session. I would totally expel my
anger at Becky, and look at the problems every angle. Then, when I could make my decision
based solely on moral or ethics (or what those should be), I would act upon that conflict. By
participating in this process, you can not only see from your own point of view, but from
everyone elses, and a point of view that is totally neutral.
Lastly, adaptability can be achieved easily if you accept the things you cannot change,
rather than try to change the things you know (or should know) that are out of your control.
Whenever you are feeling helpless, look to this prayer-like saying for guidance: Grant me the
Leo Ameika
Mrs. Bonsall
B5
9/16/14

Adaptability Award
courage to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference. My mother would tell me that in order to calm me down,
and it always worked. Keep in mind the third part of that quote, that there is a not-so-fine line
between the things you can and cannot change. Dont forget, change equals your life, and
therefore change is not an abstract idea of adaptability.
In conclusion, adaptability is a substantial part of a successful lifestyle. So long as you
accept change, you can embrace is as the title of your life. Remember to gain a neutral
perspective when times get rough, and the saying that aided me as a child. I wish you luck in
learning how to adapt, whether you be old or young, a kid or an adult. Again, thank you all.