Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I have lots of faults, but one of my biggies is...
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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I'm a fixer. Not a good listener.
Maybe because I'm socially retarded I don' t realize when someone is just wanting to vent and when someone is coming to me for advice. I think stopping and asking, "are you venting or do you want an opinion?" is a little too forward. Subtlety goes over my head.
I don't believe in new year's resolutions, but I believe in making resolves for improvement.
In 2007 I resolve that I will be a better listener and not be so quick to be a fixer.
Maybe because I'm socially retarded I don' t realize when someone is just wanting to vent and when someone is coming to me for advice. I think stopping and asking, "are you venting or do you want an opinion?" is a little too forward. Subtlety goes over my head.
I don't believe in new year's resolutions, but I believe in making resolves for improvement.
In 2007 I resolve that I will be a better listener and not be so quick to be a fixer.
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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
No time to go deeper than just to say..
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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Sometimes I think you have to go somewhere where the pain outside matches or exceeds the pain inside.
I have a blog in mind to go with this, but it'll have to wait.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Pro-Choice? You betcha!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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Ok, ok... I have a friend that I go round and round with. She tells me you can not be against abortion on a personal level, yet on a political level support choice. I still stand by my argument that a person can and I do.
Personally? I have a few issues with abortion, but those are mine to deal with. On the same note, I have never been raped and it resulted in a pregnancy, or been a victim of sexual abuse or many of the other reasons I can see why women choose to have an abortion.
I am against abortion as birth-control. I see abortion as a last resort.
I support access to safe and legal abortion and, equally, that women should be protected from forced abortions.
The end.
Personally? I have a few issues with abortion, but those are mine to deal with. On the same note, I have never been raped and it resulted in a pregnancy, or been a victim of sexual abuse or many of the other reasons I can see why women choose to have an abortion.
I am against abortion as birth-control. I see abortion as a last resort.
I support access to safe and legal abortion and, equally, that women should be protected from forced abortions.
The end.
Monday, January 15, 2007
MLK - fighting for abolilition of Slavery? WTH? (also titled, our kids are f*ing stupid)
Monday, January 15, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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Today on MSNBC.COM is an article and I think the subtitle sums it up the best :
"College survey shows some think he was advocating the abolition of slavery"
yes folks, college students, NOT 3rd graders.
as you read the article, yes, you can blame it on "No Child Left Behind" (which is a whole other rant, oops, I mean blog)... but can we blame it on....
THE PARENTS??????
Hmmmmm.... it's MLK day, yes you're off school. How many parents ask their kids, "honey, do you know why you're off school today?" How many parents take their kids to MLK celebrations over the weekend (our church is having community service projects, but I'm stuck at work)?
Again, you can blame the education on the schools, or where it squarely belongs, on the parents.
As for not knowing who MLK is..... WTH?
"College survey shows some think he was advocating the abolition of slavery"
yes folks, college students, NOT 3rd graders.
as you read the article, yes, you can blame it on "No Child Left Behind" (which is a whole other rant, oops, I mean blog)... but can we blame it on....
THE PARENTS??????
Hmmmmm.... it's MLK day, yes you're off school. How many parents ask their kids, "honey, do you know why you're off school today?" How many parents take their kids to MLK celebrations over the weekend (our church is having community service projects, but I'm stuck at work)?
Again, you can blame the education on the schools, or where it squarely belongs, on the parents.
As for not knowing who MLK is..... WTH?
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Human Behavior, and a few random thoughts
Sunday, January 14, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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Anyone who knows me in "real" life knows that human behavior never ceases to amuse me. Sometimes in a good way, and sometimes it gives me pause to reflect on why some people are, well, just so wrong in the head.
At a company I previously worked at, I was told while hiring another trader that :
20% of people will follow the rules and be ethical no matter what temptations are in front of them
20% of people will try to skirt the rules, break them, and/or find a way to cheat the system no matter what safeguards are in place
60% the rest of the population are generally good people.... they wouldn't think of stealing from the company, unless they were in dire need or extreme circumstances
I generally have found this to be true. I would say that I fall in the 60% and do not want to say my ethics are circumstanstial, but given an extreme situation, let's just say, I'd hope I'd do the right thing.
Friday's news brought two example of the 2 polars of the 20%.
First, Secret Santa Dies. This man went around for YEARS giving out $100 bills to those in need around Christmas time. He identity was unknown until recently when he revealed himself. He gave over 1.3 million in anonymous cash donations.
Then, reported on the same day, the polar opposite was revealed. Two boys who were kidnapped 4 years apart were found alive, hiding in plain sight. Reminds me of the Elizabeth Smart case to a certain extent. I can only hope that he is "accidently" put into the general population at whatever prison he goes to.
I believe that most of us fall in between these two (the 60%). We try to do the right thing, we think about volunteering more, but generally as long as we're not hurting others, we're content to continue on in our lives. In fact, I would argue we're content to sit on the sidelines and benefit from everyone else's contributions.
I wonder, was there anyone (neighbors? friends? coworkers?) who saw that boy and thought maybe something was out of place and didn't want to get involved?
I wonder, how many of us have an extra $20 to give to someone in need? We may not have millions to give, but we have time, and everyone has a little something to give.
Being in the 60% is comfortable, and I don't think any of us want to be in that bottom 20%..... but how much more of your time and effort would it be to be in that top 20%... giving a little more, showing more compassion, random acts of kindness, and yes.... doing something above and beyond what you normally thought you'd be capable of doing?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Signs from the Otherside
Thursday, January 04, 2007 | Original Musings by
Jen |
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My grandmother shared a story with me this past weekend.
She was working in the dining room and up on the shelf is an antique music box. It's not the kind you have to open, but wind up and it'll play. She was at the table sitting when the box started to play, from beginning to end, without her even getting up or bumping the curio cabinet. She believe it was my grandfather talking to her (he passed on Sept 28th after 59 years of marriage).
I believe her and I believe it was him.
This story was mentioned to another member of my family who promptly dismissed the story as unbelievable that it could never have been my grandfather. This family member believes in an afterlife (Christian Heaven), she does not believe the dead can communicate with the living.
What do you think? Possible? Not? How can we know? How do you explain the thousands of stories such as this? Just curious to know your thoughts....
She was working in the dining room and up on the shelf is an antique music box. It's not the kind you have to open, but wind up and it'll play. She was at the table sitting when the box started to play, from beginning to end, without her even getting up or bumping the curio cabinet. She believe it was my grandfather talking to her (he passed on Sept 28th after 59 years of marriage).
I believe her and I believe it was him.
This story was mentioned to another member of my family who promptly dismissed the story as unbelievable that it could never have been my grandfather. This family member believes in an afterlife (Christian Heaven), she does not believe the dead can communicate with the living.
What do you think? Possible? Not? How can we know? How do you explain the thousands of stories such as this? Just curious to know your thoughts....
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Quotes as I come across them......
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, an hour, a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it last forever.” ~~~Lance Armstrong
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~~~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I like running because it's a challenge. If you run hard, there's the pain----and you've got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is 'Don't overdo it' and 'Don't push yourself.' Well, I think that's a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond." ~~~Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers general manager, NHL Hall of Famer. (Will-Weber's "Voices From the Midpack" chapter.)
The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.~~~Denis Watley
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly. ~~~Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~~~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I like running because it's a challenge. If you run hard, there's the pain----and you've got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is 'Don't overdo it' and 'Don't push yourself.' Well, I think that's a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond." ~~~Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers general manager, NHL Hall of Famer. (Will-Weber's "Voices From the Midpack" chapter.)
The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.~~~Denis Watley
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly. ~~~Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)