Category Archives: honesty

Me, in a Word Cloud

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This is a word cloud that I made using the many different words and phrases used to describe me by a few different personality/values tests.

The words are sized based on their frequency in the reports. I find it fitting that understanding is the biggest–I love to understand people and things. Other good fits are relationships, ideas, creative, work, and new. I am a person who is committed to developing new ideas to make things better; this shines through particularly well when I am at work or volunteering. I always want to make things work in new, interesting ways. Relationships are important to me, and I am very loyal. Of course, there are a few on there that I feel are more negative, such as irrational, pride, and withhold, but these terms do have their place in my personality and who I am.

I believe that the tests I took to get these results have described me well.  Have you ever taken any of these kinds of tests? Did the results fit you? Do you think they are worth it, or a waste of time?

Listening Well

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I recently watched a short TED talk about the art of listening, why we are bad at it, and how to become better listeners. I found the idea that our society has become terrible at listening to be very intriguing, and without a doubt, completely true. I hope you’ll take the <10 minutes it takes to watch this video and learn something.

Julian Treasure: 5 Ways to Listen Better

The Issues

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Here is a more in-depth look at what we were asking for on Capitol Hill:

~We argued for the preservation of the International Affairs Budget.

Currently, there is pressure to make cuts to the International Affairs budget (which is only 1.4% of the U.S. budget). This part of the budget covers costs for embassies, international development, and food aid. Many organizations, including CARE, need the funds from USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) in order to continue their great works in countries around the world. Although this is a very tough time for the U.S. budget, we cannot allow this fact to come between us and those people all around the world who depend on us for the very basic things in life. Although $5 is not too much money to most of us in America, it is more than some people make in a month. Keeping this budget at its current levels helps the poorest of the poor, and even if the moral element is removed, helps the United States maintain its interests around the world.

~We asked our senators and legislators to support the Education for All act when it is reintroduced in the 112th Congress.

This act will provide assistance to developing nations so that they may provide universal education to all children. This is such an important issue because there are millions of children around the world who do not have an education. Of these millions of children, 2/3rds are girls. No one can deny the importance of an education, of literacy, to surviving in this world. When children are educated, they are able to access the business world, proper healthcare, and their own governments. When girls receive an education, they are likely to be healthier, equipped to help contribute to their families economically, and to educate their own children in the future. As a college-educated woman, I cannot bear the thought of a little girl somewhere who does not even have the chance to attend school, or even to learn to read. In one of our meetings with a member of a congressman’s staff, we were asked the question–”With so many failing schools in the United States, how can the congressman be expected to support something that supports education around the world, and takes attention away from the problems in the United States?” I agree that something needs to be done about the education system here in America, but I’m not sure how making sure that American kids get the education they deserve automatically precludes the notion of helping children in the poorest areas of the world. It is most definitely in our best interest to be sure that the global population is educated. Without education, we are sentencing a generation to the poverty and domination experienced by their parents and grandparents–if we do not step in to help these people, others may do so, and there is no guarantee that these others will not be radicals. I am definitely passionate about this issue, and recommend Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools to anyone who wishes to know more.

~ We talked about the importance of CARE’s microsavings programs, and our desire to have our legislators support an up-and-coming, bipartisan piece of legislation that will help direct already-given funds to programs that support the poorest of the poor: rural African women.

The concept of this future bill is that it is most definitely not a handout–the funds for these microsavings programs are used entirely for administration of the program and for one year of financial education (smart saving strategies, investment strategies, etc.). The funds used for the actual savings are from the earnings of the women (or men) themselves. Basically, a small group of women gets together and puts a certain minimum contribution per week (or other time period) into the group’s savings fund (CARE calls their programs Village Savings and Loans). After a predetermined period of time, women are able to take out small loans in order to fund their business ventures. The loans are paid back with interest, with all interest being paid to the group. Over time, the group’s funds will grow, allowing for more loans to be made. The ultimate goal is for these groups to be able to support larger loans and eventually, insurance and small lines of credit. CARE’s program began in Niger in 1991, and now 200,000 women in that country participate in the programs. From their meager contributions 20 years ago, the net worth of their funds is now more than $10 million. CARE currently works in around 20 sub-Saharan countries, and reaches around 1.9 million people. They have committed to reaching 30 million people in the next ten years. By investing in this sort  of program, the United States would be helping developing countries help themselves, eventually decreasing the need for foreign aid. Talk about a smart investment!

These issues are the ones we argued for on Capitol Hill, but CARE is committed to so many programs that it would be impossible to list them here! They do such great work around the world, and have thousands of supporters in my congressional district alone…probably millions across the U.S. and around the world. For more information, please check out www.care.org.

 

An Open Letter to the 112th Congress

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To the Senators and Representatives of the 112th Congress:

As you know, this is a pivotal time in the history of our nation. We are facing economic challenges and political concerns that have divided our government to the point where nothing is being accomplished. The issues at hand are important—there are literally lives hanging in the balance, awaiting your decisions. As the lawmakers of the United States, you are responsible for many things, including finding a way to fix the budget crisis, solving unemployment problems, and, most importantly, working together in order to keep our country strong.

Unfortunately, you have let party lines and political rhetoric stop you from making any real progress. In the 111th Congress, the very important issue of healthcare was addressed. Unfortunately, the lack of cooperation on your part resulted in a highly politicized, extremely expensive health care plan that many Americans found objectionable. As a result, the political tide shifted, and the 112th Congress looks significantly different. Despite this changing of the guard, it appears that cooperation is still lacking.  Republicans have declared that one of their goals is to prevent President Obama from being reelected, and that another goal is to pass their budget no matter what. Meanwhile, Democrats have declared that if they do not like the bill the House passes, the Senate will vote it down without due consideration. While politics are certainly important and indeed, crucial to the reelection process, please do not lose focus on what really matters—cooperation to ensure that basic needs are met.

The correction of the economy will certainly be painful to many, including those congressmen and women with pet programs and ideas on both sides of the aisle. Democrats rightly demand cut to oil and gas subsidies, and Republicans have a point when they state that certain domestic programs must lose funding (if only temporarily). Congress, please work together when making these cuts in order to ensure that what is done is done for the good of our nation, not simply for your reelection campaign. Do not make symbolic cuts that prove your platforms but do not actually benefit the citizens. Remember that cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will probably have to happen in order to achieve anything worth noting. Revenues must be raised one way or another, so please do not neglect to find a solution to this problem, either, no matter how bad it hurts.

Despite the modifications in spending that must be made, please do not forget about the people both here and abroad that really, truly, need assistance. Find a way to make cuts that do not completely end critical programs that save lives—this is your most important mission. If you do not work together, cooperating for the sake of America and those who need us most abroad, your career will mean nothing, and any political victories will be hollow. I feel that if you put your political differences aside and focus on creating legislation that actually means something, you will find that you have changed the world for the better.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Citizen

Blessings

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Sometimes, I feel like life is a real challenge. Then I remember how blessed I am. Even on the days where I’m sick and have to go to the doctor for the third time in two weeks, I realize that I have it so. good. There are people right now in Dallas who only wish they could go to the doctor for their sicknesses. That’s just in Dallas. There are people all over the world who have never been to see the doctor. Who have never imagined the day that they will be healthy. I am blessed.

There are days when I have to take a test after feeling like I’ve learned very little on the subject. On those days, I try to remember that I am getting a college education while there are little girls around the world who would cry tears of joy at being told they are allowed to go to school for the first time in their lives. I am blessed.

There are days when I feel like I don’t want to get up and go to work, when all I want to do is stay at home and read. I am so blessed to have a job I like, much more so to have a job at all.

On days when wedding planning overwhelms me, I realize that I am blessed in getting to have a wedding where I not only know the groom, I love him and he loves me. Many women around the world are denied this pleasure. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

I do not claim to know why I am blessed with all of these things and why others are suffering daily, but I do know that I want to help them. Where women, girls, men and boys are denied these blessings, I want to be the one God uses to help them. I know that God created me for this reason–to share his love and blessings with those around me and those across the globe. I can’t save the world, I know. But I can most definitely try to make one little difference. That is my goal. Make a difference.

Faux Honesty

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Don’t you wish everything was this honest?? If you knew what was real and what was fake, life would be so much easier. Ironically, this tag was on a piece of fake cheese. Not fruit. How’s that for honesty?

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Inspiration

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So lately everyone has been writing amazing notes on Facebook, posts on Blogger and anywhere else they can think of. I have to admit, when I see other people writing, it makes me want to write, too. I see songs and poems and short essays popping up all over the place, and I think, “hey, I should write again.” However, there is a problem, and it makes me sort of mad.

I am not really a good creative writer. I so wish I was, but I’m just better at writing down real things in a real way, with a little opinion dashed in here and there. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing a good editorial, and telling it like it is suits me. But there is a part of me that wants to be creative, to write novels that leave people changed, to be able to put my feeling down on paper (or a screen).

In light of this desire, I think I will try to do so. Please bear with me here…I am kind of afraid to put this out there, and it is a big step for me.

Here is a poem.

Old.
I forget the good times;
Were there any, after all?
I remember how it was before,
when we talked about everything
and there was never any pressure.
Those were good times.

Then our relationship changed.
Suddenly it was all pressure.
Was I good enough?
Were you happy?
I tried, but couldn’t tell.

When the end came, my life
changed.
Hurt like that is something
I can’t explain.

Slowly it got better,
I was happy just to say
hello
every now and then.
Peace.

Sometimes I wonder
the truth behind it all.
Not often, though.
I hope you are doing well.

Here is another one.

New.
Thinking of you
brings joy to me.
I’ve never before felt
this way.

We fight, sure.
It makes us stronger, though.
No pressure,
just expression.
Love always wins.

It’s deep, this love.
A connection that makes us
a perfect team.

Honesty is the rule you follow.
I can see it in your eyes.
I treasure that.

I am content.
You bring calm to
all of my storms.

Okay, I think that I got that out of my system. :)

Hopefully I can now move on and write that report that I need to do. I hope my attempt at poetry wasn’t too awful. I’ve never been a good judge of poems. :)

Confession

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Whenever I don’t do as well as I wanted to on something I’ve written that I feel is pretty darn good, I feel horrible. Horrible. This feeling, for most people, is reserved for really traumatic events, events that stick with you through the entire day, and sometimes even longer. This is the way I feel when I get a paper back with something that declares my writing to be sub-par.

Many people would say that I am overreacting, and, if I were anyone else, if this were anything else, they would stand basking in the light of their correctness. However, for me, this response is not overreacting, but a completely rational, completely natural response.

When I write, I almost without exception pour myself into my work. Nearly every word is used with a purpose, every sentence and paragraph considered. Writing is my passion, and I feel that it is deserving of all the attention that I lavish upon it. This is the reason that when I get a grade or comment on writing that makes all my work for naught, I feel horrible.

This post is not so much a compliant about a grade that, in all fairness, I shouldn’t be too broken up about, but is instead an explanation of why something so small as a grade can make me feel so awful. It may not make sense to anyone else, but to me, there can be no other way of life. I have to write, and it has to matter to me.

Not just penciled in

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“Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.”
 – Bill Gates

When I saw this quote, several things crossed my mind. The first was that I have to agree with the fact that yes, there is a lot more that you can do with your time instead of go to church on a Sunday morning. You can walk your dog, check your email, read the paper or just sleep in. However, none of those things will serve you very well after you die. It’s pretty important that you have a relationship with God…you know, there’s this whole thing where if you’re saved, you go to Heaven and if you don’t, you don’t. I think that receiving eternal salvation is more important than walking your dog, and that developing a relationship with the God who loves you is a bit more pressing than figuring out what 37 down is in the crossword puzzle.

The second thing that crossed my mind was the fact that God isn’t supposed to be efficient. He was not trying to fit into our schedules, and he doesn’t really care if he messes up your plans. He doesn’t exist to fit into your plans, but rather, you exist to fit into his.

I’m not saying that I am always in church when I should be, or that there haven’t been many Sundays when I’ve wished the entire time that I was in church that I was somewhere else. Because I haven’t, and there have been. Nevertheless, I realize that on a Sunday morning, there is nowhere I should be but in church with other Christians, allowing God to see that he is more important than efficiency.

Not knowing the context of this quote, I’m going to have to say that it features a pretty bleak outlook on life in general. After all, when all you have to live for is keeping up with your schedule and crossing things off of your list, when your life goal is efficiency, your life, well, sucks.

I may not have a massive fortune, and people all over the world may not respect and revere me, but at least my life isn’t so full of other things and times, meetings to attend and contracts to sign that I feel the need to always be efficient, even on a Sunday morning, even to the extent of blocking God out of my life because he didn’t call my secretary for an appointment.