More.... Progress

I’ve continued to work hard to maintain the virtues that I’d previously discussed: Self-Preservation, Order and Tolerance. It appears that achieving these goals is becoming easier each day, especially Self-Preservation. I’m losing weight, feeling better, less sluggish and my clothes are looser. I’m excited that I am working to make my life and health better, but I’m ecstatic that I can see the results of it. Getting my life in order is also working to my advantage, although there are a few habits that I have to be conscious of. My level of tolerance has become existent, as I am aware of my reaction to previously ‘intolerable’ situations and people. Yay, Me!

I have begun the work on my Faith walk. I think I am becoming a little more careful in how I opt to worship, more willing to counter what simply IS and ask for references and various origins of certain aspects of Christianity. I find that there are far more religious people that simply accept and conform to what they’re told than those that do not. I know that this is going to be the most challenging of my virtues, because I will have to rely on the perspective of others to gain access and comprehension to various aspects of my faith. Despite the challenges, I’m prepared to do what it takes to have my own two feet to stand on regarding my faith.

The opportunity to work on the desired area of consistency hasn’t presented itself, yet. As a result, I’ve been using the time and occasion to work on less cumbersome situations. For instance, I attempt to stay on task when I’m plagued with sudden urges to stray from activities, responsibilities and duties that I’m doing at that time.

As I work on accepting things and people as they are, I have come to realize how fragile people are. It’s amazing how taking the time and really looking at people and their situations have given me an opportunity to develop a proper understanding of just how blessed I am to have the many advantages that I have in my life (familial support, finances, education, excellent health, to name a few). Acquiring this goal has also given me time to assess the person I am and how my decisions and behaviors affect others. I’m finding that this element of my pursuit to virtuosity is the most humbling of those on my list of virtues.

Working on these virtues have really given me an opportunity to sit down, slow down and simply stop and reflect on the person I am, want to be and was. I’m excited to know that although I’m reinventing an awesome lady, there’s plenty of room to become more amazing. This coming week, I’m planning to work on ‘Honor, Modesty and Honesty’. Of these three, honesty is going to be the doozy, simply because when people describe me, ‘Brutal honesty’ is usually one of the characteristics mentioned, as I tell it like it is. Toning it down, it going to be interesting and definitely a challenge, but we’ll see.

Social Practices-Revised

I’m really excited about this topic, as I have a few social practices that I think hinders this country. The basis is education and racism. Racism in regard to miscegenation and the affects racism have on Blacks and immigrants, specifically Mexicans. I’ll begin with racism and follow with education.

Racism

A lot of people would prefer to believe that racism no longer exists and is acknowledged as paranoia, until it’s directed at and personally affects them. The racism that I will discuss is based upon the indirect affects and my personal observances of it.

Here is a note I wrote to someone on a social network recently, as a way to dispel some of the asininity he was projecting upon his page.

I wrote:

“well, on a friday, about 10 yrs ago i was a salesperson for haynes furniture, and was having hella days bc lightning had hit the phone line (i had cavalier, but the lines were owned and serviced by verizon...so there was alot of mess to get it up and running... with the exception of my ex and i running around, using payphones and mess) and we'd been out of service for going on a week... THIS WAS DURING THE BIG PHONE/TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRIKE(AT&T, VERIZON, ETC)(remember that crap?)..so anyway, they've hired all these temps because everyone is out picketing their asses....and we're going bananas, i'm talking to this jerk that doesn't know anything, that sends me to that jerk that doesn't know anything to ...... eventually i get this ?allen? dude on the phone, very rude and is a supervisor, so i'm boiling when i get to work, because it's going to be a whole wkend now w/o a phone, etc, etc, etc.... so, the furniture company is upscale and expensive as hell and alot of the salespeople are really snotty(black, white, arab and asian) and have a tendency to LOOK at the people they are ‘willing to help’... i'm none of that. mess whether i sell anything or pass out in a recliner, i'm getting $1000 base bi-wkly, so i'm good. any who, i'm not a dog eat dog type, not hound dog the customers type, i'm just chill and ask anyone in proximity if i can assist... well, i run into this chill dressed (jeans, tee, sneakers)white man and his mexican wife, and ask if there is anything that i can do, he stops looks at me and says, "do you know that we've been here for over an hour and though all these salespeople are walking around and some not doing anything, you're the FIRST person to even acknowledge us, let alone approach us? i apologized and said that if i had i seen them earlier i'd have asked and then apologized. he explained that people do that alot, bc his wife is mexican and they make assumptions... well, anyway, they were looking to buy a HOUSE FULL OF FURNITURE, but were disgusted with haynes' attitude and felt that they should spend their money elsewhere, which was understandable, i'm the same way and advocate it... but as we're talking either i somehow tell him about my day or phone situation or his job comes up somehow.. GUESS WHO HE IS!?! no, he's not ?allen?... HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THAT ENTIRE REGION and DEPT, which included being ?allen's? bosses, boss!! i was like are you serious? i spoke to allen today because my phone was(... )and he was a jerk(.....) and told him what was going on, he apologized to me told me to give him my information... i did, would you believe on a friday night, i was told that my phone would be restored on saturday, no later than noon!?!? and also, that he would have a talk w. allen about his demeanor/attitude... i had to go to work that following morning, but my then husband called and was like, "YO! VERIZON CAME AND FIXED THE LINE, THEN CAVALIER CAME THRU TO MAKE SURE THAT VERIZON HAD DONE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. THEN BIG MAN CALLED! WOW, YOU BE GETTIN CONNECTS IN THAT JUNT!"... i'm telling you what i told him, "YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH NOR TALKING TO, AND SINCE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE,  ALWAYS BE ON POINT." 17SEP10”

The above not focuses on so many different issues: class, race, power, the unknown….but what I’m attempting to convey is that people are people. NO ONE should be looked down upon based on anything other than personal knowledge or information relating to that person, their acts, deeds, etc. I find it comforting to know that although, class and race will always be prominent issues in society, most people simply see people as people and base their personal feelings  and views on some form of validity.

 Education

As a parent, I was told that my (then 5-year old son) was ‘slow’ and ‘COULDN’T’ read. He was in kindergarten, and I was under the impression that kindergarten is where you begin to read…it was when I started school. So, knowing my son for his ability to articulate in a manner that didn’t appeal to me as being slow, I stepped up. I took his ‘not yet learned’ ability as a failure on my part. That day, I quit school, went to Staples and purchased a large chalk board and an equally large dry erase board, a laser pin, chalk and markers. I made it my personal business to teach MY son to read. I wrote the letters on the board in various order and pointed to individual letters, giving him 1-2 seconds to identify it. Not doing so in time, I marked it. I made it a game. I created bingo cards with letters, not numbers (he knew those) and everyone that came by played it. I taught him to ‘slide and roll’ letter sounds into complete words (the way I was taught). Within one week, my son was reading small words. He was not slow. He is not slow. He is now 11, in the 6^th grade, reading on a high school level and head saxophonist in his school band…HE READS MUSIC.

As a school counselor, I witnessed what happened to my son, numerous times, except on the middle and high school level. I realized that the lot of black kids in Richmond Public Schools are screwed…not all of them, but too many!!

My point? If the schools would spend more time doing their jobs teaching the kids opposed to ‘labeling’ them (even medicating them), as well as, parents spending more time raising their own children opposed to sending them to school to be raised, the kids wouldn’t have such a high risk of failing… at both school and life.

The next note, I’d like to share is one written very recently to a friend on Facebook regarding education, specifically Virginia.

I wrote:

“sorry to inform you, but it's not just city schools, it's the whole lot... va only teach kids how to pass SOLs, they don't teach kids the fundamentals/basics anymore.... the difference is that whites have other resources and money to accommodate the bull**** of the public school systems, like tutors, and tutor schools... so what your kid goes to county schools, i dare you to have the same outlook if you move your kid to a state that still TEACH, your son will look and feel like a lost puppy...don't brag unless your kid is in a private school, montessori preferably... as far as summer breaks, whatever... black parents in AMERICA should start raising their kids, not expecting the system to do so... the IEP (individual education plan) level amongst NON-retarded(LD-learning disabled) black children is astronomical... i mean like 78% in some schools... why is that? well, you have poor, non-educated blacks that don't know anything, and are told that their kid/kids(there are some entire family of kids)-are slow, these ppl see a check...therefore you got a family living off of SSI at the expense of a child that is not retarded, but has a learning curve...the system can afford to look at that as no big deal, because the white ppl that make up all the IQ(intelligent quotient) tests have written years ago that blacks are inferior to whites AND blacks are UNable to learn(bell curve theory)....so you have the sellout parents and the system that would prefer to label you as a typical N word, than teach you... then you have the parents that just don't know, again somewhat not educated, that believe whatever is said to them by the teachers, admins, etc, despite what they KNOW about their children and go along with the IEP. the difference with these parents are that they are either too proud or are the cause(drugs, alcohol, etc), and are either embarrassed or guilt-ridden and don't want BENEFITS. then you have the parents that actually have retarded children bc of drugs, heredity, etc and are in total denial, but get checks and are always in your face, however they are not doing jack at home to better the child, and it shows. then the ones that make you REALLY sick are the ones that tell YOU that their child is retarded or slow, because they WANT a check, and forces their kid(s) to fail test, act slow,etc, etc, etc.. because they are told too.. you have teachers that actually do care and are like WHAT? UMM, NO! but the kid is going to do what is taught at home(bc this is the ONLY thing being taught at home, and kids actually do want to please their parents, esp ones that are neglected) so what can you do?  i'll tell you what you CAN'T do, you can't blame the SCHOOL system for this one, though you can always look at some place in the system *ahem* welfare to blame for this form of coddling.  i've seen very few parents that are actually on point, accepting of the issue, involved and handling business in these cases, and their children excel far beyond the CRITERIA that's set forth for their specific 'label'....tmr(trainable mental retardation), mr(mental retardation), ed(emotional disturbances), ld(learning disabled), etc....and would you FREAKIN believe that it's ILLEGAL to tell a kid that knows that they are labeled TMR, MR, etc what the acronym means?!?!?! these kids walk around unaware unless a arsehole like me tells them. at a 'special olympics' basketball game there was a petition to 'stop the use of the 'R' word' going around for everyone to sign, i didn't sign that CRAP and passed it to the next person... some of my close friends that noticed, laughed and asked me why? i told them, because i use the R word. it's used in the formal labeling of these kids and alot of them ARE dang on RETARDED, but since no one has told them, they look down on the physically inept...forget that, i'm not signing it and will continue to use it where it's due. i've never been a follower, fake nor any of that conformist bullCRAP that people like to jump on the bandwagon for, and will not start today, bc it might hurt someone's feelings. this system is so dang on asinine, convoluted and contradictory that i sometimes fear sending my kids to school, but i know that there ARE some well intentioned people working, and though they know their JOB, they actually try to do a good job for the kids... you wouldn't believe all the teachers that retired, quit and etc because of the same reasons i'm telling you.. i mean teachers that taught for decades and then bush comes along and no child left behind sends the drop out rates soaring, crippling teachers from teaching, and etc... i send my big babies off in the mornings knowing that I AM THEIR DRIVING FORCE, and that they will be taken seriously by the teachers that i send them to, bc those teachers know, i'm not the one and neither are my children. so, don't be comforted by county schools, babe... his school like the rest is just a few steps away from segregation anyway...if it is not already.... think about this and check out how many schools are POPPING UP in subdivisions. subdivisions are sometimes racially mixed, but the classes are the same and these days race and class are one in the same, thus these NEW schools are clustering based on the demographics, resulting in segregation... just look around yourself... i live in richmond's northside (brook road area) our middle and high school ZONE schools are henderson and john marshall both about 99.9% black.. the elementary school in my ZONE is  a 50/50 school(race and class...the gov's daughter went there w. my daughter). so how come that same ZONE is not the same for middle and high school... lemme share. my daughter is honors, so when she was in 5th grade, with gov's daughter, she and all the 5th grade class was given the OPPORTUNITY to go to an out of zone school(binford or albert hill) both in THE FAN. ok, the letters were sent home, i signed the letter that day and sent it back, selecting Binford. months go by, she tours the school w the other kids. TWO months before school is out, i receive a letter stating that there was not enough room for her. ok, fine, but smells like bullCRAP (i was working at henderson middle at the time and we had 1 white kid, a city counsel woman's son).. where are all the white kids in the area going? they are going to binford and albert hill. the system and parents has surreptitiously clustered/separated these kids. how do i know? well i work in the zone school, virtually no whites in a zone that is 50/50. also, speaking with parents of kids that go to my then middle school, that had younger kids in 5th grade w. my daughter... you know what they said when i asked where their black kid was going? they all said the same thing, "i don't know, he/she is supposed to be going to binford/hill, but there wasn't enough space." i knew then what was going on, the white kids were the ONLY ones that actually had the OPPORTUNITY for open enrollment, but they had to send the forms home to EVERY 5th grader to be truly UNfair. all the black 5th graders went to henderson, unless parents moved or used an address for the school out of zone. i didn't pursue it, as i'm cool with my zone school(same as that counsel woman) and i was going to be at john marshall the following year, next door to my daughter. i know that my daughter, like so many other gifted black children in this city, deserves the same education as the next possible ivy leaguer, but she does.... she has me. binford and albert hill have far better accreditation than henderson, thus more funds, personal donations, allotments, and etc to accommodate and benefit the many whites, along with the defaulted blacks that attend bc they are actually IN that zone. and if you ever had an opportunity to see the classrooms, you can bet your butt that black(and hispanic) and white(and asian) kids are separated in both race and class."

Learning From The Committee (General Assembly)

I’m not certain, my committee does not seem to get together much on the Assembly, as there’s only there’s always the same two posts, the ones by Dr. Brandon and myself. As a result, I’ll focus on how I’ve found the entire class helpful in promoting my learning experience in this class. During the online discussions, I’m able to get concise and elicited expressions of what my classmates are trying to convey, as I’m a believer that it’s much easier to write than to speak off the cuff. In the classroom, we all ‘hear’ what we want, but online we have an opportunity to ‘see’ and turn what’s written over in our heads. I’m learning a lot from everyone. There are a few people that appear to be really influenced and fuelled by politics and science, which has promoted my interest in both subjects. Although, I don’t agree with some of it, I find it very interesting and it forces me to research certain topics for myself, so that I can possess an actual opinion of my own when the need for one is necessary. There are also people in the class that share similar beliefs as I have, and also possess a heightened sense of understanding about them than myself, this also intrigues and compels me to want to have that same level of comprehension and appreciation for it. Dr. Brandon provides a setting that is both useful and necessary. It’s awesome to have an instructor that has not only mastered the subject matters, but thoroughly enjoys extending that knowledge on to us, patiently and openly.

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

I will format my ‘Professions of Faith’ in same way Paine professed his own. I believe in God. I believe in the Holy Bible. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is the Christ (Holy Messiah). I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the body of Christ consists of people. I believe in Good and that evil exists. I believe in the incalculable power of God. I believe that God is love, mercy and truth. I believe that God has provided His children with a blueprint to live by, His Word. I believe in penance (repentance). I believe that genuinely fine practices, behaviors and methods are beneficial to all people of any religion. I believe that God simply IS. I believe I have an understanding of what faith, religion and Christianity is.  I believe that so many people exploit religious practices, beliefs and faiths, as well as, the scripture for personal gain. I believe that many people refute and stray from the Word of God because of the lack of integrity associated with so many ‘churches’ and alleged Christian ‘folk’.

Now, I do NOT believe that everything written in the Bible is fact-based, as the imperfect Man has had to write and interpret the contents utilizing his own personal understanding of language, belief and etc. And because of that, God’s Word resides within us, i.e., conscience, health, happiness, love, understanding, patience, respect and etc. I do NOT believe that people must attend a building to effectively praise and worship God and His Word because if the building is supposed to house God and His sacred Word and Power, how is it possible to worship in a ‘common’ building such as a school, former 7-Eleven and hotel?.  The church resides in the mind and heart of the individual, not the four walls that house him/her. I do NOT believe that everyone who states their belief in God and His Word truly believe, unless they can profess with their mouth and own words ‘Why and How’ they believe. I do NOT believe in the bureaucracy of many churches. I do NOT believe that any Joe Schmoe off the streets can instantly become a bishop in a church with no formal training, theological experience and thorough knowledge of the Holy Bible. Yes, experience plays a tremendous part of leadership, however I’m simply not inclined to assume a person that has done nothing positive, productive nor prideful in their life, until recently has the right to tell me what’s right and wrong. There are so many people that do what they want, opposed to the Word, for as long as they want and then when they’ve gotten caught and/or tired, they decide it’s time. No, I believe that one’s walk should consists of dealing with trials and tribulations not always attributed to personal acts, and that ACTS of Faith conquer, thus providing a testimony.  I do NOT believe that penance is simple and 100%. Virtually everyone has had times of rue, and wished they could change the course of a situation to take a different path. However, given the opportunity, would the ‘other’ path be taken? I think that people take advantage of the power of penance, and use it as a way to avoid their conscience and acknowledge wrongdoing.

I believe in God because I was first introduced to Him at an early age. Although, I went to church as a child, I was NEVER forced to attend, and the practice of going was not a consistent one. In my family (amongst my parents and their children), the choice of worship was an individual one, and I was given the opportunity to worship where I desired. Having had the opportunity to do so, has provided me with an appreciation for many churches, denominations and practices. I consider myself a non-denominational Christian, as I worship wherever I’m spiritually led.  My personal experiences, has led me to believe in His presence, Power and Word. As a result in said personal experiences, I have no other choice than to believe in Him, His Power and His Word. So many times in my life, I wondered, “Why me?” and had to counter that thought with, “Why NOT me?”, when thinking of the Crucifixion of Christ. Being emotionally, spiritually and physically lifted up as a result of exaltation is perfect example of His presence. I love God. I love His Power and Presence. I love His Word. And although, I’m not a scholar of theology, I’m a scholar in my personal relationship with HIM and love learning and witnessing everything that allows its growth.

COMMON SENSE

Common Sense

Personally, I feel that immigrants and aliens benefit more from the “America: Land of Milk and Honey and Opportunity”, than American born citizens when it comes to ‘start up/capital’. However, that’s not my argument, today. The issue that I see in America that I believe poses as a potentially overwhelming and negative problem is the immigration laws and rights of ‘Illegals’.  

I think that if people want the opportunity for a better life, they should take the necessary steps to acquire it. Period. Although, there are many situations that have come to appear ‘racist’ in regard to certain immigrants, it’s necessary. I mean seriously, ‘certain’ people have had to deal with blatant racism on a regular basis in various aspects of everyday life and have had to chuck it the heck up. Profiling is illegal, but is practiced more so than not, based upon all the things that makes it illegal, so it just as well be legalized... I'm profiled all the time, even on bicycles. And since, most states require adults to carry state issued identification, who cares if people are 'inconveniently' told to show 'papers'? I'm TOLD to carry my dang on passport/papers when I'm international, and feel perfectly ok... BECAUSE I'M LEGALLY THERE. See where I'm going with this? So, illegals, and sometimes the legals, should have to deal with the inconvenience and either go to their home in America… or go HOME, I mean they get a free ride/flight to get there. I think it’s ludicrous for people that are ILLEGALLY in THIS country to have the RIGHT in THIS country to vehemently PROTEST and EXERCISE the RIGHTS of AMERICANS on Capitol Hill (and anywhere else). I think that if one is illegally in a country, hence the term ‘illegally’, then hiding and staying under the radar is ‘common sense’. The diversity that this country has to offer is by FAR the greatest thing about it, in my opinion. The freedom to bring your home (heritage and culture) with you to this land and SHARE and MIX it with others is a magnificent thing. Simply beautiful. However, doing so illegally and blatantly so, smears that beauty and demonstrates an absolute disregard and disrespect for the rights to these freedoms.

People shouldn’t be treated like dirt, nor should they be treated with any less dignity as anyone else who has broken our laws, but they should be handled accordingly and sent home. People that have been deported should have the same terms in regards to how their home country deals with deportation of aliens (both illegal and legal), based upon cause.

I believe that if two illegal aliens have a baby on US soil, your child is still an illegal alien and they all should be sent home as soon as this fact is determined (in the hospital). If one illegal alien has a child with an American citizen or legal alien, the illegal parent needs to go home when this fact is determined. If that legal person elects to go with them, there should be some guidelines and opportunities to allow it, if possible. But, I also think that there should be special circumstances that would allow the illegal person to gain legal and perhaps permanent entry into the country, based upon certain criteria and background information pertaining to both countries. Where and with whom the child resides should be determined amongst the parents, if they aren't able to get it together, then the child should be deemed an illegal alien and sent home with illegal parent...perhaps this aspect will form a basis for the parents to figure it out amongst themselves reasonably opposed to holding up the process in litigation, costing legal citizens. And in any case, the hospital bills need to be paid, in full, before any consideration of the illegal individual's return. In fact, any and all situations pertaining to the deportation and possible return of illegals should be done so based upon 100% restitution of everything pertaining to, but not limited to: legal, medical, and credit bills. And as with Americans, immediate family living in the U.S. should bear the burden of such situations, and/or prevent immediate family members' from coming to the U.S.

I do not think that illegal aliens should have the right to social services, DMV privileges, credit, contract utilities, personal banking access, education, W2s, nor anything else. There should be measures to address and eliminate the problem, seeing that there is a need for it.  The government needs to: crack down harder on companies and entrepreneurs that advocate, employ and exploit illegal aliens with fines, federal felonious jail time if and when convicted; establish a high risk tax bracket for those that have been convicted of doing so, and force them to be registered like sex offenders. I think that if the government attacks and enforces the illegal alien issue, then perhaps things would change.  Of course, there are always going to be people that ‘let them through’ our borders for whatever reasons. Of course, there are always going to be people that will advocate the employment and exploitation of illegal aliens. And of course, there are always going to be ‘greased palms’ in the lawmaking processes to ensure that said people are able to employ and exploit these people. Unrealistic? Unconstitutional? Perhaps, but if Americans would protest, complain and express ourselves with as much fervor as the ‘illegals’, then change will have to come... it works, look at all the rights they have.

Virtues Progress

I’m attempting to work on a few virtures at a time… the ones that I know are the most challenging: Self-Preservation, Tolerance, and Order.

Self-Preservation

To preserve my SELF, I have decided to make serious life changes regarding my physical and mental health. Regarding, physical health, I’ve begun going to the gym at least 5 times a week, instead of 3 times a month. I’ve being paying full price for a membership that I know I need and want, but have elected to ‘chill’. As a result of ‘chillin’, I have gained more weight, became more physically unfit, and incapable of fitting my clothes comfortably. After consulting with a personal trainer and nutritionist, it was revealed to me that I was borderline obese based upon my age, weight and height (Body Mass). Obesity simply is not an option, there are too many health risks involved coupled with my family health history, Uh-uh. Nope. So, for the past month, I have incorporated a healthy diet and workout into my daily life.

Although, I’ve always been active and something of a healthy eater, I’ve never taken the time to consciously do so. Well, as of late, I’ve utilized an online Food Journal and have counted EVERYTHING that goes into my body, its purpose and benefit. Oh, it’s amazing how much fun I am having actually see what the food I eat is doing to and for me. In doing so, I no longer eat ‘junk’ simply because it’s there. And when there’s a choice to be made regarding something beneficial opposed to not, I can see the effects in advance. It’s awesome knowing that I not only planned my menu, but also I did so in a manner that makes me look and feel better.

My exercise regiment is also something that I’m ecstatic about. Although, there are a few things that I have to do that I’m not excited about, I’m learning to be. I do 45 minutes of cardio, usually stationary bike, Stair Master, elliptical machine and Zumba dancing. The Stair Master was my biggest enemy, as it’s tedious, extremely difficult and non-accommodating to my clumsiness (I’m a fall-up-the-stairs kinda gal). I’ve learned that although, there isn’t much I can do about my clumsiness, there is plenty to do regarding the tediousness and extreme difficulty of the machine. For tediousness, I place a magazine, crossword puzzle or some other piece of literature on the display to keep the time out of my head. As for its difficulty, I simply find different positions and methods to climb the stairs (sideways, 2 stairs at a time, backward). Weight training is the other aspect of my almost daily workout. I work my full body and am loving the freedom that I’m allowed to do so. I’m stuck with the same old, same old. There are so many different machines that work so many of the same parts that I’m not bored with the training.

I’m really excited about this aspect of my life and change. Although, I’ve only been doing this for a month and my weight is slowly reducing, I can see and feel the difference in how my clothes fit…SKINNY JEANS AND SKIRTS, HERE I COME.

Tolerance

To practice tolerance for asininity, I’ve began to count past ten and think funny thoughts, attempt to understand what people are probably going through (giving the benefit of doubt) and empathize, and remove myself from potential adversity, thus not having to understand the other person, only myself.

Order

I have began this process in my home. Last week, I went to Wal-Mart and bought decorative boxes and other organizational pieces to ‘clean up’ my office and living room. It’s so amazing the impact of organizationally ‘hiding’ things has on a room, especially an office, used for personal, business and academics. I’m loving it so much, I haven’t watched television since. Although, meal planning can be attributed to ‘Self-Preservation’, it has really assisted me in the ‘Order’ department. I now clip coupons on Tuesdays, opposed to whenever; go to the market on Saturdays and Wednesdays; all of which assists in my scheduling for the week. I’m doing great and can really do this.

I’m planning to start focusing on ‘Acceptance’ ‘Consistency’ and ‘Faith’. These three virtues have been aspects of my life that I really need to work on.

Thirteen Virtues (in no particular order)

^{MY 13 VIRTUES}

1.       Faith

Seek proficient understanding, opposed to giving way to blissful ignorance of what I do not believe but believe I should.

2.       Truth

Believe in people, not everything they say.

3.       Acceptance

Accept things as they are, not so much for what ‘I’ believe they should be.

4.       Wisdom

Learn something profound everyday for the rest of my life. Look at learning as I would faith… ‘Mustard seed moving mountains’. (every little bit counts).

5.       Modesty

Work on my limitations of modesty (excessive and deficient).

6.       Honor

Understand, accept and respect the choices, values and beliefs of others as the rights of the individual, especially when they are contrary to my own.

7.       Tolerance

Lord, help me. Practice what it takes others to tolerate me. Know and actively understand that there are no perfect people, situations nor PEOPLE. Stupidity is prevalent in society, therefore understanding and patience are necessary.

8.       Consistency

Learn to stay in tune to my personal feelings and needs, opposed to giving way to the whims of others. Saying, “No.” when ‘no’ is necessary and sticking to it.

9.       Honesty

Tone it down.

10.   Order

Obtain and maintain the proper and individual place(s) for all things, people and situations.

11.   Peacefulness

Strive for, acquire and maintain positivity in every possible aspect of my life.

12.   Temperance

Breathe. Pray. Reflect. Understand. Golden Rule.

13.   Self Preservation

Acquire and maintain a physical, mental and intellectual balance for the benefit of a preferably happy and productive life.

Bonus

14.   Productivity

Be productive whenever the opportunity presents itself, regardless of fatigue, mood or preference.