Reexamine

As MP reminded me, never stop questioning.

I don't think I actually ever forgot this, because anyone who knows me also knows that I ask approximately 1 trillion questions every 2.4 years, or something like that.

One thing I do need to remember is: to reexamine. I have a tendency to ask everyone a ton of questions, but I realize that's really no good unless I'm questioning myself, reexamining my morals, my self-interest, what I believe, what I stand for, my actions, who I interact with, and my honesty to myself and to others.

I know some people who are applying for jobs, so I'm going to wrap my advice into a real world example (feel free to keep reading if you are already employed, because remember: always reexamine)

If a person is lucky, they get to work a job that they feel really passionate about. Most likely this indicates that they feel like their personal values are reflected in the mission of the company. Ideally, they feel that with their job they are contributing to the betterment of the world, even if on a small scale, or at the very least not causing the world damage.

So, this scenario is of course under the most ideal, lucky of terms. So this cannot take into account people who are working for huge paychecks, etc.--because clearly they're violating the first condition, by not being motivated primarily by passion, for their job.

So how does this happen in an organization whose mission is: To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Especially, since these are not isolated incidents within just this one organization, nor in the world.

I don't doubt that these people started out with the best of intentions, but obviously became disillusioned in their own personal mission, and how that connected with the mission of their organization, somewhere along the line. And there is no justification for that type of dishonesty, even if someone tries to justify it as: "I'm working for an organization that's improving the world, so it's okay if I cut a few corners here and there."

That's why every day I, and everyone, need to reexamine themselves, "Is the work I'm doing, are the actions I'm taking, still a reflection of my personal mission statement, am I accomplishing what I want and need to in an honest way? Should I still be doing the work I am doing, or do I need to move on to something that more accurately aligns with my personal mission statement?"

I think it's pretty easy to become a watered down version of the person you once were if you keep doing work that doesn't match up with who you are, for too long.

In closing, always reexamine yourself in order to stay what you are, as long as that's what is still right for you. And always stand up for what you believe in, because if you don't, who will?

"Maybe that's all life is,"

she said, "The constant delivery of good and bad news."

___________________________________________

I hope it's more than that, I think it's more than that.

But it's also easy to forget how much finding out one piece of news can entirely alter someone's reality.

...Until something comes along to remind you, just as quickly as you forgot.

Is this the best we could come up with?

Breaking News--
Greener pastures: Dairy science reverses history with enrollment surge

When recruiting prospective Dairy Science students, is the message we wanted to send with the picture in the article, "Come to Wisconsin, where you too will be able to stick your hand up the butt of many cows"?


Did the private marketing firm you hired consult on the photo choice of this article?

p.s. Can you believe I put my quotations inside my question mark?! I think this is actually one situation that called for it, what do you think?

Procrastination Central

I have been having trouble finding the motivation to do anything productive in regards to schoolwork the past 2 days. Does anyone want to take my econ final/do my web design project for me?

When Ben was here he made me a list of things I had to do, so I would stop complaining about it, haha. Instead of seeming manageable, it just seems gigantic...but I have managed to check a few things off.


Tonight some of my friends and I did our secret santa gift exchange. I was lucky enough to receive a sweatband with the phrase "Get Serious About Life" embroidered into it from Dimitri. Last year, at around this time I was having a particularly classy evening, where I made "Get Serious About Life" my mantra, and kept repeating it, to EVERYBODY.



I think I'm just going to have to buckle down, put the sweatband on, and get serious about life for the next week.

And we've come such a long long way, let's put it off for one more day

My sisters called me this morning as I was on my way to class, and Emily says: "We just called you so that you could wish us a happy snow day." haha, thanks Em. Convenient for them, my older sister teaches in the same district that my little sister goes to school in.

Ben and I watched Little Miss Sunshine last night, I really do love that movie. Actually, I almost always like humorous movies about dysfunctional families.

But, I like it even more...because I listened to the lyrics of a Devotchka song that they play during the credits, because they only play the instrumental version during the movie.

Watch the video because *bonus* the lead singer of Devotchka is also attractive. haha.

Brainstorming Sessions

My brother is here visiting me this weekend.

When my little sister called us to ask us what we were doing all weekend (Because he got here on Friday and he's leaving on Tuesday), we said: "Making life plans" (which usually involves brainstorming sessions and google searches).

That is a true statement.

We also did a little christmas shopping today.

Excerpt from an e-mail I received today from my friend Lizi:
"Miss you a lot bitch bag!!! huaauhauhauhau"

Most people would not read that sentence as a term of endearment, but it is. I don't think I can even explain the evolution of that phrase and how it came to be, haha.

It makes me miss the memories of last summer, and especially Lizi--only 21 and one of the most inspring people I have met in a long time.

p.s. I got into the first class that I'm taking for my major, next semester, it's called Leadership and Management of Non-profit Organizations...how awesome is that?!