Every choice I make determines a new future. They can be small choices such as what I put in my body to eat, or large life altering changes such as where should I move?
I don’t look at them as “votes,” unless my desired choice is reliant on others choices too. O
Really have no idea!. Today feeling extremely disgusted with this Administration! Not only have SNAP food benefits have not been issued but there is still low income tax credit for medical insurance pending. My daughter’s plan will cost $600 a month if congress does not approve what has been in place for several years helping low income families have health Insurance.
I just listened to the interview with a Portland Oregon coffee shop who is serving folks a free breakfast right now. He is saying Children are the majority of customers right coming in. It is truly shameful!!
Saying Yes to supporting others, helping unfolding shared values in many is a choice made by me taken since long, and i would not call it a vote. And i will do this as good as being able to. I am so tired now, so that´s all i can say and need to go to sleep now., a necessary choice right now, too. So may be tomorrow i understand the question better?
”You can’t always get what you want…
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need.”
When I cast a vote
I’m putting my two cents into the pot,
but the outcome is not guaranteed.
I just hope that enough people feel the same way I do
about whatever I’m voting for.
I do rather see every choice I make as a sort of a vote,
because the outcome of my choices
are not always assured either.
I chose to restore my hardwood floors
when we hired a ‘contractor’ to do our kitchen,
but unfortunately
he made an executive decision,
ripped the floors out,
and hammered in a sub-floor
before I found out what had happened.
I voted for a different candidate in the last presidential election,
but she lost.
I was upset by both events that didn’t go my way,
but don’t feel responsible for the election.
I feel responsible for my choice on the flooring.
Today’s Question
invites me to be more flexible in exerting my will
on any given circumstance,
and helps me to realize that ‘choice’
is really up to the Divine . . .
the Universe.
My vote
gives me wiggle room for intervention,
and I don’t beat myself up anymore
for choices
when they don’t go my way . . .
in the end,
I always get what I need. ♥
It inspires me to move through the world by making the best choices that I can in any given situation, whether it be a vote for myself, my community, my state, my country, etc. Now if only our leaders would do the same – and that goes for both “sides.” FWIW, I wish that sides would go away. They are more divisive these days than they have ever been in my lifetime.
I like this question. What do I endorse? What do I choose? What is my action and what does it say about my perspectives and my commitment to act on them and from them? thanks, Grateful.
“Our lives are defined by the choices we make. It is these choices that define our character, our authentic self. So choose wisely. Do not miss out by placing importance on things instead of people. Pursue beauty, hope, love and kindness. Pursue opportunity to improve this world for somebody else. Let’s be simply beautiful.”
”Dr Seuss said, ‘Always say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter they won’t mind.’ ”
Thank you so much,
dear Brian,
for this video . . .
I am very familiar with Reflections of Life,
and knew it as ‘Green Renaissance’.
The stories always soothe and inspire me
and I love every one of the beautiful souls
who share what is in them. ♥
When I read John Lewis’ quote, I smiled and I shed a tear. Why, because the truth is his words were hopeful and painful for me. The American electorate made a choice in 2020 and as a country, we are reaping the benefits and the chaos of that choice/decision. Not even members of our congress are mature enough to deal with it. I do hope that elections in the future will afford us a free and fair choice and that a mature decision will be made by all.
As for today’s question as it relates to me, in her novel, “The Book of Two Ways,” Jodi Picoult’s female character Dawn says “We don’t make decisions. Our decisions make us.” I have found this to be true and we usually make our biggest decisions without sufficient information or maturity. But, that said, they still shape our lives. I am 83 years old and I readily admit, I have made a lot of the decisions/choices that were not always in my best interest. These days, I try to always ask myself when making a choice, Will this be life-giving or limiting to me…to others? Will it be compassionate? Will it assist or deter evolution? We live on this little space ship called Mother Earth. We are her family. May we all be inspired to show respect for her NOW.
My heart is with you in this,
dear Carol Ann . . .
I too,
have made many decisions that were not in my best interest,
but all of them
have made me a wiser person,
but I guess I had to do it the hard way.
I am at peace with most of those decisions
now.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. ♥
Having held elected office, I’ve asked people to vote for me. Running for office requires asking people to donate for the campaign. I came up with a line I used in every fundraising appeal letter: “It would be hard to ask you for money for myself. I’m asking you to support the things we both believe in.” Believing in the opportunity to shape a better future inspired me to run and guides my votes/choices as I move through the world now.
Many years ago I got a little booklet, “Shopping for a Better World.” The premise was that we vote with our wallets with each purchase we make. The booklet scored big corporations and brands on a variety of topics: environment was one, being associated with tobacco was another, nuclear energy. I don’t remember all of them. I believe workers’ rights and opportunities for women to rise in leadership were somehow evaluated and represented.
The booklet is long gone but the idea remains. I don’t fully research absolutely every company I buy from but I definitely think of my spending as a vote for the future I want.
I start with Buy Nothing, then thrift or used, for many things. If I’m buying online I read the company’s “About” page and look for their mission, how they treat their workers, what they do with the waste they produce, whether they still talk about a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion–all those indicators of corporate responsibility, integrity, values I share. I look at where my food comes from and try to vote for food made or grown closer to where I live. I go to to the farmers’ market, shop at my local independent bookstore and used bookstores rather than Amazon, check out books from the library, generally try to reduce my consumption, all to vote for living local economies.
I’m not consistent, but I also withhold my vote from certain businesses whose leaders make it clear they don’t care about workers, my rights as a woman, and other issues I care about. Votes work against, as well as for.
I hope we have many wins for the future we want in electoral outcomes across the US today.
That is a good tip to look at a company’s “about” page, Barb!
I wanted to mention bookshop.org as another place I like to get books if I don’t have time to make it to the local bookstore. I get to select a local bookstore that they donate a portion of the money from each book sale to. But I agree that going in person to support the bookstore and going to the library is even better!
I don’t see “voting” involved in how I make choices in my mundane daily activities. I’ve been socialized and taught to use the word “voting” in regards to a civic duty I have to participate in when electing leaders for my city, state, or federal level. Perhaps I need to redefine “voting.” As a woman, my gender, and BIPOCs, have not always had the ability to vote. I become very concerned when voter rights are questioned or manipulated to take away other’s voices and “right” to vote here in U.S. Yesterday I met a young single mom with a two year old child from Florida who moved to MInnesota. While visiting, I asked why she moved. She boldly said “I’m a woman and needed a woman friendly state to live in.” I knew exactly what she meant. I gulped internally. She made a vote/choice with that action. May our cities not have riots after the votes are counted today. ☮️
Many people are voting with their feet if they can, Carla. I’m in a state people are moving to (Washington). Never leaving it! Definitely not moving back to Idaho, where I was born. I couldn’t live there now despite its beauty.
This is an interesting question and one I haven’t really thought about in those words before. But I can see how I vote either for the health of Mother Nature or against it in many small choices. I vote for the fair treatment of workers and animals and the thriving of communities or against it, based on the choices I make in the food I eat and which businesses I give my money to. I vote for kindness to myself and others or against it, based on where I choose to put my attention, the thoughts I choose to nourish, the words and deeds I choose. This inspired me to go back and watch a short interview that inspired me, with someone named Erin Bechtol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP6GTS1MbKE . At 3.41 in the interview, Rosie asks Erin, “What does nonviolence mean to you?” and part of Erin’s response is, “taking that time to behave in a way that I’ll be proud of later… and it’s not always convenient, of course, which is why not everybody does it, but it’s so worth the time…”
If every decision is a vote, I would accept that my will is a contribution to the outcome, but not the ultimate arbitrator. So I would lean more on surrender, faith, and hope.
If we are being conscientious about our actions, hopefully we can make better decisions. It definitely makes decision making easier. Not always, but usually. It’s interesting though. The culture and the society around us, makes a lot of these decisions for us. In fact most decisions are decided by the culture.
To push against that, is to face judgment from those around us. You are criticized for making different decisions and choices. People don’t like to see someone living by different rules. It upsets them. They can feel threatened. But to be aware and present, things become more obvious. More clear. Less clouded by the culture around us. The things we do and the choices we make are votes. But mostly we are on autopilot. Letting others make decisions for us. I get it. I’m tired of being in charge of my life. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave it up to someone else? A leader, a god, a politician, a friend, a parent, a boss, and on and on and on.
All of this requires critical thinking. Something I was taught by an amazing teacher in junior high school. Ask questions. Weigh the evidence. Question the source. Look for a motive. Study history.
Could I do better? Definitely.
Charlie, I hear you loud and clear and I currently live in a state where my thoughts are almost always criticized. Many times I want to label others but remind myself that dialogue is necessary and important but often I have to bite my tongue! AND it hurts! One day at a time, dear Charlie.
Charlie, your response is very thought-prevoking. I come from a collective culture but have many individualistic branches making it easier to spot pros and cons on both sides.
It would give me pause and make me choose is my choice for the good of me or all people. ( hopefully I consider that in many choices).
It would give me pause and make me choose an answer from the head or the heart. ( again I do this with all choices).
It would give me pause and make me choose what values will be apparent with my choice and if it sits well with me.
Again not so different but the word vote over choice still seems to weigh differently because it feels more of an external decision and consequence instead of internal.
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Every choice I make determines a new future. They can be small choices such as what I put in my body to eat, or large life altering changes such as where should I move?
I don’t look at them as “votes,” unless my desired choice is reliant on others choices too. O
Really have no idea!. Today feeling extremely disgusted with this Administration! Not only have SNAP food benefits have not been issued but there is still low income tax credit for medical insurance pending. My daughter’s plan will cost $600 a month if congress does not approve what has been in place for several years helping low income families have health Insurance.
I just listened to the interview with a Portland Oregon coffee shop who is serving folks a free breakfast right now. He is saying Children are the majority of customers right coming in. It is truly shameful!!
Saying Yes to supporting others, helping unfolding shared values in many is a choice made by me taken since long, and i would not call it a vote. And i will do this as good as being able to. I am so tired now, so that´s all i can say and need to go to sleep now., a necessary choice right now, too. So may be tomorrow i understand the question better?
”You can’t always get what you want…
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need.”
When I cast a vote
I’m putting my two cents into the pot,
but the outcome is not guaranteed.
I just hope that enough people feel the same way I do
about whatever I’m voting for.
I do rather see every choice I make as a sort of a vote,
because the outcome of my choices
are not always assured either.
I chose to restore my hardwood floors
when we hired a ‘contractor’ to do our kitchen,
but unfortunately
he made an executive decision,
ripped the floors out,
and hammered in a sub-floor
before I found out what had happened.
I voted for a different candidate in the last presidential election,
but she lost.
I was upset by both events that didn’t go my way,
but don’t feel responsible for the election.
I feel responsible for my choice on the flooring.
Today’s Question
invites me to be more flexible in exerting my will
on any given circumstance,
and helps me to realize that ‘choice’
is really up to the Divine . . .
the Universe.
My vote
gives me wiggle room for intervention,
and I don’t beat myself up anymore
for choices
when they don’t go my way . . .
in the end,
I always get what I need. ♥
It inspires me to move through the world by making the best choices that I can in any given situation, whether it be a vote for myself, my community, my state, my country, etc. Now if only our leaders would do the same – and that goes for both “sides.” FWIW, I wish that sides would go away. They are more divisive these days than they have ever been in my lifetime.
FWIW = For What It’s Worth – I had to look it up, LOL
I like this question. What do I endorse? What do I choose? What is my action and what does it say about my perspectives and my commitment to act on them and from them? thanks, Grateful.
I’ve always enjoyed the following video on gratefulness.org — https://grateful.org/resource/being-simply-beautiful/ — for me, incredibly moving, and challenging. The summary of the video:
“Our lives are defined by the choices we make. It is these choices that define our character, our authentic self. So choose wisely. Do not miss out by placing importance on things instead of people. Pursue beauty, hope, love and kindness. Pursue opportunity to improve this world for somebody else. Let’s be simply beautiful.”
”Dr Seuss said, ‘Always say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter they won’t mind.’ ”
Thank you so much,
dear Brian,
for this video . . .
I am very familiar with Reflections of Life,
and knew it as ‘Green Renaissance’.
The stories always soothe and inspire me
and I love every one of the beautiful souls
who share what is in them. ♥
When I read John Lewis’ quote, I smiled and I shed a tear. Why, because the truth is his words were hopeful and painful for me. The American electorate made a choice in 2020 and as a country, we are reaping the benefits and the chaos of that choice/decision. Not even members of our congress are mature enough to deal with it. I do hope that elections in the future will afford us a free and fair choice and that a mature decision will be made by all.
As for today’s question as it relates to me, in her novel, “The Book of Two Ways,” Jodi Picoult’s female character Dawn says “We don’t make decisions. Our decisions make us.” I have found this to be true and we usually make our biggest decisions without sufficient information or maturity. But, that said, they still shape our lives. I am 83 years old and I readily admit, I have made a lot of the decisions/choices that were not always in my best interest. These days, I try to always ask myself when making a choice, Will this be life-giving or limiting to me…to others? Will it be compassionate? Will it assist or deter evolution? We live on this little space ship called Mother Earth. We are her family. May we all be inspired to show respect for her NOW.
My heart is with you in this,
dear Carol Ann . . .
I too,
have made many decisions that were not in my best interest,
but all of them
have made me a wiser person,
but I guess I had to do it the hard way.
I am at peace with most of those decisions
now.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. ♥
Having held elected office, I’ve asked people to vote for me. Running for office requires asking people to donate for the campaign. I came up with a line I used in every fundraising appeal letter: “It would be hard to ask you for money for myself. I’m asking you to support the things we both believe in.” Believing in the opportunity to shape a better future inspired me to run and guides my votes/choices as I move through the world now.
Many years ago I got a little booklet, “Shopping for a Better World.” The premise was that we vote with our wallets with each purchase we make. The booklet scored big corporations and brands on a variety of topics: environment was one, being associated with tobacco was another, nuclear energy. I don’t remember all of them. I believe workers’ rights and opportunities for women to rise in leadership were somehow evaluated and represented.
The booklet is long gone but the idea remains. I don’t fully research absolutely every company I buy from but I definitely think of my spending as a vote for the future I want.
I start with Buy Nothing, then thrift or used, for many things. If I’m buying online I read the company’s “About” page and look for their mission, how they treat their workers, what they do with the waste they produce, whether they still talk about a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion–all those indicators of corporate responsibility, integrity, values I share. I look at where my food comes from and try to vote for food made or grown closer to where I live. I go to to the farmers’ market, shop at my local independent bookstore and used bookstores rather than Amazon, check out books from the library, generally try to reduce my consumption, all to vote for living local economies.
I’m not consistent, but I also withhold my vote from certain businesses whose leaders make it clear they don’t care about workers, my rights as a woman, and other issues I care about. Votes work against, as well as for.
I hope we have many wins for the future we want in electoral outcomes across the US today.
Well said,
dear Barb . . . ♥
That is a good tip to look at a company’s “about” page, Barb!
I wanted to mention bookshop.org as another place I like to get books if I don’t have time to make it to the local bookstore. I get to select a local bookstore that they donate a portion of the money from each book sale to. But I agree that going in person to support the bookstore and going to the library is even better!
Yes to bookshop.org!
Barb, Thanks so much for taking the time to point out so many positive ways we can vote. Your words inspire me.
I don’t see “voting” involved in how I make choices in my mundane daily activities. I’ve been socialized and taught to use the word “voting” in regards to a civic duty I have to participate in when electing leaders for my city, state, or federal level. Perhaps I need to redefine “voting.” As a woman, my gender, and BIPOCs, have not always had the ability to vote. I become very concerned when voter rights are questioned or manipulated to take away other’s voices and “right” to vote here in U.S. Yesterday I met a young single mom with a two year old child from Florida who moved to MInnesota. While visiting, I asked why she moved. She boldly said “I’m a woman and needed a woman friendly state to live in.” I knew exactly what she meant. I gulped internally. She made a vote/choice with that action. May our cities not have riots after the votes are counted today. ☮️
Many people are voting with their feet if they can, Carla. I’m in a state people are moving to (Washington). Never leaving it! Definitely not moving back to Idaho, where I was born. I couldn’t live there now despite its beauty.
This is an interesting question and one I haven’t really thought about in those words before. But I can see how I vote either for the health of Mother Nature or against it in many small choices. I vote for the fair treatment of workers and animals and the thriving of communities or against it, based on the choices I make in the food I eat and which businesses I give my money to. I vote for kindness to myself and others or against it, based on where I choose to put my attention, the thoughts I choose to nourish, the words and deeds I choose. This inspired me to go back and watch a short interview that inspired me, with someone named Erin Bechtol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP6GTS1MbKE . At 3.41 in the interview, Rosie asks Erin, “What does nonviolence mean to you?” and part of Erin’s response is, “taking that time to behave in a way that I’ll be proud of later… and it’s not always convenient, of course, which is why not everybody does it, but it’s so worth the time…”
We were typing our answers at the same time and saying very similar things, Elizabeth.
If every decision is a vote, I would accept that my will is a contribution to the outcome, but not the ultimate arbitrator. So I would lean more on surrender, faith, and hope.
If we are being conscientious about our actions, hopefully we can make better decisions. It definitely makes decision making easier. Not always, but usually. It’s interesting though. The culture and the society around us, makes a lot of these decisions for us. In fact most decisions are decided by the culture.
To push against that, is to face judgment from those around us. You are criticized for making different decisions and choices. People don’t like to see someone living by different rules. It upsets them. They can feel threatened. But to be aware and present, things become more obvious. More clear. Less clouded by the culture around us. The things we do and the choices we make are votes. But mostly we are on autopilot. Letting others make decisions for us. I get it. I’m tired of being in charge of my life. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave it up to someone else? A leader, a god, a politician, a friend, a parent, a boss, and on and on and on.
All of this requires critical thinking. Something I was taught by an amazing teacher in junior high school. Ask questions. Weigh the evidence. Question the source. Look for a motive. Study history.
Could I do better? Definitely.
Charlie, I hear you loud and clear and I currently live in a state where my thoughts are almost always criticized. Many times I want to label others but remind myself that dialogue is necessary and important but often I have to bite my tongue! AND it hurts! One day at a time, dear Charlie.
”Wouldn’t it be nice to leave it up to someone else? A leader, a god, a politician…”
After having experienced this administration,
dear Charlie,
my answer
would have to be
an adamant NO. ♥
Charlie, your response is very thought-prevoking. I come from a collective culture but have many individualistic branches making it easier to spot pros and cons on both sides.
Deep contemplation with this question.
It would give me pause and make me choose is my choice for the good of me or all people. ( hopefully I consider that in many choices).
It would give me pause and make me choose an answer from the head or the heart. ( again I do this with all choices).
It would give me pause and make me choose what values will be apparent with my choice and if it sits well with me.
Again not so different but the word vote over choice still seems to weigh differently because it feels more of an external decision and consequence instead of internal.
Dieng, we’re built to look out for ourselves that it’s easy to set the collective on the back burner.
I have greater autonomy to design my life to my likings.