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.”
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.
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.
Not only do votes choose people in government and all kinds of board groups, but it also means $. There is some power in ‘cancel culture’, many are canceling Disney +, Hulu, ABC etc.
Every choice is each person’s own. Choose wisely.
Michele, Common sense is often a rare commodity and when we are young, most of us do not have much of it. That is a pity as so many major decisions that shape our lives are made when we are young. As my son would say, “I was a dumb ass.” I smile and I think, “I was a dumb ass, too. BUT I’m so glad it brought me you!”
Michele, the butterfly affect is amazing. Our interests can even be affected. There are many NBA and NFL games on ABC, and I’d hate to see ABC canceled.
Joseph, your answer totally resignates with me. The core of my Loc Down brand is authenticity. Autonomy is my basic desire. Loc Down is like Air Jordan and King James: original.
Today I vote for rest and meditation. It’s been a while since these kind of migraines and side effects were present. So my vote is to be prest and slow down – let go and allow all of these minds/ illusions go. I’m completely exhausted from running away from them. I’m grateful for the method and the meditation helpers who almost literally hold our hands through the darkness. Shine the light on the mind and truly surrender. Our teacher says we are all fighters. I know this is true for me and this week’s topic : me who pretends – is perfect for this moment. Always pretending to be someone or something. Always proving and holding up my pride . So even though this is super painful it’s necessary. Breaking the mind. The human mind is false – my vote now is to surrender and stop fighting and its sounds so easy but there is so much resistance which of course is all only in the mind .
I write this to the universe/ please help to heal us from ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting me all the time and I’m truly sorry for my ignorance, greed, anger and laziness.
Have a good day friends .
Antoinette, I’m with you although I don’t have any migraines. My agendas and fun business venturing desires have gradually been taking a back-burner the last few days since Sundays question over heart needing care.
Christina, having talked about Paw Mu before, the biggest reality I’ve had to come to terms with is that she’s my cryptonite. Fundementals>fun and collectivism>individualism. We live in a social world. My Loc Down brand centered on defense, protection, and adaptability with a core of authenticity chasing autonomy had good ideas in encouraging others to be themselves without feeling constrained. Realizing that god is only bringing me closer to my root people pushes me to look beyond my pride and ego and come to the realization that Paw Mu is my cryptonite and that my brand and the traditional Asian setting are incompatible.
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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.
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.”
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.
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!
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.
Not only do votes choose people in government and all kinds of board groups, but it also means $. There is some power in ‘cancel culture’, many are canceling Disney +, Hulu, ABC etc.
Every choice is each person’s own. Choose wisely.
https://nationaltoday.com/use-your-common-sense-day/
Michele, Common sense is often a rare commodity and when we are young, most of us do not have much of it. That is a pity as so many major decisions that shape our lives are made when we are young. As my son would say, “I was a dumb ass.” I smile and I think, “I was a dumb ass, too. BUT I’m so glad it brought me you!”
Michele, the butterfly affect is amazing. Our interests can even be affected. There are many NBA and NFL games on ABC, and I’d hate to see ABC canceled.
If every choice I have or will make is viewed as a “vote”, I would never be subjected to the will of the majority. Peace & Love.
Tell me more,
dear Joseph . . . ♥
Joseph, your answer totally resignates with me. The core of my Loc Down brand is authenticity. Autonomy is my basic desire. Loc Down is like Air Jordan and King James: original.
Today I vote for rest and meditation. It’s been a while since these kind of migraines and side effects were present. So my vote is to be prest and slow down – let go and allow all of these minds/ illusions go. I’m completely exhausted from running away from them. I’m grateful for the method and the meditation helpers who almost literally hold our hands through the darkness. Shine the light on the mind and truly surrender. Our teacher says we are all fighters. I know this is true for me and this week’s topic : me who pretends – is perfect for this moment. Always pretending to be someone or something. Always proving and holding up my pride . So even though this is super painful it’s necessary. Breaking the mind. The human mind is false – my vote now is to surrender and stop fighting and its sounds so easy but there is so much resistance which of course is all only in the mind .
I write this to the universe/ please help to heal us from ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting me all the time and I’m truly sorry for my ignorance, greed, anger and laziness.
Have a good day friends .
Antoinette, Love you, just the way you are. No performance needed.
”I’m completely exhausted from running away from them.”
For me,
dear Antoinette,
being exhausted
is the right time for surrendering
and letting go . . .
not the same as giving up.
Thank you for this . . . ♥
and may your migraine ease up.
Antoinette, I’m with you although I don’t have any migraines. My agendas and fun business venturing desires have gradually been taking a back-burner the last few days since Sundays question over heart needing care.
“. . . . please help to heal us from ourselves . . . ” The collective madness of humankind.
Yes please help and tale all the madness. Thank you Joseph.
Pride and ego too, Joseph. Those are my main ones.
Pride and ego absolutely!
I wrestled with this one. I guess I can vote for presence to the world and its people and I can vote for acceptance of really everything.
Christina, having talked about Paw Mu before, the biggest reality I’ve had to come to terms with is that she’s my cryptonite. Fundementals>fun and collectivism>individualism. We live in a social world. My Loc Down brand centered on defense, protection, and adaptability with a core of authenticity chasing autonomy had good ideas in encouraging others to be themselves without feeling constrained. Realizing that god is only bringing me closer to my root people pushes me to look beyond my pride and ego and come to the realization that Paw Mu is my cryptonite and that my brand and the traditional Asian setting are incompatible.