Receive, receive, receive....When will you ever give back?
Many people go through life expecting a hand out from any and everybody. Taking advantage of gifts and favors, always ASKING for MORE! When will it ever be enough, when will these people begin to stop receiving and give back?
Throughout my life so many wonderful and generous people have contributed to my well being. Most never asked for any thing in return. Some asked that I repay them by helping someone else in need.
I have always felt the need to give back. I could never fully donate funds but one thing I have been blessed with is the gift of knowledge. I love to spend time mentoring younger children, helping them increase their qualitative and quantitative skills, relating to their struggles and inspiring them to complete an assignment. Some children give up the moment they try and can't figure it out. But it's when you have patience to work with them step by step, that individual assistance that they can't receive from an over crowded classroom, or a home where their single parent has to work long hours just to stay afloat, that helps trigger a light bulb and the joy you receive when that child gets so excited and says, "I got it!" That's the payoff, no monetary gain...no pat on the back, no certificate or trophy, just the thought that you made a difference in one child future, because once they understand that one word, concept, or strategy they will never forget it!
*Sidenote:I before E except after C*
Don't get me wrong there are many ways to GIVE BACK, just make sure you do it from the heart. Look into various organizations and you will find ample opportunities to give back, from shelters to after school programs.
Remember, your character is based on what you do when no one is looking!
Yours Truly,
Poor little Rich Girlz
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
ATTENTION WORLD: Close your Mouth & Open Your Mind
One of the most memorable quotes from the bible is "he who is without sin cast your first stone."
It took 23 years of learning and growing, resisting and denying, giving up and trying again for me to truly relate this to my life. I find it funny how easy it is to cast judgements and how hard it simultaneously is to be judged. How easy it is to hand someone a reality check before you've truly checked their reality. How quickly associates become friends, friends become loved ones and loved ones become enemies. Why is it so easy to see objectively but so hard to understand subjectively? What makes a woman a WOMAN? What truly makes a Friend a FRIEND? It saddens me to see what people allow to define them, and even worse, what people use to define people.
All that glitters is not gold:
As a human, a woman and an imperfect person I can't say I've never been swept up in gossip, blown away by materialism, and trampled by temptation. I can't say my better judgement has seen more sunsets than my first instinct and I'd be a heathen if I didn't confess that I once or twice have had to live with regret. In my pre-self love days I too took to heart the uninformed at face-value criticisms of others and I too have criticized on my path to opening my mind. A friend is not some who loves you for your perfections but more so understands and lovingly acknowledges your imperfections, appreciates the minor ones that makes you "YOU" and unjudgementally opens your eyes to those he/she won't let you accept. On the other hand a FRIEND will never belittle you or lead you to falsely believe that you deserve less than you expect. All women should be placed on a pedal stool whether by someone else or by themselves and a FRIEND never seeks to knock you off if your pedal stool elevates higher than theirs. What misleads many is failing to understand that while high up on this pedal stool, it is still possible and ESSENTIAL to remain grounded.
It amazes me that in a world of neigh Sayers, falsehoods, heathens and haters you can no longer place your bets on a friend. Somewhere down the line, and eye must have been exchanges for an eye because I'm watching the world go blind. I may not be rich in money or wealthy in assets but one thing that remains in stock in my storehouse will always be My apathetic advice, my listening ear and my up most sincerity. Everything else the world is offering WILL indeed tarnish.
What unnerves me to my core is when friends trust heresay rather than a friend, or when they use the opinions of an associate to judge a friend. Do people even have heart to hearts anymore? or have they now been replace by ego to ego conversations? Are we truly speaking to our friends from a place of love or place of judgement. I don't know whats worse, a woman that jumps man to man or friend to Friend. At some point luxury has to be replaced by love and doubt with loyalty. If you have a friend, you believe in them. You stand up for what you believe in. You don't allow others to speak down on them in your presence nor do you entertain the company of those who mean them harm. further more you don't tell one friend the negative aspects of your relationship with another friend so to that they will only have negative thoughts of that friend, while intentionally leaving off all the goods.
I could not conclude this release of the mind without speaking about those I like to refer to as "the victim." The ones who never are apathetic for you, but expect you to be sympathetic to them. Who see your sob stories as a sign of weakness but always expect you to understand what they've "been through" or where their "coming from" who always have a cry for help, but are irritated when asked for assistance. The Red Cross is able to give because it receives and receives only because IT GIVES! Those who speak words of love and commitment but fail every test. When you receive with one hand, always remember to give with the other. When you have millions of expectations, prepare to be expected of, understand for every 'no' there have been 100 yes's and for every tear shed their have been 1000 smiles. I truly believe that the one thing ruining the majority of friendships these days is over expectation of perfection and a unwillingness to communicate. a assumption before a question..i think that is called a presumption. Understanding we are all imperfect people striving for perfection is the foundation of a lasting friendship.
I say this for myself and for those I love, when living in a glass house, please refrain from throwing stones.
Sidenote: I've played therapist to alot of breakdowns recently and there's one common trend I can bare testimony to; "you truly never know where a person has been nor what they are currently going through." I say that to say this, we all have a story and only those we let closest to us know half that story, and only you yourself knows how that story has positively or negatively made you who you are today. So next time you set your mind to judge someone, look within your own pages and understand their actions may just be the aftermath of "their story"The moral of this story is we can all learn a little tolerance and alot of forgiveness. Before you decide to ignore and give up on your friends, trying forgiving and inspiring a friend or a nation!
Hugz n kisses,
Kara
It took 23 years of learning and growing, resisting and denying, giving up and trying again for me to truly relate this to my life. I find it funny how easy it is to cast judgements and how hard it simultaneously is to be judged. How easy it is to hand someone a reality check before you've truly checked their reality. How quickly associates become friends, friends become loved ones and loved ones become enemies. Why is it so easy to see objectively but so hard to understand subjectively? What makes a woman a WOMAN? What truly makes a Friend a FRIEND? It saddens me to see what people allow to define them, and even worse, what people use to define people.
All that glitters is not gold:
As a human, a woman and an imperfect person I can't say I've never been swept up in gossip, blown away by materialism, and trampled by temptation. I can't say my better judgement has seen more sunsets than my first instinct and I'd be a heathen if I didn't confess that I once or twice have had to live with regret. In my pre-self love days I too took to heart the uninformed at face-value criticisms of others and I too have criticized on my path to opening my mind. A friend is not some who loves you for your perfections but more so understands and lovingly acknowledges your imperfections, appreciates the minor ones that makes you "YOU" and unjudgementally opens your eyes to those he/she won't let you accept. On the other hand a FRIEND will never belittle you or lead you to falsely believe that you deserve less than you expect. All women should be placed on a pedal stool whether by someone else or by themselves and a FRIEND never seeks to knock you off if your pedal stool elevates higher than theirs. What misleads many is failing to understand that while high up on this pedal stool, it is still possible and ESSENTIAL to remain grounded.
It amazes me that in a world of neigh Sayers, falsehoods, heathens and haters you can no longer place your bets on a friend. Somewhere down the line, and eye must have been exchanges for an eye because I'm watching the world go blind. I may not be rich in money or wealthy in assets but one thing that remains in stock in my storehouse will always be My apathetic advice, my listening ear and my up most sincerity. Everything else the world is offering WILL indeed tarnish.
What unnerves me to my core is when friends trust heresay rather than a friend, or when they use the opinions of an associate to judge a friend. Do people even have heart to hearts anymore? or have they now been replace by ego to ego conversations? Are we truly speaking to our friends from a place of love or place of judgement. I don't know whats worse, a woman that jumps man to man or friend to Friend. At some point luxury has to be replaced by love and doubt with loyalty. If you have a friend, you believe in them. You stand up for what you believe in. You don't allow others to speak down on them in your presence nor do you entertain the company of those who mean them harm. further more you don't tell one friend the negative aspects of your relationship with another friend so to that they will only have negative thoughts of that friend, while intentionally leaving off all the goods.
Better yet: rule of thumb to all listening, they NEVER speak to one friend about the other its tacky.
EX: I wont complain to Jim about John and when Jim angers me talk to Michael about him while hanging out with John: confused? you should be because that life style only brews confusion. EVERYONE CANT BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!If your not a part of the solution you are inevitably a part of the problem.
I could not conclude this release of the mind without speaking about those I like to refer to as "the victim." The ones who never are apathetic for you, but expect you to be sympathetic to them. Who see your sob stories as a sign of weakness but always expect you to understand what they've "been through" or where their "coming from" who always have a cry for help, but are irritated when asked for assistance. The Red Cross is able to give because it receives and receives only because IT GIVES! Those who speak words of love and commitment but fail every test. When you receive with one hand, always remember to give with the other. When you have millions of expectations, prepare to be expected of, understand for every 'no' there have been 100 yes's and for every tear shed their have been 1000 smiles. I truly believe that the one thing ruining the majority of friendships these days is over expectation of perfection and a unwillingness to communicate. a assumption before a question..i think that is called a presumption. Understanding we are all imperfect people striving for perfection is the foundation of a lasting friendship.
I say this for myself and for those I love, when living in a glass house, please refrain from throwing stones.
Sidenote: I've played therapist to alot of breakdowns recently and there's one common trend I can bare testimony to; "you truly never know where a person has been nor what they are currently going through." I say that to say this, we all have a story and only those we let closest to us know half that story, and only you yourself knows how that story has positively or negatively made you who you are today. So next time you set your mind to judge someone, look within your own pages and understand their actions may just be the aftermath of "their story"The moral of this story is we can all learn a little tolerance and alot of forgiveness. Before you decide to ignore and give up on your friends, trying forgiving and inspiring a friend or a nation!
Hugz n kisses,
Kara
The Value of Friendship
"You have enough brothas and sistas...who needs friends?"
The third of seven ( actually 9 but that's a different story) 3 brothers and 3 sisters, my mom always made this statement when I confronted her with my Friend issues.
Over the course of the last month and a half I have come to realize that some people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. (http://www.promiseofgod.com/reason/) Throughout the course of my aging I have encountered numerous associates whom I sometimes refer to as friends. However the majority of these so called friends have proven only to have a reason or to be seasonal, but regardless I give them the same treatment as my Lifetime FRIENDS.
Some may beg to ask of me, but why? Why do my friends get the same treatment as my FRIENDS? Well I wouldn't say the same treatment more along the lines of my trust, my respect, my heart. I think I try so hard to be a kind and understanding individual that my kindness have been taken for weakness and most of my seasonal friends have been weeded out. But what about the remaining reason friends, the ones who no matter what situation they fall to, they always call upon me because they know that if I can help, I will. The ones who will drain you out of all the favors in the world but when you need one... they never can come through. Yup I am referring to those type of friends...male and female! After conversing with one of my FRIENDS about these people he have given me the best advice in which I want to share. " No matter how long you have known someone... the title you give them, the clothes you've shared, the secrets, and the memories you will always cherish are all part of the the REASON, but when there is no longer trust, and you find yourself questioning things or situations about that or those friends you have to get rid of the negativity that surround them because they will bring you and everyone else down in order for them to rise."
It's the lifetime FRIENDS, who know something is wrong without you ever have to say one word, the ones who stick around when everyone else leaves, the ones you can call at 4am to talk about why you can't sleep, the ones who are willing to help even when you don't ask, the FRIENDS who ask how you are doing and wait to hear your response, the ones that call you at 12:01 on your birthday to make sure they were the first to call and wish you the best if they can't share the day with you, the ones that wishes you good luck on exams via twitter, facebook and text messaging, the ones who can tell you things that you can't tell yourself, and the one who shares the most exciting moments of your life with you no matter how far they have to travel, its those FRIENDS that make me realize that family will always be there but true FRIENDS are hard to come by. SO now this day, tell all your FRIENDS how much you value their FRIENDSHIP.
Yours truly,
Poor Little Rich Girlz
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."
- Charles Caleb Colton
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C. S. Lewis
The third of seven ( actually 9 but that's a different story) 3 brothers and 3 sisters, my mom always made this statement when I confronted her with my Friend issues.
Over the course of the last month and a half I have come to realize that some people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. (http://www.promiseofgod.com/reason/) Throughout the course of my aging I have encountered numerous associates whom I sometimes refer to as friends. However the majority of these so called friends have proven only to have a reason or to be seasonal, but regardless I give them the same treatment as my Lifetime FRIENDS.
Some may beg to ask of me, but why? Why do my friends get the same treatment as my FRIENDS? Well I wouldn't say the same treatment more along the lines of my trust, my respect, my heart. I think I try so hard to be a kind and understanding individual that my kindness have been taken for weakness and most of my seasonal friends have been weeded out. But what about the remaining reason friends, the ones who no matter what situation they fall to, they always call upon me because they know that if I can help, I will. The ones who will drain you out of all the favors in the world but when you need one... they never can come through. Yup I am referring to those type of friends...male and female! After conversing with one of my FRIENDS about these people he have given me the best advice in which I want to share. " No matter how long you have known someone... the title you give them, the clothes you've shared, the secrets, and the memories you will always cherish are all part of the the REASON, but when there is no longer trust, and you find yourself questioning things or situations about that or those friends you have to get rid of the negativity that surround them because they will bring you and everyone else down in order for them to rise."
It's the lifetime FRIENDS, who know something is wrong without you ever have to say one word, the ones who stick around when everyone else leaves, the ones you can call at 4am to talk about why you can't sleep, the ones who are willing to help even when you don't ask, the FRIENDS who ask how you are doing and wait to hear your response, the ones that call you at 12:01 on your birthday to make sure they were the first to call and wish you the best if they can't share the day with you, the ones that wishes you good luck on exams via twitter, facebook and text messaging, the ones who can tell you things that you can't tell yourself, and the one who shares the most exciting moments of your life with you no matter how far they have to travel, its those FRIENDS that make me realize that family will always be there but true FRIENDS are hard to come by. SO now this day, tell all your FRIENDS how much you value their FRIENDSHIP.
Yours truly,
Poor Little Rich Girlz
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."
- Charles Caleb Colton
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C. S. Lewis
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My Environment Don't Dictate Who I Am... I Am Who I Choose To Be
A product of my environment...I am not!
Born and raised in the inner city of Chicago. I was overly exposed to all of the negative influences that permeated my society; gangs, drugs, violence, ignorance, etc . However due to my willingness to overcome these circumstances I found an outlet. I went to YMCA overnight camps, Camp Duncan, Pinewood, Edwards and my favorite Camp Hastings during the summer months where I lived in cabins with numerous girls from different social economic statuses but we all shared one thing, a common age. It was at these camps every summer that I realized there was more to the world than what the Cabrini Green Projects had to offer a bright, beautiful, vivacious little girl. I gained valuable transferable skills, learned to ride horses, row boats, climb rocks, to fish, to swim in lakes and pools, build tents, make smores and play various sports, including teatherball and soccer. More importantly, I learned that it's not where you come from that determines who you will ultimately become.
Born and raised in the inner city of Chicago. I was overly exposed to all of the negative influences that permeated my society; gangs, drugs, violence, ignorance, etc . However due to my willingness to overcome these circumstances I found an outlet. I went to YMCA overnight camps, Camp Duncan, Pinewood, Edwards and my favorite Camp Hastings during the summer months where I lived in cabins with numerous girls from different social economic statuses but we all shared one thing, a common age. It was at these camps every summer that I realized there was more to the world than what the Cabrini Green Projects had to offer a bright, beautiful, vivacious little girl. I gained valuable transferable skills, learned to ride horses, row boats, climb rocks, to fish, to swim in lakes and pools, build tents, make smores and play various sports, including teatherball and soccer. More importantly, I learned that it's not where you come from that determines who you will ultimately become.
Regards,
Poor little rich girlz
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)