This is totally off-topic from anything that my class has been asked to write, but after reading a recent article on the website Collective Evolution called "She Hasn’t Made Any Trash In 2 Years. This Is What Her Life Is Like," (She Hasn’t Made Any Trash In 2 Years. This Is What Her Life Is Like. Collective Evolution.com) got me really thinking about how we live our lives.
I have been trying live more sustainably, safely, using glass jars and containers for food storage and beauty products, etc instead of using plastic for the past couple years while doing my best to utilize every bit of food...i.e., if I make a roast chicken, it is used for several meals including using the bones to make homemade chicken stock, which then turns into several more meals.
This girl, however, has taken things 110% further than I ever thought of. I never considered the fact that wrapping foods in foil and plastic wrap would still be considered creating waste, which is not helping the environment, at all even though I recycle all that I can.
Further that, another article from Collective Evolution tells the story of a restaurant in Chicago that has become a total zero-waste restaurant (This Restaurant Hasn’t Produced Trash In Over 2 Years (http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/05/12/this-restaurant-hasnt-produced-trash-in-over-2-years/).
After reading both of these articles, Mother Earth Living included in their daily email today an article originally printed in their March/April 2014 issue called "Eating Organic on a Budget." by Linda Watson. ( Eating Organic on a Budget. Mother Earth Living)
I have the actual magazine both digitally and in magazine form and remember thinking when I read it the first time, how valuable this information was. Then, getting caught up in life and school, I forgot about it and did not follow it at all.
I am usually pretty good at shopping inexpensively, and prefer to eat organically, but reading this article again completely opened my eyes to how I can do much better and that I should. I was fascinated that Watson and her husband really pulled off eating meals that cost no more than $1.00 per meal. Even when she expanded that amount to $1.53 per meal for a couple (the Food Stamps allowance per person/couple), they ate well and never went hungry. What really drove this home was when she pointed out that buying good bulk rice (basmati) was less expensive than buying the cheapest rice in a box or bag. If you know how to shop, in bulk and carefully, you too can eat good food that tastes good and is nutritious and healthy. You will feel better all around and might even end up losing a little weight in a healthy way.
All three of these articles have inspired me to try a little harder to be more sustainable, eat better, recycle more and overall create less waste. If all of society could learn to live this way, the earth would be a better, healthier place. Its got to start with me. Here's hoping it will become a trend sooner rather than later. We have to do something to save the earth and be healthier.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Self-Confidence and Society's Influence on Women
While Shipman and Kay have very valid points of which I've experienced in my own life, I'd have to side more with Valenti's observations as, I believe Professor Van Cleaf would agree.
It is clear that Shipman and Kay have done extensive research on the subject, however, they have focused more on only a woman's inner feelings (or in this case self-confidence) rather than how society may have been influential on their sense of inadequacy.
For a fairly confident individual, yes, I've considered myself a fraud when others praise me for a job well done. Yes, I've put blame on myself for situations completely out of my control. And yes, I've been bewildered at times as to why people seek me out for advice on things I am no expert on. Is it a self-confidence issue? Maybe, but where does this all stem from? Some may have had a rough upbringing or traumatic incidents that have influenced their lives and whole sense of being. For instance, I had a very needy friend in my life who didn't get hugged much when she was younger. In addition she wasn't praised and encouraged as she should have been. For example, if she helped her dad wash the car, instead of praising her for a job well done, he'd say, "don't worry honey, I'll go back over it and get what you missed." Many of my other friends would say to me "when you meet her, she seems like she's saying 'it's so nice to meet you, but why don't you like me.'" While her parents were certainly lovely people and loved their daughter very much, they didn't praise their kids enough or exhibit affection as needed. This resulted in very low self-esteem, fear of abandonment and a neediness that was intense. Later on she was also afraid to move ahead in her professional life, probably making her feel even worse about herself. I'm sure her parents were brought up the same way which could be attributed to Structural Functional Theory.
I, on the other hand had very loving, affectionate parents who praised me continuously except for one thing. I have been heavy for much of my life and the one thing that I heard most was, your face is so pretty, if only you were thinner you could, you would... There can be any number of endings to that sentence, just fill in the blank and you will get the idea.
Where does everyone get this idea of what a woman should be, how she should look, what she can do? From society and their screwed up sense of misguided entitlement for men.
That's not to say that there aren't men that have self-confidence issues. They may just deal with them differently than a woman or strategically hide those feelings from their adoring public.
The bottom line is that most self-confidence issues come from what society tells us to believe and the fact that as a society many are completely gullible and clueless and simply adopt the roles we are told to buy into about what role each gender should play, be or do in life. Unfortunately, societies as a whole would have to become more adaptable and accepting to a change in gender role mentality in order to turn this mindset around. One day an alternate reality version of today's society could become a true reality but the time and effort it would take is a daunting task that the world may never be ready for.
It is clear that Shipman and Kay have done extensive research on the subject, however, they have focused more on only a woman's inner feelings (or in this case self-confidence) rather than how society may have been influential on their sense of inadequacy.
For a fairly confident individual, yes, I've considered myself a fraud when others praise me for a job well done. Yes, I've put blame on myself for situations completely out of my control. And yes, I've been bewildered at times as to why people seek me out for advice on things I am no expert on. Is it a self-confidence issue? Maybe, but where does this all stem from? Some may have had a rough upbringing or traumatic incidents that have influenced their lives and whole sense of being. For instance, I had a very needy friend in my life who didn't get hugged much when she was younger. In addition she wasn't praised and encouraged as she should have been. For example, if she helped her dad wash the car, instead of praising her for a job well done, he'd say, "don't worry honey, I'll go back over it and get what you missed." Many of my other friends would say to me "when you meet her, she seems like she's saying 'it's so nice to meet you, but why don't you like me.'" While her parents were certainly lovely people and loved their daughter very much, they didn't praise their kids enough or exhibit affection as needed. This resulted in very low self-esteem, fear of abandonment and a neediness that was intense. Later on she was also afraid to move ahead in her professional life, probably making her feel even worse about herself. I'm sure her parents were brought up the same way which could be attributed to Structural Functional Theory.
I, on the other hand had very loving, affectionate parents who praised me continuously except for one thing. I have been heavy for much of my life and the one thing that I heard most was, your face is so pretty, if only you were thinner you could, you would... There can be any number of endings to that sentence, just fill in the blank and you will get the idea.
Where does everyone get this idea of what a woman should be, how she should look, what she can do? From society and their screwed up sense of misguided entitlement for men.
That's not to say that there aren't men that have self-confidence issues. They may just deal with them differently than a woman or strategically hide those feelings from their adoring public.
The bottom line is that most self-confidence issues come from what society tells us to believe and the fact that as a society many are completely gullible and clueless and simply adopt the roles we are told to buy into about what role each gender should play, be or do in life. Unfortunately, societies as a whole would have to become more adaptable and accepting to a change in gender role mentality in order to turn this mindset around. One day an alternate reality version of today's society could become a true reality but the time and effort it would take is a daunting task that the world may never be ready for.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Privilege and Rights
Today I read and article in the Washington Post by Lindsey Bever that Brittany Maynard, the 29-year old girl who was diagnosed earlier this year with terminal cancer and given 6 months or less to live, took her life yesterday.
This woman and her family picked up and moved to Oregon where they advocate for Death with Dignity allowing terminally ill people who meet a certain qualifications are allowed to be prescribed lethal drugs to end their life and thus keeping their dignity in the face of a debilitating terminal illness.
While this subject may not be necessarily fall under the class discussion of privilege, it hit a nerve and I think it is an important subject to cover. It should be a privilege as well as a right to be allowed to decide not to wither away to nothing while in severe pain
Oregon's Death With Dignity Act is the first of its kind making it legal for doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients. If I was told that I has a short time left to live because of a terminal illness and that the pain would be excruciating, I would want a choice. It should be not only a right but a privilege. It seems strange that we can decide to put our animals out of their misery if they are severely ill or injured, why shouldn't we be able to.
The article seen here: Brittany Maynard, as promised, ends her life at 29 by Lindsey Bever. Washington Post
It is a heartbreaking story on what a human's rights should be. It doesn't mean that I could be as brave as Brittany was and end my life in this manner if I was in her shoes, but she did what she felt was best for her and her family and for that I respect and applaud her.
This woman and her family picked up and moved to Oregon where they advocate for Death with Dignity allowing terminally ill people who meet a certain qualifications are allowed to be prescribed lethal drugs to end their life and thus keeping their dignity in the face of a debilitating terminal illness.
While this subject may not be necessarily fall under the class discussion of privilege, it hit a nerve and I think it is an important subject to cover. It should be a privilege as well as a right to be allowed to decide not to wither away to nothing while in severe pain
Oregon's Death With Dignity Act is the first of its kind making it legal for doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients. If I was told that I has a short time left to live because of a terminal illness and that the pain would be excruciating, I would want a choice. It should be not only a right but a privilege. It seems strange that we can decide to put our animals out of their misery if they are severely ill or injured, why shouldn't we be able to.
The article seen here: Brittany Maynard, as promised, ends her life at 29 by Lindsey Bever. Washington Post
It is a heartbreaking story on what a human's rights should be. It doesn't mean that I could be as brave as Brittany was and end my life in this manner if I was in her shoes, but she did what she felt was best for her and her family and for that I respect and applaud her.
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