Before I even get started, I'm going to eradicate any lingering notion you might have that this post is Spiderman-related. While I do find Peter Parker's journey from man to arachnid quite entertaining, that story doesn't really fit the point I'm trying to get across. So, for all you die-hard Spiderman fans who were expecting a rant about what you believe to be the world's greatest superhero, I'm sorry to have misled you.
For the rest of you, let's get back to the real purpose of this post. When blessed with a position of great influence, rather than swaying an audience with inflammatory remarks, biased and/or tailored statistics, or plain misinformation, one should research his/her arguments and provide ever eager audiences with supporting, but accurate, facts, letting the followers form their own opinions and views of the world. Now, of course I realize it is far too unrealistic to expect this one hundred percent of the time. But, with the opportunity to voice opinions becoming ever more prevalent with the use of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks, this issue deserves to be addressed.
I have no problem with using Facebook, blogs, Twitter, Google +, etc. as forums for this kind of communication (obviously). What I do have a problem with is when individuals, groups, parties, or anyone in between feed their audiences tragically biased or misinformed ideas without regard to opposing views and criticisms. This is especially dangerous when these individuals, advocates, or groups have an excessive amount of people admiring them who quite possibly hang on their every word and action. I grant that many people are intelligent enough to discern for themselves between an obvious lie or clear irrational remark and a well-researched, well-written argument. However, misinformation is not always so easy to spot. Often, biased statistics can come from a bar graph scale designed to exaggerate, and "facts" can be created by omitting or manipulating information that doesn't agree with desired results.
On that note, another responsibility of a good role model and leader is knowing how to accept criticism. This can mean anything from admitting a flaw in logic, to willingly correcting a math error, to accurately presenting ideas contradictory to the point being made. Not only does this provide the audience with a well-researched, well-presented argument to base their views off of, but it also prevents the person in power from losing his/her patrons, if followers should find out they are being fed a misrepresentation of the actual facts. Finally, the most important part of taking criticism, which is also a great way to gain respect from followers, entails really listening to the audience, and being understanding when they don't necessarily agree with the argument presented.
Overall, one of the most important things for a leader to remember is the potential effect of his/her words and actions on the world around them. Not only does showing both sides of an argument and researching any facts presented make the person with power look good, but most importantly, it prevents misunderstanding and ignorant ideas among anyone who happens to be listening.
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
"Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
Ah yes, the famous line from my absolute favorite television show. Some of you are probably thinking, Hold on. What is this? Are you eight years old or something? You're seriously writing about Phineas and Ferb? Well yes, yes I am. And why not? After all, these two step-brothers are much wiser than their stature would suggest. For those of you who haven't seen this show, go look it up on YouTube. I'm not even going to try to explain something so mind blowing that its beauty can only be fully comprehended by watching rather than reading (Also, it would be a waste of time and space). Back to the main idea though, which is that Phineas and Ferb really know how to live, and we could all stand to learn a few things from them.
Carpe diem. As I'm sure most of you know, this catchy little Latin phrase means seize the day. But what exactly does that mean? Is it propaganda for the support of daylight savings time? Are we expected to chase the dawn around the globe in search of perpetual sun? To answer this question, it's best to consult the subjects of this post.
Phineas and Ferb fill each day of summer with crazy inventions and impossible journeys, and they don't waste a second sitting around. In one episode, the boys encounter Candace's future children, only to find them reclining under a tree, doing nothing. Phineas then goes on to explain that the possibilities for each day are endless. For example, their day could be filled with "Crossing the tundra, or building a rollercoaster, skiing down a mountain of beans, devising a system for remembering everything, or synchronizing submarines, racing chariots, taming tiger sharks, constructing a portal to Mars, building a time machine, stretching a rubber tree, or wailing away on guitars!" The first lesson we learn from Phineas and Ferb is that each day is what you make it, and with the right amount of initiative, not even the sky's the limit.
And these brothers don't just make the most of each day, but they bring a smile to others' faces while doing it. Instead of just doing projects built for two, Phineas and Ferb come up with ideas that are best enjoyed with friends. They make backyard beaches, giant water slides, go on adventures around the world, and much more. They reunited an 80's rock band for their parents' anniversary, and even helped Candace learn how to drive. In the midst of making every day a great day for themselves, Phineas and Ferb use their creativity to make the world a better place for the people they love too.
But the most impressive thing about these brothers is they never seem to be worried about what other people will think. When obtaining building permits or ordering lumber, the boys are often asked, "Aren't you a little young to be engineers?" or "Aren't you a little young to be constructing a skyscraper?" The reply is always the same: "Well, yes, yes we are," as if to say What's your point? These two reassure us that just because social standards may say we can't use our creativity and imagination to its fullest extent, we shouldn't let that stop us.
Essentially, that is what Carpe diem truly means. It is to look at each day like a blank canvas, and fill it with colors of your own, without worry that someone will tell you your masterpiece is wrong or stupid. And, if along the way, you make someone smile, well that's even better. So take some advice from Phineas and Ferb. Don't waste a second. Have no fear of glaring looks from others. While you're at it, bring some happiness to those around you. And don't ever underestimate the lesson behind the phrase, "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Carpe diem. As I'm sure most of you know, this catchy little Latin phrase means seize the day. But what exactly does that mean? Is it propaganda for the support of daylight savings time? Are we expected to chase the dawn around the globe in search of perpetual sun? To answer this question, it's best to consult the subjects of this post.
Phineas and Ferb fill each day of summer with crazy inventions and impossible journeys, and they don't waste a second sitting around. In one episode, the boys encounter Candace's future children, only to find them reclining under a tree, doing nothing. Phineas then goes on to explain that the possibilities for each day are endless. For example, their day could be filled with "Crossing the tundra, or building a rollercoaster, skiing down a mountain of beans, devising a system for remembering everything, or synchronizing submarines, racing chariots, taming tiger sharks, constructing a portal to Mars, building a time machine, stretching a rubber tree, or wailing away on guitars!" The first lesson we learn from Phineas and Ferb is that each day is what you make it, and with the right amount of initiative, not even the sky's the limit.
And these brothers don't just make the most of each day, but they bring a smile to others' faces while doing it. Instead of just doing projects built for two, Phineas and Ferb come up with ideas that are best enjoyed with friends. They make backyard beaches, giant water slides, go on adventures around the world, and much more. They reunited an 80's rock band for their parents' anniversary, and even helped Candace learn how to drive. In the midst of making every day a great day for themselves, Phineas and Ferb use their creativity to make the world a better place for the people they love too.
But the most impressive thing about these brothers is they never seem to be worried about what other people will think. When obtaining building permits or ordering lumber, the boys are often asked, "Aren't you a little young to be engineers?" or "Aren't you a little young to be constructing a skyscraper?" The reply is always the same: "Well, yes, yes we are," as if to say What's your point? These two reassure us that just because social standards may say we can't use our creativity and imagination to its fullest extent, we shouldn't let that stop us.
Essentially, that is what Carpe diem truly means. It is to look at each day like a blank canvas, and fill it with colors of your own, without worry that someone will tell you your masterpiece is wrong or stupid. And, if along the way, you make someone smile, well that's even better. So take some advice from Phineas and Ferb. Don't waste a second. Have no fear of glaring looks from others. While you're at it, bring some happiness to those around you. And don't ever underestimate the lesson behind the phrase, "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Powers We Possess
I was once asked during an interview to tell of a time when I inspired someone else. This took me by surprise, and quite honestly, I spent more time than I should have thinking of my answer. This was partly because of my nerves, which had disabled me of recalling any memories outside the stuffy room I was sitting in. But it was mostly because I was looking at the question in entirely the wrong light. Me, inspire others? I'm no hero, no Mother Teresa, no John Lennon, no world leader. I mean, half the kids at school don't even know my name. How could I inspire others if others don't know me? Then it occurred to me. I was thinking on too grand of a scale; who ever said I couldn't inspire just one someone at a time?
Some of my favorite commercials are Liberty Mutual's pay it forward advertisements (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpp6DjCaJU&feature=related). Each one shows a domino effect of people performing simple, but day-changing tasks for perfect strangers. These random acts of kindness not only help someone directly, but also inspire an onlooker to do the same. Sure, this is a great tactic for tugging at potential patrons' heartstrings and gaining some attention for the company, but it speaks truths. One small smile, holding a door open for a stranger, or letting the next car in all hold the possibility of changing someone's day, or week, or month for the better. This small truth gives us the power to inspire and encourage others on a daily basis. But the reverse is also true.
If we hold the power to use words and actions for brightening someone's day, it follows, sadly, that we also hold the power to darken his or her day just as easily. Cutting the next guy off in traffic, believing a rumor, or rolling your eyes can be just as effective as good deeds at changing another's day, but for the worse. The saddest thing about all of this is that we, as humans, hurt each other constantly, and in order for us to avoid that, it takes some serious work and a conscious decision to help rather than harm. This being said, it becomes clear that the greatest power we possess is the power to choose.
"I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars" ("Handlebars" Fight With Tools). At first glance these few words appear to be, well, just words. But these seemingly simple lyrics from the band Flobots hold much greater meaning than that; they are part of a very long list of things humans could be capable of. Some tasks mentioned are relatively simple, like keeping the beat, while others are extremely complicated, such as creating a waterproof computer or a super efficient car. But, not everything on this list has the potential to benefit society. Along with clear examples of good, this song describes events like a Holocaust, or oppressive dictatorship. While it's true that some things mentioned seem rather extreme, the real life application can't be denied: we are presented each day with the choice to hurt or help the hurt. And while our decision between ignoring the homeless guy on the corner or buying him a cup of coffee may not appear in the history books, it still makes a difference, even if it's only for one person.
Our power to choose gives us the opportunity to initiate changes. Whether these changes are for good or bad lies with the decision we make. It does not matter if our choice affects one or one million, because the important part is that it's affecting someone. And who ever said we can't change the world just one someone at a time?
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Some of my favorite commercials are Liberty Mutual's pay it forward advertisements (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpp6DjCaJU&feature=related). Each one shows a domino effect of people performing simple, but day-changing tasks for perfect strangers. These random acts of kindness not only help someone directly, but also inspire an onlooker to do the same. Sure, this is a great tactic for tugging at potential patrons' heartstrings and gaining some attention for the company, but it speaks truths. One small smile, holding a door open for a stranger, or letting the next car in all hold the possibility of changing someone's day, or week, or month for the better. This small truth gives us the power to inspire and encourage others on a daily basis. But the reverse is also true.
If we hold the power to use words and actions for brightening someone's day, it follows, sadly, that we also hold the power to darken his or her day just as easily. Cutting the next guy off in traffic, believing a rumor, or rolling your eyes can be just as effective as good deeds at changing another's day, but for the worse. The saddest thing about all of this is that we, as humans, hurt each other constantly, and in order for us to avoid that, it takes some serious work and a conscious decision to help rather than harm. This being said, it becomes clear that the greatest power we possess is the power to choose.
"I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars" ("Handlebars" Fight With Tools). At first glance these few words appear to be, well, just words. But these seemingly simple lyrics from the band Flobots hold much greater meaning than that; they are part of a very long list of things humans could be capable of. Some tasks mentioned are relatively simple, like keeping the beat, while others are extremely complicated, such as creating a waterproof computer or a super efficient car. But, not everything on this list has the potential to benefit society. Along with clear examples of good, this song describes events like a Holocaust, or oppressive dictatorship. While it's true that some things mentioned seem rather extreme, the real life application can't be denied: we are presented each day with the choice to hurt or help the hurt. And while our decision between ignoring the homeless guy on the corner or buying him a cup of coffee may not appear in the history books, it still makes a difference, even if it's only for one person.
Our power to choose gives us the opportunity to initiate changes. Whether these changes are for good or bad lies with the decision we make. It does not matter if our choice affects one or one million, because the important part is that it's affecting someone. And who ever said we can't change the world just one someone at a time?
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Beauty of Bougainvilleas
When looking at the image above, you'll notice that bougainvilleas are rather flashy and colorful, their showy hues contrasting with a plain, white center. Big deal, right? But surprisingly, its small, seemingly insignificant center is the whole flower. The huge, bright pink surrounding is simply there for, essentially, aesthetics. While it's true that these bracts attract the birds and bees needed for pollination, all of the actual work happens in the tiny, out shined center of the plant.
Now, by this point you're probably wondering why any of this matters. What influence could this possibly have on my life? Here comes the metaphor. In everyday life, whether it be at work, home, or school, we are required to complete tasks. Whether it be as simple as feeding the dog, or as big as putting together a business proposal, each task we are asked to perform requires time and effort on our part. And quite often, our hard work goes unrecognized. This can be extremely frustrating, and even more so when the credit is given to someone else. So when our efforts are forgotten, and we don't get the glory we feel we deserve, that's grounds to just give up, right? Well, think about the bougainvillea flower. Even though the hardest working part of the plant is often overlooked next to its attention-grabbing bracts, it continues to do its job. Now before you start to criticize, and say, Wait a minute Emily. Flowers are very different from people, I'll assure you I'm quite aware of this fact. But consider this: Humans often get inspiration for designing cars, houses, and skyscrapers from plants and animals. So why can't we also use this inspiration for the design of how we live our lives?
This is not to say we should be doormats for those who insist on taking the credit for our efforts. It's also not to suggest that we should expect others to do the hard work and not whine when we want to tag along for some time in the spotlight. It's really to help you, and me, keep in mind that if we decide to give up just because we don't get the recognition we want, it not only affects those who we feel have wronged us, but it usually comes back to bite us as well. Think what would happen if the small, yet important center of a bougainvillea just stopped working because it wanted to be bright and noticeable. Sure, its colorful competitors would suffer, but so would the flower itself. This being said, we must also make an extra effort to recognize the achievements of those who have been pushed behind the scenes; because if we know how discouraging it is to work tirelessly without gratitude from anyone, why should we let someone else feel that way?
So there you have it: the beauty of bougainvilleas. Who knew we could learn so much from a flower, eh?
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Oh, the usual
It seems as though most "bloggers" start out with a post explaining why they set up a blog in the first place. Perhaps this really is something they'd like to talk about, or maybe it's to motivate them to continue posting, or maybe it's just to prevent his/her blog from remaining empty while they think of a topic they're actually passionate about. Whatever the case may be, I'm going to do the same thing; because, since I've already given into society by starting a blog in the first place, I may as well not stop there.
The title of this blog (just in case you missed the giant letters at the top of the page) is "To Be Determined." Now, you might think that this title was just me being lazy, not wanting to come up with something more creative and catchy. But that's, where you're right. Quite honestly, that was my original thought. I decided I didn't have time to come up with a fancy name for my contributions via Internet, and thought, Well, I'll just come up with something better later. But then when I really considered the name, I found it to be fitting. In a literal sense, I really don't know everything I'm going to talk about on this blog. It is not specialized for discussing health food, my favorite books, political issues, or anything in between. The topics for this new "outlet" of mine are yet "To Be Determined." In a metaphorical sense, I truly believe that our lives are what we make them. As a good friend pointed out to me, we do not discover ourselves; we discover who we want to become. Our futures are not set in stone, and while it's true that outside influences have an effect on our lives, the person we choose to be is ultimately "To Be Determined" by ourselves. And although this philosophical topic may or may not be a main component of my blog, I feel it is fitting the title be something that reflects a main ideal of mine.
Hopefully this introductory post will be enough to tide you over until I come up with another, more interesting topic to ramble on about. Ideally, you enjoyed reading this. However, if you feel my somewhat apathetic and cynical attitude towards blogging and my clear lack of planning are not for you, well then, feel free to knock it, my friend, because now you've tried it.
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
The title of this blog (just in case you missed the giant letters at the top of the page) is "To Be Determined." Now, you might think that this title was just me being lazy, not wanting to come up with something more creative and catchy. But that's, where you're right. Quite honestly, that was my original thought. I decided I didn't have time to come up with a fancy name for my contributions via Internet, and thought, Well, I'll just come up with something better later. But then when I really considered the name, I found it to be fitting. In a literal sense, I really don't know everything I'm going to talk about on this blog. It is not specialized for discussing health food, my favorite books, political issues, or anything in between. The topics for this new "outlet" of mine are yet "To Be Determined." In a metaphorical sense, I truly believe that our lives are what we make them. As a good friend pointed out to me, we do not discover ourselves; we discover who we want to become. Our futures are not set in stone, and while it's true that outside influences have an effect on our lives, the person we choose to be is ultimately "To Be Determined" by ourselves. And although this philosophical topic may or may not be a main component of my blog, I feel it is fitting the title be something that reflects a main ideal of mine.
Hopefully this introductory post will be enough to tide you over until I come up with another, more interesting topic to ramble on about. Ideally, you enjoyed reading this. However, if you feel my somewhat apathetic and cynical attitude towards blogging and my clear lack of planning are not for you, well then, feel free to knock it, my friend, because now you've tried it.
Best of wishes to you in this not so big, yet not so small world.
Sincerely,
- Emily
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