This past week I attended a two day conference on The History of CSBG (Community Service Block Grant) hosted by David Bradley. I know, the title makes it seem like the conference would be as interesting as watching mud dry. But it actually was a very intriguing, inspiring, and informative conference.
CSBG was started as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty and was headed by Sargent Shriver. (Yes, Maria's father.) CSBG is a large part of what funds Community Action Agencies throughout the U.S. (Who I work for, hence the conference.) I won't go into much detail here because I'm afraid my blog post will not be as intriguing as the conference was.
But, I had quite a few thoughts that I wanted to share with you.
One - I believe humility is an important tool in powerful leadership.
Martin Luther King Jr has always been one of my favorite leaders of the 20th century. As part of the conference we watched several news clippings of his work and speeches and I came away more impressed than ever. I believe there was humility in his non-violent approach to activism. I also think to understand people in humble circumstances takes a like heart.
We also learned much about Sargent Shriver. He is now my 2nd favorite leader in the 20th century. Watching his interviews is what got me rethinking the importance of humility. He was so competent and passionate and called on to lead many important organizations (He was the first director of the Peace Corps!) but watch interviews of him and he comes across as the most sincere and humble person. You want to follow him not because he forces you, but because you want to emulate him. Seriously, if you are into watching historical podcast and such, try to find some interviews with him. You will not be disappointed!
Anyway, that will be the one thought I share today. Look for the next untimely installment which may be on the immigration debate, Albert Bandura's work on Self-Efficacy, or on my upcoming trip to Philly...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Yes. I'm still alive. Just busy working on that five year plan.
Just submitted finals a week ago. Can't believe that I only have two courses (and one major dissertation!) left and I will be done with my MBA! Holy-Smokes!
I have a few weeks before the next course so I am busy working on the novel. Sometimes I read a few pages and I think "Wow! Where did I come up with that?" And then sometimes I read and I shake my head in embarrassment.
I did have a great weekend meeting up with friends from the past. Heather Durst and her husband and children came into town, and Tara was driving through so we met up for lunch. I haven't seen either of them for well over *gulp* 15 years, but it was like no time had passed at all. It is truly great to be in the presence of people who have probably seen you at your worst and still like you!
On Saturday one of my roommates from Boston got married. There was a little mini-reunion at the reception. It was lovely and I am homesick for Boston.
(when am I not?)
Just submitted finals a week ago. Can't believe that I only have two courses (and one major dissertation!) left and I will be done with my MBA! Holy-Smokes!
I have a few weeks before the next course so I am busy working on the novel. Sometimes I read a few pages and I think "Wow! Where did I come up with that?" And then sometimes I read and I shake my head in embarrassment.
I did have a great weekend meeting up with friends from the past. Heather Durst and her husband and children came into town, and Tara was driving through so we met up for lunch. I haven't seen either of them for well over *gulp* 15 years, but it was like no time had passed at all. It is truly great to be in the presence of people who have probably seen you at your worst and still like you!
On Saturday one of my roommates from Boston got married. There was a little mini-reunion at the reception. It was lovely and I am homesick for Boston.
(when am I not?)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Twist
I just finished a popular novel written by a popular author, and that has been made into a popular movie. Most people who've heard of the book/movie knows that there is a twist at the end. Even the brief description on the back of the book says "and so-and-so isn't who he really is".
After finishing the book I've decided I concretely hate twist endings. Even the most well done ones (like the just finished book) don't seem that clever to me.
First, it seems the author is afraid the reader can't commit to the fairy story created and so gives and easy out. Think "Life of Pi". There were moments of complete magic and crafted well enough that I could accept what I was reading, even though I knew it couldn't happen in real life. probably. But then there was the escape hatch for the realist at the end.
Second, I don't like committing myself to a character, hating or loving him, and then 300 pages later, find out that none of him is real. All those emotions that I went through were for nothing. Most good novels are worth at least a second read. I want to study my faulty hero again, what did I miss, what more should I feel. But a novel with a twist? Why bother?
Last week LOST ended it's six year run. A lot of people were disappointed because all the mystery's of the island were not revealed. I'm glad they weren't. I think some major twist and escape routes would need to be created to end the show on time. Instead, despite all the weird twist that happened DURING the show, the characters ended true to the fashion that they began. And I'd be happy to take the journey with them again.
I won't tell you the book I just read, just in case you've been thinking of reading it, and didn't know there was a twist ending. Just don't wait in anticipation for me to write a twist/dream/face story anytime soon.
After finishing the book I've decided I concretely hate twist endings. Even the most well done ones (like the just finished book) don't seem that clever to me.
First, it seems the author is afraid the reader can't commit to the fairy story created and so gives and easy out. Think "Life of Pi". There were moments of complete magic and crafted well enough that I could accept what I was reading, even though I knew it couldn't happen in real life. probably. But then there was the escape hatch for the realist at the end.
Second, I don't like committing myself to a character, hating or loving him, and then 300 pages later, find out that none of him is real. All those emotions that I went through were for nothing. Most good novels are worth at least a second read. I want to study my faulty hero again, what did I miss, what more should I feel. But a novel with a twist? Why bother?
Last week LOST ended it's six year run. A lot of people were disappointed because all the mystery's of the island were not revealed. I'm glad they weren't. I think some major twist and escape routes would need to be created to end the show on time. Instead, despite all the weird twist that happened DURING the show, the characters ended true to the fashion that they began. And I'd be happy to take the journey with them again.
I won't tell you the book I just read, just in case you've been thinking of reading it, and didn't know there was a twist ending. Just don't wait in anticipation for me to write a twist/dream/face story anytime soon.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
2012 Summer Games
Today I realized, that if all goes according to my most recent five year plan, that I will be starting grad school in Sept 2011. My top school choices are in the UK, which means I will be in England for the 2012 Olympics to be held in London. And anyone who remotely knows me, knows that I am a HUGE fan of the Summer Games.
So, while not as cool as actually being a competitor of the games (still thinking that kayaking is my best option), it has me excited enough to try even harder to stick to the game plan.
Whatever motivates us right?
So, while not as cool as actually being a competitor of the games (still thinking that kayaking is my best option), it has me excited enough to try even harder to stick to the game plan.
Whatever motivates us right?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Award Week
It's been a fun week around work.
Wednesday, my boss, Heather Tritten, accepted her award as one of Utah's 2010 30 Women to Watch. The other 29 women were cool, but it was really great to have our boss win this award.
Today, our entire staff got to accept an award from United Way as the Community Change Partner of the Year. (Even though I've only been there since January, I'm still pretty excited to be an award winner!)
It's been like the Golden Globes and Oscars around our office!
Us. (check out my co-worker's tie! It's pretty awesome.)
Wednesday, my boss, Heather Tritten, accepted her award as one of Utah's 2010 30 Women to Watch. The other 29 women were cool, but it was really great to have our boss win this award.
Today, our entire staff got to accept an award from United Way as the Community Change Partner of the Year. (Even though I've only been there since January, I'm still pretty excited to be an award winner!)
It's been like the Golden Globes and Oscars around our office!
Us. (check out my co-worker's tie! It's pretty awesome.)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Space
Aside from the castle my future husband is going to buy for me, I don't really fantasize about having a huge house. I see a big house as something that cost more to heat and cool and clean. I especially don't understand why small families need big houses. Why does a mom, dad and two kids need a four bedroom house? Or bigger?
In my neighborhood, the houses are pretty small. Little post-war ranch and bungalow styles houses. Most are about 1400 sq feet, have a living room, kitchen, one bath, three bedrooms. Maybe there is a dining alcove set off from the kitchen. These are the size of houses that our grandparents raised our mom's and dad's in. Kids shared a 12x12 room. And it was doable!
Having visited a friend who recently bought one of these houses, I felt a little claustrophobic. And it makes me feel bad because I feel like I'm trying to create a justification for having a larger house. And then I started thinking about the relativity of size. These houses were built for my grandparents generation. both of my grandmothers were 4'9". I'm 5'9" And entire foot taller.
My 4'9" grandmother could be in a 12x12 room, which is 144 sq feet. She would have an approx arm reach of 5'0 so let's just round up and say my grandmother could take up 25 sq feet which would leave 119 sq feet of non-human space available. At 5'9" and a 6 foot reach I take up about 36 sq feet which would leave 108 sq ft. And we aren't even calculating actual body mass. I know 11 feet of difference doesn't sound like a lot, but section off that much from one of your rooms and see if you don't notice it. And then section of that much from every room...
And then there's just being a whole foot closer to the ceiling too!
In my neighborhood, the houses are pretty small. Little post-war ranch and bungalow styles houses. Most are about 1400 sq feet, have a living room, kitchen, one bath, three bedrooms. Maybe there is a dining alcove set off from the kitchen. These are the size of houses that our grandparents raised our mom's and dad's in. Kids shared a 12x12 room. And it was doable!
Having visited a friend who recently bought one of these houses, I felt a little claustrophobic. And it makes me feel bad because I feel like I'm trying to create a justification for having a larger house. And then I started thinking about the relativity of size. These houses were built for my grandparents generation. both of my grandmothers were 4'9". I'm 5'9" And entire foot taller.
My 4'9" grandmother could be in a 12x12 room, which is 144 sq feet. She would have an approx arm reach of 5'0 so let's just round up and say my grandmother could take up 25 sq feet which would leave 119 sq feet of non-human space available. At 5'9" and a 6 foot reach I take up about 36 sq feet which would leave 108 sq ft. And we aren't even calculating actual body mass. I know 11 feet of difference doesn't sound like a lot, but section off that much from one of your rooms and see if you don't notice it. And then section of that much from every room...
And then there's just being a whole foot closer to the ceiling too!
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Atlantic
There's an article in the March issue of the Atlantic on assisted suicide. Though very well articulated to the benefits of it, I didn't finish reading the article. But it did get me thinking.
In my heart, I wish that I could believe it was okay. I remember going to visit my dad in the hospital when he was dying from cancer. He was really sick for a very long time. He had always been an active man. Not even five kids could wear him out. And then he just laid in a hospital bed. Shut off from sunshine and movement.
I know people watch loved ones as they suffer even worse fates than that. And my heart does wish that we could bring closer what is inevitable.
For me it's not even a question of is it right or wrong and how does God see it, as much as looking at what God's purpose for us on this earth. And it's to learn. And learning causes pain a lot of the time. There are things we learn in our own suffering and there are things we learn in watching the suffering of our loved ones. I know that our experiences and learning are taken with us into eternal life. It is not our place to say when that learning should end.
The article says that assisted suicide is about human rights. We really want to control so many things, even our own deaths. I myself have perfectly thought about how I want to peacefully die on the summer solstice of my 120th year.
I don't know why this article made me want to post something. I think I just get sad when we fail to realize the purpose of our life and try to avoid pain. Pain isn't the purpose, but pain is part of the process. I know I want to enter into eternal life gleaning all that I can from this mortal life.
In my heart, I wish that I could believe it was okay. I remember going to visit my dad in the hospital when he was dying from cancer. He was really sick for a very long time. He had always been an active man. Not even five kids could wear him out. And then he just laid in a hospital bed. Shut off from sunshine and movement.
I know people watch loved ones as they suffer even worse fates than that. And my heart does wish that we could bring closer what is inevitable.
For me it's not even a question of is it right or wrong and how does God see it, as much as looking at what God's purpose for us on this earth. And it's to learn. And learning causes pain a lot of the time. There are things we learn in our own suffering and there are things we learn in watching the suffering of our loved ones. I know that our experiences and learning are taken with us into eternal life. It is not our place to say when that learning should end.
The article says that assisted suicide is about human rights. We really want to control so many things, even our own deaths. I myself have perfectly thought about how I want to peacefully die on the summer solstice of my 120th year.
I don't know why this article made me want to post something. I think I just get sad when we fail to realize the purpose of our life and try to avoid pain. Pain isn't the purpose, but pain is part of the process. I know I want to enter into eternal life gleaning all that I can from this mortal life.
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