Give me something to believe in and I will deliver you the world on a silver platter...
Wow, what a crazy week it has been in the world. Between the riots in England and the stock market mayhem I think it is safe to say that we all need to take a deep breath, take a step back and reevaluate what in life if really important to us.
As I have been watching all of the turmoil unfold over this past week I have been contemplating the reason behind its manifestation. My conclusion...we have lost what it was that we believed in...the norms and attitudes tucked deep inside our subconscious which gives order to our world. When the world appears to be crashing down around us our only course of action seems to be sheer panic...What would we do if it all fell apart?
Now I am not suggestion that the world is about to fall apart and that the norms and values of our society have taken a hiatus for the time being. Quite the opposite in fact. I believe that these times are the necessary growing pains towards a brighter more prosperous future. As I say in my own life, ”it has never been easy but it has always been worth it”...words of wisdom I pass on to you.
So this brings me back to my title...finding something to believe it. As I have been pounding the pavement looking for a new career or find myself siting across from an interviewer I often think to myself...”what here can I stand behind? What can I be proud of? How does this product or service better society or the quality of life for people?” I know it might sound crazy and a bit naive but seriously, why shouldn’t I spend my time, my skills, and my expertise working toward something I can believe in?
In speaking about something to believe in I think it only appropriate for me to share how my life has been a product of what I believe. My favorite part of being a teacher was that I was proud of the moral responsibilities which accompanied my position. As an educator molding the minds of our nation’s future I thought it most important to model what it meant to be an outstanding member of society. Behavior, demeanor, and respect for oneself and others played a pivotal part in my classroom. My public persona is consistent with my sense of morality and my tendency to be traditional in many matters. I believe in my kids...in their ability to become better people...and to embrace their responsibilities as our nation’s bright future. I believe in education, of the responsibility we have to empower our children to make the best possible decisions for themselves and the communities in which they live. Although I am no longer teaching I still believe strongly in my former students and their ability to embrace their destiny. I believe in our nation’s teachers. My friends, family, and former co-workers who devote their lives to the betterment of our children. And even after all that I went through I still believe in education, in the ability of our school districts and administrators to provide this valuable service to our communities in a manner that is unselfish and based in the best interest of our children...Talk about something worthwhile to believe in...
On an even more personal note, I believe in the power of family and its uncanny ability to bring us together and get us though the most difficult of times. I the invisible bonds that join our hearts together. I believe in friendship, in our ability to find people to share our lives with. Old friends, new friends, and friends from long ago bring a richness to our lives which is unparalleled in nature. Surrounding oneself with good people can be seen as God (or the universe, whichever) allowing you to choose members of your family not given to you at birth. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and the privilege in finding that one amazing person you share a lifetime of memories with. Your other half without which you are not whole. The one when you look into their eyes you feel sense of overwhelming comfort and love, as if you have looked into those eyes over many lifetimes before. I believe in community and the importance of working together to improve the quality of lives of ourselves and those around us. Most of all I believe that we must work to find something to believe in everyday to create a lifetime of fitfulness.
And that is when it hit me. Everything in my life so far is a result of my underlying belief in its importance. In being involved with something greater than myself...In my search down a new career path I hope only to find what I did in the past...something I can believe in....
Please share with me what you believe in...
To having everything we ever wanted and it being better than we could have ever imagined,
- Jeannie Sargent
