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Tag: politics
#229; friday I’m in love!
I love this time of the week! It’s like everyone wakes up in a better mood no matter the weather, the day ahead, or the sleep the night before. And so, it’s Friday, and I’m in love.
- Obama’s jobs plan – I’m not the best Democrat in the world, especially when it comes to money & social programs spending, but I think the bill announced last night really is a good combination of both Parties’ ideals and goals and will actually do something to create progress in our industrial economy. Woohoo!
- The community here at theluckiest.net and on twitter at #theluckiest! In a week of big change and total exhaustion, a month full of grey days, missed opportunities, and cold rain, you have kept me going, inspired me, and made me smile. I’m an incredibly lucky girl!
- I’m loving all of the media and reflection on Sunday’s anniversary. Yes, I’ll be writing about it here, but there are those out there who bemoan “over-saturation” and claim the media are just sounding off or using the anniversary to gain ratings or make money. Poppycock. All of it. In my opinion what good came from 9/11 was our coming together as a country, as a people, and around the world. This public mourning process in the media is part of that, so let me have all the over-saturation those guys don’t want. I’ll read every article and take a moment for every photo.
- Everyone and everything on #mhsm on twitter. What an amazing group of people, companies, and non-profits focusing on mental health and Stopping the Stigma!
- And to leave this on a lighter note: The hypocritical world of the hipster barista. Needs no explanation.
Tell me, this Friday, what are you in love with?
#227; one powerful woman
“I’m not going to mislead anybody. Politics is really hard. And it is harder for women. There’s a double standard, and you can’t complain about it. You just have to accept it, and be smart enough to navigate it. And you have to have a pretty tough skin. To paraphrase a favorite quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: If a woman wants to be in politics, she has to have the skin of a rhinoceros. Most men who go into politics just think they’re great. They believe they can do anything. Most young women, not only in politics but in most areas, are more cautious and more likely to say, ‘Could I really do this? Am I good enough?’ I was talking to a friend and very successful businessman the other day, and he said, ‘The thing that still annoys me more than anything is that I see all these young women who are so much more capable than they allow themselves to believe. And I see so many young men who are so much less capable but who believe they are God’s gift to the world.’ I would just say to women: Try it! Put your foot in the pond and see if you want to swim.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Glamour (via The Frisky). How freaking amazing is she?!
#221; a rose by any other name
I few weeks ago, I got a pretty big deal haircut, chopping off nearly all of my shoulder-length blond hair in favor of a darker pixie cut. When I did this, I decided it was a great time to bare a bit of my soul as well and wrote an entry telling the cosmos more about me and my life. I loved writing that entry, even if certain parts were difficult or personal, and so coupled with the inspiration of working on my personal ‘elevator pitch’ (thanks to helping a friend edit their own), I’ve decided to do another round.
When I was born, my father wanted to name me Mercerdes. Despite the awesome power of the name (and the car, naturally), I cannot picture myself being called Mercedes. What would my nickname be? Mere? Desi? I don’t seem like a Desi, I don’t think. Then again, I’ve never seen myself much as a Tina-Marie, either (my mother won the ‘naming the daughter’ debate and I was named for a dear friend of hers, hyphen and all, sans middle name).
I spent 13 years as a student and teacher at a dance academy. I’ve studied so many forms of dance, I’ve probably forgotten a few. My specialty (and what I taught to the little kids’ classes) was tap (Broadway, to be specific). I also studied ballet through advanced (pointe), choreography in ‘hip hop’, jazz, and modern styles, and musical theater. I was also a gymnast and Varsity cheerleader in high school.
I don’t like Shakespeare’s romances. I’m not going to fall for it if you’re quoting Romeo & Juliet, despite the title of this post. Quote Henry V‘s St. Crispen’s Day speech, then maybe we’ll talk.
I’m obsessed with history: American, personal, religious, fictional, it doesn’t matter. I can sit around arguing dates and facts with my father for literally hours. I will never tire of reading my own old diaries and journals and middle school class notes. My life has been one religious contradiction after another and I love studying how all of those forces came to be. And re-imagined history is absolutely one of my favorite genres of literature (Philip Roth’s Plot Against America is my favorite example).
If I could go back and do college again, I’d take a second major and get a second BA in environmental sciences rather than graduate early (possibly having to graduate late!). I’d keep my Poli Sci major and my American Literature minor. I have learned more about myself in the six years since I graduated than I ever knew before or during college. I have seen changes in myself – some for the better, some unfortunately for the worse – but this is one of the greatest. I never imagined life outside of policy and campaigning. Suitcase living, mobile offices, twenty hour car trips – these were what I wanted for my norm. As I’ve grown I’ve found there is more that I want, and a background in sciences, green technology, and immediate global climate issues would have been a great start.