The humanikarian

 This week tanked. I had a car accident, other financial setbacks, constant responsibilities at home, at church, in my personal life and i just wanted to get off the carousel. The content of this weeks study was hard to swallow. I feel like I'm slipping into a bit of a depression and that hearing that I should be more grateful seemed to be a slap in the face or kicking me while I was down. I know that I will eventually make it through the long hard days and I actually DO feel like gratitude is a key. But there is something about hearing that in the midst of complete and utter chaos that just made me want to throw in the towel. Sometimes life is just hard. I ended up coping with my feelings by turning to people that I could serve. I shoveled walks and carried groceries for elderly women, I cooked meals and cleaned clothes for my family, I taught my little community english class and I carried out programs and activities in my church calling. I am still overwhelmed but I had some bea...

 November 30, 2022 Well, it turns out that the old fashioned values of virtue and integrity are not just nice, but necessary! In reading this week I came to see how important it is to our economy that we are investing and relying on businesses that operate with integrity. Without integrity, the entire economy is subject to destruction. Would you invest in dishonesty and self interest? Me neither! I liked the one line in this weeks article that said, "Trust is fragile. Like a piece of china, once cracked it is never quite the same."  I also liked thinking about the 'real justification' for business. I don't want to be an entrepreneur just to make money. In fact, becoming financially successful is actually one of my fears. I don't want to want money or things. I want to want the "'something' more or better" out of business. I want to 'contribute to society' as Dave Packard said. I want to look out on the world and see, truly see where I...

 November 20, 2002 I enjoyed reading the article called 'Attitude on Money.' I liked reading that money itself is not inherently good or bad. I want to someday have money. I want it to do good things. At this point in my life I don't think that I'm ready to have it. I think there are things I need to learn about managing it and prioritizing what I want to do with it. I think, that for me personally, I have needed to have this time of raising children without a lot of money. I think that I would have spoiled my children. Since we have always been financially very tight, we have had to consciously choose where we spend our earnings. We have had to be aware of our needs verses our wants and I think that has been a very good thing for our kids to see and learn. As my kids have grown up and started to have jobs, they have been able to buy things for themselves that are considered wants. Because they earn the money they can choose how they spend it, but it makes them value an...

 November 19, 2022 I loved reading this week and thinking about what an entrepreneur actually is. I had always thought of it as someone who starts a new business. I love the thought of starting a business and whenever I have an idea I jump right in to quick research and the logistics of getting it started. I always want to get started immediately and on a small budget. I considered myself as a prospective entrepreneur. My husband on the other hand has a bit of an aversion to risk. He wants things thought completely through without many uncertainties. He does not see himself as an entrepreneur. As I read this week, I found that he actually is an entrepreneur and so am I, and not just a prospective entrepreneur. I already have the ability to see a need and fill it. In my volunteer work at the homeless shelter I am always looking for ways to use my time in new and useful ways to serve those who are struggling. I love to help with fundraising as a committee member of the PTO fundraisin...

 November 12, 2022 I like to think. Spending time pondering on a business idea is one of my favorite things to do. This week I considered a temporary business opportunity. I enjoyed doing some research and visiting the location for the business and then trying to think through each eventuality and how I would solve each problem. In the end I came to the conclusion that it would not be financially lucrative as a short term 'pop up' style business, but I enjoyed the process and I learned a few things that I did not previously know. I also continued running my own little business and I had opportunities and ideas on expanding it a little.  As I watched some videos for class some of the things that I liked the most were the emphasis on being honest and also of building a business or organization around good people. I loved the idea that even more important than how to problem solve or grow or any 'what' questions, is that of who you work with. What kind of personal qualitie...

 November 5, 2022 This week was a hard one! I had a few hiccups with my little business and it made me feel terrible. I simultaneously felt a certain peace but my self esteem took a blow. I have read about mastery, perseverance, grit, the value of failure and a bunch of other concepts that make sense. They motivate me. And then real life hits and I flounder a bit while I try to find out how to apply it all. I feel like giving up on my degree and education as I ask myself, 'what's the point?'. I feel like giving in to feelings of depression and failure. Then, after a little pity party, I dust myself off and decide to try again. I see that I tend to be able to face life a little better in the mornings as opposed to at the end of a long day of parenting, cooking, cleaning, studying, thinking and just doing more than seems like can fit into the day. I try not to make any lasting decisions at night! I liked my studies this week in that I felt encouraged to remember that with the...