Month: September 2019

Since arriving here at Penn State, I have had a lot of time to reflect. Like a lot, maybe even too much time (is that even possible). Within all of this, I have reflected on my friends, my parents, my dogs, my parents, my passions, my drive, my boyfriend, and my parents. 

My parents. What the heck. 

What I realized is why I think about them so much is because they taught me kindness and treated me with unconditional love and kindness (most of the time). How they did this was through example. 

It is easy to be kind when others are kind to you. The real challenge is being kind when people aren’t kind to you. This is an ultimate test of character. 

As my momma says, we need to break the cycle of unkindness in the world. Initially, when someone is unkind to us, our gut reaction is to bite back (like dogs). Instead, we need to stop, take a step back, and think would possibly be going wrong in their day or what they may be dealing with behind the scenes. And as my dad tells me, if you are comfortable enough ask them what’s wrong. 

Their values and core stem from this concept of unconditional love and forgiveness. But they always remind me that this can be extremely hard and always try, even when it isn’t easy. Furthermore, what I have learned is that often kindness will come back to you. 

I realized this week that without this skill, I wouldn’t have been able to make the relationships I already have in college. I am so fortunate that I am here and have a core group of people who are real, true friends. Each with their own and different sprinkles of kindness and love. 

Beyond that, I am eager to get involved with something greater than myself; to spread this kindness in any way possible. (I’m not always sure how to and am open to suggestions) 

Maybe there is something to be said about distance, making the heart grow fonder. 

And as the magnet on my fridge at home quotes from the Dalai Lama, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” 

Choose Kindness. 

With love, 

Nina

I don’t know about you, but here’s a little something about me. I truly, and very strongly dislike most daily commercials. (With exception to the Super Bowl Commercials) Although, one commercial that recently caught my attention was one for Farmers Insurance.

First, the commercial opens with Farmer’s insurances tagline, “We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” From the start, this is a direct form of ethos. The famous bald insurance agent is installing credibility and his trustworthiness of knowledge.

Next, the commercial provides an overwhelming amount of pathos. For god’s sake, the insurance agent is helping the famous and world-renowned characters of Sesame Street. This emotional appeal of Sesame Street resonates with nearly/most viewers. As shown at the end of the commercial, Sesame Street has been around for 50 years and counting. This children’s television show has influenced and affected the lives of so many, both children and adults, in such a positive and cheerful way. (Who doesn’t love Sesame Street?)

Then the logos of the commercial follows. As the one character asks about a lost rubber ducky, the insurance agent throws him a rubber ducky installing the logic that they are always here to help. And later, when the agent is asked how he knows so much, his reply is, “it just comes with experience.” Thus we understand as a customer that even if we are unsure, they are always sure (The logic of how the insurance works). And within this statement, there is also more ethos or trustworthiness in the agent.

Finally, the commercial ends with even more ethos. The cheery yet annoying jingle that we can never seem to get out of our head. “We are Farmers! Bum ba-dum bum bum bum.”

Overall, this type of commercial is not the one that is persuasive but rather more effective. For the next time, you see something about Sesame Street or something about insurance…you will be more likely to think about Farmer’s Insurance.

Link (click for your own enjoyment): https://www.ispot.tv/ad/o_8g/farmers-insurance-sesame-street-welcome

OR 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBJQVE-MWwY

I am not entirely sure how this article made me feel. Though, what I do know is that my sometimes odd desire of wanting growing up in another generation was just justified.

In truth, what I think about Twenge’s argument is that so many problems among our generation are tied to smartphone usage. From personal experience with my friends, I have encountered precisely what she reported. Especially with mental health and body image. Yes, there are always exceptions and outliers, though, overall she nailed it right on the head. The fact that we eat, sleep, live, and breath with our smartphones is a terrifying reality. It isn’t until we truly step back, remove ourselves from the technology, and look around to see that it overtakes our daily lives.

When I think about technology uses and what to keep in mind when it comes to personal usage is something I hear at home. My mom always says, (GUILTY, when I too have spent too much time on my phone) “how is it benefitting you,” and my dad follows with, “how is what you’re doing helping others.” And frankly, they are entirely and compellingly right. How is my scrolling through Instagram or snapping on Snapchat benefiting myself or others? Simply, IT’S NOT. And this, truly understanding this and accepting it is challenging, something I am still working (even sometimes struggling) on myself.

Let me leave you with this. I agree, taking a 15 or 20-minute break and mindlessly spending time on your phone can be a great way to relax. But be honest with yourself. Have you ever looked at your phone just for a minute or even a few minutes, and those few minutes turned into a few more minutes and even an hour? Do you ever wish you could get that time back or wish you could have (maybe even should have) been doing something else? Just think about that the next time you pick up your phone.

P.S. What about being mindful?

Kindness. What exactly is kindness? Is it something more that we see or something that we are to feel? Is it infinite or finite?. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of kindness is the quality or state of being kind, a kind deed, or affection. 

Even I, myself, preach kindness. Although, like most things (unless you are an expert and have a Ph.D. in the subject of matter and even then…) we can always learn more about this and that. My this and that I want to learn more about, explore, and engage in is kindness. Thus, through this blog, you will be following me through one of my passions as I learn more it; again, A Learning Girl. (I hate myself for how cheesy but true it is. Ugh.) 

Maybe this will be a thread where I blog about acts of kindness I see and experience in my daily life and how I believed it presents itself in society…quite literally rhetoric. Or maybe this will be a thread where I do in-depth research in my brain and blog about kindness from the past; from my dogs, parents, friends, teachers, or even strangers. Though, before I decided which route this thread will take, I might as well take the time to tell you exactly and quite literally from where my sense of kindness stems. 

Beautiful like a garden of flowers, graced with a gentle heart and delicate in her ways was my grandmother, and every day I remind myself of her morals, love, but especially her kindness. 

Over the years, my grandmother always loved her garden, and it wasn’t until this past year that I understood why. Flowers and shrubs were not just beautiful plants to her, but rather they were something she cared about with a metaphorical connection to her own life. Each time I helped her tend her garden, she would always tell me, “Now Nina, always be kind.” And it stuck. A lesson, something I try to walk within each day of my life — kindness from the heart. 

Even though this can be difficult on our worse days, to act with kindness to even be with kindness, we, I can always try. 

Choose Kindness. 

With love, 

Nina 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindness

Let’s talk about religion. We hear about on the news, read about it on our phones and in newspapers, and listen to it in church. Rhetoric itself has both positive and negative connotations with religion from mission trips and Hurricane Relief to the scandal in the Catholic Church. 

Although, what hasn’t received as much press, but needs to be voiced, is the possible upcoming change and possible split within the United Methodist Church. While reading this, keep this statement, the churches mission in mind. “Open Minds. Open Hearts. Open Doors.” 

Here’s the background: In 1972, the General Conference (leaders of the domination) made it law in the Book of Disciplines that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings. Further ruling that practicing homosexuals are not allowed to be ordained, and same-sex couples cannot be married in a United Methodist Church. Although, and THANK GOD, since this became law, many people within the church oppose this rhetoric in the Book of Disciplines and are seeking to change this hurtful and outdated thinking.

Following the now historically event of the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, the United Methodist Church and clergy knew that at the General Conference in the following year (May 2016) change would be demanded. And this is what precisely happened. Though, this want for change was met by traditionalist rejecting the idea of change.  

Delegates called upon the bishops to move forward with this issue of repressed homosexuality and as a result, the bishop came up with a plan; Way Forward. This plan called for a special General Conference that took place this year to strike down the ban on gay marriage and ordination. And yet again this plan did not pass due to the traditionalist, and thus the original law still stands. Now with brutal consequences on clergy that perform a same-sex marriage. 

As discussed in many United Methodist Churches today, the next General Conference meets in 2020 to erase this law. Though, due to the differing opinions, there is talk of a split in the church. And indeed, regardless of how it goes, there will be a split forming the Reconciling Movement (forward-thinking) and the Westly Convent (tradition thinking). Part of the issue at hand is the communication from the clergy to their congregation. Some small churches within the domination refuse to discuss this pressing matter and thus do not allow their church to have a voice towards moving forward. We must have better communication with the members of the congregation so that all are fully aware and have free will to choose what they want to support.  

http://www.umc.org/topics/general-conference-2019-special-session