.

half the sky.

I just finished Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and it has changed my life. I think everything that you experience whether it be TV, books, movies, people you meet, influence your life in some way or another, but there are certain matters that will endure throughout your thoughts and being for the rest of your life. I've previously talked about how the most exquisite of things are the ones that make your soul want to explode...so it is with the hardest things in life to learn about. This book opened my eyes to all the heartaches of being a woman that I am privileged enough not to have ever even thought of at any point in my life, but millions of women do. How many hours have I spent complaining about my life and how it isn't where I want it to be, while there are women and girls out there, in real time, at this very moment, that are uneducated, worrying about being a child bride, honor killings, being sold into a brothel or worse? I feel so ashamed for wasting so much of my time worrying about myself, when there are much more prevalent issues.



I have seen the nonsensical ideals about what role women should play in society and the effects of unequal pay, but I have never had to experience the horrors of what is described in this book. It's what one would only imagine to be in the most upsetting of films.  That's the biggest problem, isn't it? I had no idea. One of the main issues discussed, is that women need to be educated, they need to know that there is better out there, that they can take care of themselves and their families, and that they have rights, for education, for health, for choice. Women make up half the world, yet are denied much less than half the benefits and beauties that the world has to offer. At the other end of the spectrum, in the United States, here I am. A 26 year old single female, working on a second degree, but I also consider myself uneducated, because I knew nothing and even now know very little of what is happening on the other side of the world. With having so little knowledge, I am a bit overwhelmed about where to even begin to help, but I do know that this is not right, it is not just, and we all, myself included, need to become more educated.

sunday.

you know what's great? people. even when they suck. because sometimes they do. and sometimes situations suck. and then you think you're going to go crazy so then you cut off all your hair.

but generally, i think people intend to do good. and be good. and want more kindness in the world.
even when it sucks.

sometimes i forget this. i have a book written by R.J. Palacio who wrote Wonder, which is phenomenal. but this book is called 365 Days of Wonder and is inspired and accompanies the previously mentioned novel. it's a book of precepts to live by. and it helps me to remember.

many of them are on kindness. today's (march 26) is

be kind whenever possible.
it is always possible.
-Dalai Lama

but i looked ahead for tomorrow, and that one is

as soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

and i just think that life would be a lot simpler if these things were not forgotten so often. that we remembered--that i remembered. it would make things seem not so bad, because for the most part, they aren't as bad as we often might think. there are much worse things in the world than what i am dealing with.

even so, some things are still hard, but if you (i) trust your(my)self, i think things will be fine.

always remember to be kind.

for kindness begets kindness evermore.
-Sophocles
february 28

kidisms part 2

last week i was released from my primary calling in church. i had been in that calling for about 7 years and it kind of broke my heart when i learned i wouldn't be with the littles anymore. but you can't stay in the same place forever.

these are some of the last funny things i heard the tiny humans say while i was in primary.


"i have ten coins and one dollar. that makes 11 monies." -N

"i would buy special things that Jesus wants me to buy." -P
"what kinds of things are those?"
"pictures of him." -P

"do you know why i wear tights? because i don't want to show my underwear at church." -N

"i like to eat the oranges because i hate drinking blood." -N

"i'm really good at farmer dancing." -K

"we're all gonna die." -D (repeated over and over)

"i reeeeaaallly hope there aren't drugs in there." -N (looking at the box of crayons)

"i help my neighbor." -B
"how?"
"like if they need to put dirt and grow a flower." -B

"mouses give us cheese." -J

"i already killed a bad guy." -S

"i made a roll." -P (meaning i'm on a roll)

"i don't really like to color but i do like grass." -N