This month I have been writing about the values of justice, fairness, equality and honor. It was a message that I had received several times, and so I figured, let’s go with it! I also thought, oohh, this will be good one, just perfect for me as I am a person who lives for fairness. I always want things to be fair, at work, with my family, and as a citizen. But what I have come to realize through my writing (my unposted copies of course, because I certainly wouldn’t want you to know these truths about me!) is that I am really just doing a bunch of complaining!
Never would I have imagined the impact this statement would have on me. Through this writing experience, which is really just journaling my thoughts, I have come to find that I frequently have a one-sided (my-sided) view. The truth is I have a lot of people listening to what I have to say. They ask for my opinions and insights and they enjoy talking with me. I have many times heard “why don’t you ask Julie when you go to see her”. They are putting their trust in me. So this is the spot where I must ask myself, what is the impression that I’d like to leave? What type of influence will I choose to be? Shall I continue to waste my time (and yours) complaining? Or is it time to start walkin' the walk, rather than telling you how it is that I think others should be walking!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
A fair Trial
In the closing of my previous post, I was going to take a few days to observe how justice vs. revenge plays out in my life. Admittedly, I was very uncomfortable with the word revenge. The more I thought about what I wrote, the more I tried to come up with another way of putting it, a way that didn’t sound so harsh(really, I wanted to go back and delete the entire thing!). They were just getting what they deserved. I’ll show them. We’ll see what happens!
I find myself in situations where I feel that I am not getting the attention that I think I deserve or that I once had. And what do I offer in return………the cold shoulder. I am not making the phone calls. I don’t offer invites the way I use to. I don’t need your help. I’ll do it on my own.
It sounds a little like I am seeking what I thought was justice for myself, just taking care of myself. But when I flip it around-it sure sounds like revenge for the other person. My feelings were hurt, I’ll show them. What I consider being self-sufficient and responsible is really just my way of shutting them out.
I consider myself to be a reasonable person (one of the words used in defining justice), so I charge myself, guilty……of injustice. But, also now more aware that justice is not a one-sided deal. I guess it's time for a fair trial!
I find myself in situations where I feel that I am not getting the attention that I think I deserve or that I once had. And what do I offer in return………the cold shoulder. I am not making the phone calls. I don’t offer invites the way I use to. I don’t need your help. I’ll do it on my own.
It sounds a little like I am seeking what I thought was justice for myself, just taking care of myself. But when I flip it around-it sure sounds like revenge for the other person. My feelings were hurt, I’ll show them. What I consider being self-sufficient and responsible is really just my way of shutting them out.
I consider myself to be a reasonable person (one of the words used in defining justice), so I charge myself, guilty……of injustice. But, also now more aware that justice is not a one-sided deal. I guess it's time for a fair trial!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Seeking justice
I recently came across something that said to teach others about the values of justice, fairness, equality and honor. I have to admit this statement is a little tricky since I can only come from what I think and feel. And if you read my last post, you know the meaning of values simply put, is what I believe to be most important. There is no set-in-stone answer here. Although I do believe we all share a very similar value system, the difference may be our individual order of importance. And personally speaking, that order changes as I enter into new and different stages of my life.
Of the words listed, there is one that really jumps out at me, one that kind of gets me stirred up. But since there may be some importance in the order, I will start at the beginning with justice.
-Fair and impartial behavior or treatment
-Fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made
Now of course there are more definitions depending on the context of use, but I thought these followed in suit with the other words.
I guess when I think of justice, it looks a little more like this: An arm in the air or a fist on the table, followed by “justice will be served or justice will prevail”! It just doesn’t sound as dramatic to say, ”fairness will be served or I will deal with you with impartial behavior or justice will win over because we are reasonable”!
When I think of justice being served, it is that someone is going to pay the price for what they have done, like a punishment. In a court of law we have a process, an attempt at fair and impartial treatment. But how often in our ever day lives do we take the time to stop and look at the facts, consider where the other person was coming from or that maybe they just made a bad decision. How often are we seeking revenge………….oh, I mean justice. And to make it even more challenging for myself, how often am I seeking rrrrreeeee, oohhhh, I just can’t say it.
I am going to think on this one a bit more. Actually I am going to see how I play it out over the next few days, and get back with you!
Of the words listed, there is one that really jumps out at me, one that kind of gets me stirred up. But since there may be some importance in the order, I will start at the beginning with justice.
-Fair and impartial behavior or treatment
-Fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made
Now of course there are more definitions depending on the context of use, but I thought these followed in suit with the other words.
I guess when I think of justice, it looks a little more like this: An arm in the air or a fist on the table, followed by “justice will be served or justice will prevail”! It just doesn’t sound as dramatic to say, ”fairness will be served or I will deal with you with impartial behavior or justice will win over because we are reasonable”!
When I think of justice being served, it is that someone is going to pay the price for what they have done, like a punishment. In a court of law we have a process, an attempt at fair and impartial treatment. But how often in our ever day lives do we take the time to stop and look at the facts, consider where the other person was coming from or that maybe they just made a bad decision. How often are we seeking revenge………….oh, I mean justice. And to make it even more challenging for myself, how often am I seeking rrrrreeeee, oohhhh, I just can’t say it.
I am going to think on this one a bit more. Actually I am going to see how I play it out over the next few days, and get back with you!
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