I believe in being congruent. I try to practice what I preach. Actually I try not to preach, I teach by example. Anyway – – you don’t stand for one set of values and behave as if you have another.
I have always been more open and outgoing than average. I would catch my off guard when Catherine would comment on my blog and “putting myself out there”. I wouldn’t even have considered that I had!
I did develop a term . . . “Overblogging” that means when you post it and feel nervous later. Ut-oh . . . I “overblogged” said more than I should have. I found that the analysis that followed really helped promote my own self awareness and personal growth. Whenever we ask ourselves questions like:
-why did I do that?
-what was the point?
-what’s my real purpose here?
-does this fit in my mission, goals?
– and am I in my intergrity?
It is definately a win-win to be learning more about myself. The other aspect is that I have found a life ‘barometer’. Certain situations in my life, just simply need blogged. I had to blog about some breakup stuff, my Aunt’s comment, good Lord those hives. I am using my life as an experience an example of being a Restorative Justice practitioner.
Restorative Justice is a wholistic approach – looking at the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental dimensions of an individual. I have to present you the reader, with the whole picture of who I am.
Therefore, sometimes I’ve asked myself . . . could I blog on this? Well not ALL the time, I really don’t have these major things coming up. I stay awake from major moral dilemma’s by remaining pretty darn ethical and certainly in my values.
Side story. Today at Goodwill, I complimented the woman checking out ahead of me. She had these colorful cool candholders. We exchanged a little conversation about how we both dropped off items in the back and came in the front. She said she was going to get the platter I was waiting to purchase. I immediately asked her if she wanted it. Without a second thought. It made me feel good to practice one of my top values, generosity. She said ‘no’ to taking the platter. I’m not perfect, a tiny part of me was relieved she declined my offer. But I would have handed it over and told her to enjoy it all the more.
So, see, I was living a blog-able life.