change – Page 2 – Life Lessons

Do Unto Others

Are you living by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”? Could you imagine what life would be like if everyone adhered to this simple rule?

No one can say he or she has never sinned. If so, this world would be a perfect place. If you’ve ever taken supplies home from work for personal use, you’ve sinned. If you’ve ever told a white lie, you’ve sinned. If you’ve ever remained silent about a serious situation, you’ve sinned. The list can go on and on.

Just because the impact seemed light or was indirect doesn’t make it right. Imagine if you had a business and your expenses kept increasing because employees were stealing. Imagine if someone told you a white lie that created big consequences. He asked you if his breath stinks and you said no. Now they are clowning him at work behind his back. Imagine if you needed your sibling to back you up about a false accusation another family member made. How would you feel?

What about when you betrayed someone’s trust by lying, cheating, stealing, or withholding pertinent information? There are so many different ways to betray someone, but all it takes is one bad decision. You should always think about how your actions might affect others. If your actions cause you to hurt someone, you should apologize immediately.

It’s the little things that seem trivial yet can cause the biggest arguments, especially in a shared household. Clean out your tub after you bathe or shower. Clean up your hair after you shave. Wash your dirty dishes at home and at someone else’s house. Bottom line, keep your area clean. It’s not just your responsibility. It’s also common courtesy.

In public, leave room so someone can park next to you. Don’t block anyone in. Don’t litter. Don’t urinate all over the toilet and make a mess. Have enough decency to wipe the seat, if you do. Flush the toilet. Don’t put paper products in the toilet. Don’t leave a trail of tissue or water all over the sink. Show some respect for an available restroom, for those are the reasons businesses do not make their restrooms available to the public.

In traffic, don’t be rude. Let the other driver merge. Use your blinkers and stop just cutting in front of people. Stop cruising in the left lane. It’s for passing. Don’t text and drive. Get off the phone and pay attention to the road. If it’s that important, pull over. If you’re too distracted in any way to drive defensively, you’re likely to cause an accident.

As you can see, the golden rule goes beyond just the way you treat people directly. It’s your indirect actions and personal responsibility that can make this world a better place.

“Individually, you can improve your household. Collectively, we can improve the world.”🌎

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson✍🏽

The Government Is Not God

Whether at local, state, or federal level, you’re not safe in the hands of any government. The events occurring around the world today are evidence of history repeating itself and living in the last days. You cannot change what is destined to happen. However, you can change your attitude about what’s happening. Fate is a force of nature, but your faith can prepare you for what’s about to happen.

I’m not happy about the way our current president is handling the economy, but he was not appointed by God. The people put him in office. Some regret their decisions, and some still support his administration. To each his own. You can rant and debate about politics on social media, or you can give it to God. Put most of your energy on your knees to meet your needs.

It is our civil duty to cast our votes at the election polls. Faith doesn’t change that. Maybe your vote matters or maybe it doesn’t. Nonetheless, faith without works is a dead end. What I’ve learned is that our actions don’t stop at the polls.

We must pray for our leaders and promote change within our own communities, starting with your circle. Start having those tough conversations and healthy debates with your family members, friends and colleagues in an effort to understand their point of view. A polarized discussion can lead to a harmonized decision.

The goal is not necessarily to change people’s minds but to make them aware of how their decision may negatively affect someone they love or care about. It’s also important to know that many voting decisions are for selfish reasons, not the greater good of the people. Usually when people have one-sided debates or advocate for a particular change, that’s all they care about. Be a voice of love and reform for everyone, not just yourself.

I’m impartial to politics because they keep us divided. I don’t agree or disagree with everything from either party because neither is righteous. We print “In God We Trust” on our currency, but we took prayer out of public schools. So, to whom do we trust now?

I really don’t think God would be pleased with many of the proposed changes because they go against his teachings. If we’re not going to run our country according to God’s will, then his name shouldn’t be on our currency.

Fix what you can of yourself because you can’t fix this economy with worry, whining, and complaining. No president has ever been able to please everyone. Only God can do that.

“There may be multiple parties, but there’s only one God. Your mission may seem impossible, but for him, it’s never hard.”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

Black on Black Criticism

I know we’re not the only people to criticize our own, but we are a minority group – the most oppressed one at that. Black men can’t be faithful. Black women are classless. And the negative stereotypes we attack each other with go on and on.

Isn’t it enough that other races do it to us? In my own personal experience in the workplace, I’ve tried to be extra careful with my delivery in communications so I wouldn’t be referred to as “the angry Black woman”. But how come we don’t hear stuff like, “the rude Hispanic woman”, “the condescending or sarcastic White man”, or “the antisocial Asian”? Instead, we often hear people say stuff like, “Oh, that’s just how they are in their culture”. I’ve even found myself saying that. So, how come our behavior is never just a reflection of our culture? Since we’re making excuses for one another.

Let’s talk about a few of these stereotypes and how we can become better as a people.

Black men cheat

Of course they do. But they are not the only ones. I never knew cheating was limited to one small group of people. If you do some research or just look around, then you’ll find that all races cheat, not just Black people.

People from all walks of life cheat, including the LGBTQIA community. It’s not a Black problem. It’s a human problem.

Black men abandon their children

First, this is not limited to the Black man. Women of all races abandon children too. In fact, she does so every time she makes the decision to put a child up for adoption. And the most clever way of abandoning the responsibility of raising a child is by having an abortion.

Second, Black men do not abandon children. They abandon relationships, and the children suffer as a result. Women often use the child as a weapon. What better way to hurt a man? If the children were such a burden, then you’d let them go stay with their father. But you refuse because then you won’t qualify for child support.

I know responsible men who didn’t deserve to be put on child support, and I also know some deadbeats who did deserve it. I know couples who let the court decide and couples who didn’t need to. What about the Black men taking care of kids that are not his? Or the Black men who provide for his kids but never get to spend time with them because he’s always working?

It is very true that some Black men do abandon their children, but to say all Black men do is just unfair. Anytime you do not quantify the statement by saying “some” or “many”, you are generalizing an entire group with a negative stereotype.

Both men and women need to take responsibility. You are adult to know the risks of having sexual intercourse without protection. You should also pick your partners wisely, even if it is a one-night stand. You can’t go around blaming others for your mistakes or poor decisions. How can you teach your children to do so when you don’t? Lead by example.

It amazes me at how many guys get called bums and girls get called whores after the damage is already done. Most of the time, people know who they are dealing with before they get to the point of intimacy, which usually doesn’t take long.

Ladies, you thought nothing of his bum status when you saw him with his t-shirt off sweating on that basketball court in those gray sweatpants. Fellas, you cared nothing about her body count or character when you saw those jeans sprayed on her or how she was twerking in the club with that short dress on.

It’s fair to say that humans abandon their common sense and make impulsive decisions.

Black women have bad attitudes

So do Hispanic women, White women, and Asian women with the right triggers. Black women usually have more triggers. Oftentimes, we’re defensive because we’re defenseless in a world against us. We’re not privileged and never have been.

Black women are classless

What if we said Black men were asses? You’re insulting your own mother, if she’s a Black woman. It’s ridiculous to turn around and say you’re not talking about your own mother when making a statement like that, when you didn’t quantify it. I can agree that many women today are classless. I can even agree that many Black women today are classless, if we’re talking about a specific group of people. I can’t deny the truth.

But it’s a shame we have so many Black male podcasters attacking Black woman, when their platform should be used to uplift Black women. I’m never personally offended by any of their messages or any related social media posts I see because I know I don’t fit the descriptions. However, several women are sensitive to those negative messages.

If you don’t have a solution, then there’s no sense in just discussing the issue. Or at least address the issue with positive discussions.

Message 🗣️

Instead of making everything a Black problem, let’s call it what it really is – a human problem. Some issues are race or gender-specific. However, the aforementioned have nothing to do with race or gender. In order for us to grow as a people, we need to do less criticizing and more collaborating.

“A generational curse starts with a generational belief. If we set a negative tone for the next generation, then what have we achieved?”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽