Tag: love

Giving love and support to those that need it most!

Giving love and support to those that need it most!

I have had an extremely tough semester for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I have students that truly and desperately need support and guidance.  The mixture of high school students I have has made teaching exceptionally difficult and left me grasping for ways to efficiently teach consumer education to a range of students whose learning levels range from elementary to college.  The learning differentiation isn’t my only obstacle, though!  The students I am teaching have a large range of lifestyles and home environments that impact how they view education, their ability to work outside of school, and how much support they receive at home.  This is the reality for so many teachers and I  know I am not the exception.

Combine my class concerns with some of the school dynamics I have faced including not having a classroom – wheeling around a cart to four different rooms throughout the day to teach has been a chaotic, mountain-climbing adventure.  To add to the mountain, I had some students going through some major life struggles which included me assisting with several emotionally and mentally draining situations that has left me feeling unsettled on more than one occasion.  Additionally, I teach in some classrooms with computers and in other classrooms with no computers which creates another level of structured chaos when it comes to planning lessons, adding another piece to my puzzle that I have to carefully put together.

BUT, there is a silver lining and there actually always is one no matter what the situation is!  My students may show a long list of emotions in the classroom because of their diverse backgrounds that range from anger, happiness, sadness, frustration, bitterness, humor, fun, and every emotion in between.  Each with a unique personality and style, but many of them with their own baggage, their own insecurities, their own challenges and successes, and most of all their own story.  A story that is sometimes broken, sometimes not broken, and sometimes underdeveloped.  I sometimes feel an overwhelming amount of chaos when there is a group of such a variety in my hands because it makes for a very stressful semester, but these are the students that need love, guidance, and support the most.  I became their teacher for a reason and that’s just the reason.  To provide that support, guidance, and nurturing that they so desperately need.  While it hasn’t been easy and I won’t even pretend that it has, it has been meaningful to be able to recognize and understand that my role is to nurture, comfort, and give to these students the support, guidance, and appreciation that they so need at such a crucial time in their lives.  And, no matter what there is definitely some learning happening…some learning from me, some learning from each other, sometimes the students teaching me, but more than anything some much needed nurturing, guidance, and support.

~jj

#ProjectKindnessBook

#AlwaysChooseKindness

Wedding bells, now what can we sell?

Wedding bells, now what can we sell?

I always knew I wanted a small wedding party that would be filled with simple decorations and centerpieces, but I didn’t quite realize how much a wedding would cost even if I wanted it to be simple and small.

It has come to light that wedding loans have become popular, and in some cases the only option for couples, as the cost of weddings has skyrocketed.  So step aside, home loans, car loans, and student loans.  You have another loan to compete with.  The news has actually brought this to my attention more recently in these articles: Wedding Costs Skyrocket and Wedding Loans.  Not only that, but I have come to realize how many people so freely share their opinions once I got engaged to my fiancé.  People asked the first week if we had set a date as if fast-forwarding us through time.  While planning a wedding is a fun adventure it can also be overwhelming.  Everyone has an opinion on something, but sometimes you have to remember that you won’t be able to please everyone on your wedding day.  The more I think about it the more those words ring true not only with weddings, but with life!  While this blog post focuses on depicting the greed within the wedding industry, it by no means is meant to make anyone feel guilty about their own wedding, values, or choices.

The wedding industry has become one of the biggest industries filled with overpriced products and services that many people choose to buy.  From the venue to the photography to the catering and wedding dress, a wedding can quickly turn into the equivalent of buying a car, putting a down payment on a house, or traveling the world.

As I plan my own wedding or choose to elope I am finding it even more difficult to understand and stomach the costs associated with a wedding.  I live in small, rural America and even so it has been exceptionally difficult to find an affordable venue to host my special day.  A special day that I hope emphasizes simplicity, love, and beautiful memories for my guests. The first venue I looked at was $2,500 and that was actually with a fifty percent discount since I am getting married in March, which is often considered an off-season month.  I continued looking because this was higher than I wanted to spend.  I went on to look at others that charged $1,800, $4,600, and $1,000.

While a wedding is a very special day and in my opinion should be celebrated, it is ultimately about two people falling in love. For me personally, it isn’t about a grandiose reception, being in the spotlight (because I don’t like that), or spending an exorbitant amount of money for a one day event that may last 4 to 6 hours.  This is precisely what the wedding industry wants us to think and believe, and what they hope we will buy into (literally by forking out thousands upon thousands of dollars). That just isn’t who I am or what I stand for.  Don’t get me wrong I love gazing upon beautiful wedding pictures of close friends, family, or even strangers –  I enjoy their pretty flowers, and love seeing different color schemes, centerpieces, and wedding decor.  I am most certainly not here to judge the weddings of others or how much someone else chooses to spend on their special day.  Each person views and values a wedding differently.

However, I am finding it difficult to spend close to 10k or more on my own wedding, which is approximately what it costs for an average, normal ceremony and reception.  It also means you must budget well and cut corners when possible.  It concerns me mostly because there are so many people in the world that could use the money that are fighting to survive, charities doing phenomenal work all around the world, an endless number of places I would love to visit to learn about other cultures, including India to learn more about my own.  Hence, I am finding it incredibly difficult to overindulge myself (even on my wedding day).  How can I justify in my head spending so much on one day?

So am I eloping or throwing a small, non-traditional reception?  Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, if I find 10k is the best I can do to throw a small, non-traditional reception then I will elope and cherish the love I am celebrating.  That money can be used more productively based on my values and morals.  That’s because I know myself well enough that I would look back and feel bothered that I spent 10k for a one day, 4 to 6 hour reception that was really about two people going on an adventure called life together.  So if I host a reception you can guarantee it will be a very budgeted occasion that doesn’t overlook my values.

You just learned more about me than my website, Facebook page, or even meeting me in person may show.  One thing is for sure, I am luckier than I can even begin to imagine because I am able to consider whether I want to host a reception or elope.  It makes me more blessed than a lot of people in this world and for that I feel grateful for the life I get to live.  My advice is to be wise about what you choose is best and enjoy the adventure.

Feel free to let me know how you feel about the wedding industry.  How have you seen it change or evolve over the last decade, or since you got married?

~jj

#ProjectKindnessBook

#AlwaysChooseKindness

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