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talktodiana

~ Igniting the power and passion in others…

talktodiana

Tag Archives: abuse of power

When Someone Loves You…

29 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, In My Opinion

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

200 words, abuse of power, belong, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, family, Fear, feelings, freedom, gift, heart, Hump Day Chronicles, kindness, life, love, mindful, passion, strong, weak

love

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.

Billy – age 4

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤  Love  ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Some say…

Love is a feeling dependent on current circumstances. Love is a made up human construct. Love is finicky. Love is possessing. Love hurts. Love doesn’t last. Love is a nice word for lust. Love must be earned. I’ll only love you if you love me. Love means you would take the blame for me. Love means I own you. Love makes you weak. Love is irrational.

Others say…

Love your neighbor as yourself. Love is a verb. Love is forever. Love is unconditional. Love is the answer to every question. Love is selfless. Love is letting go. Love is an act of your will. Love nourishes. Love wants the best for you. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love makes you strong. Love makes you feel like you belong.

I have heard so much about love and what it means to people. But never have I heard such an eloquent way to describe love as stated by 4-year old Billy in the above quote.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What do you say?

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Optimism Might Even Unite Us

13 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, In My Opinion

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

200 words, abuse of power, afraid, authority, bureaucracy, community, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, dream, greed, hope, hopeless, making a difference, optimist, overwhelmed, passion, Purpose, unity

“Optimism is the greatest form of rebellion.” Carmen Medina

sail boatWe live in a world where our options are often dictated to us by those in authority. A few solutions are presented and we vote for the least offensive one.

To operate outside this context seems too overwhelming a task.

Yet those self-appointed with the authority to tackle the big issues in our world are merely looking after their own interests, so why shouldn’t I look after my own?

Because realistically, what difference can I make standing alone against a wall of bureaucracy? A well-oiled machine that moves steadily on, bulldozing everything in its path?

Martin Luther King gave an ‘I have a dream’  speech, not an ‘I have a plan with three options you can choose from’  speech. He was hopeful for a day when all men and women would be equal. He was optimistic about humanity doing the right thing. It was his optimism that united a generation.

One could even say it was the greatest form of rebellion against the accepted norms of his day.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Grant me the courage to be optimistic and unite a generation to do the right thing

7 Things that make me lose it

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, In My Opinion

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

7 Things, abuse of power, Diana Schwenk, disrespect, gossip, late, pat answers, rudeness, teens

I’m usually quite reasonable and cool-headed (at least on the outside).

But following is a list of 7 things that ruffle my feathers,

make my blood pressure go up and

make me lose it.

7.  Tardiness

I work hard to show up on time. In fact, I’m usually early. I value my time and the time of others.

My Dad always said being on time is important.

A lesson I took to heart.

So when there are meetings, appointments or social gatherings;

I’m on time. Sure things can come up, emergencies, bad traffic, etc.,

but when someone is consistently late, I just wanna…..

6.  Gossip

Sometimes we need a sounding board. Someone we trust to hear how we plan to handle a difficult situation or person.

Someone who can ask those important questions that reveal our true motives.

Someone we trust to hold the conversation in confidence.

But there is a fine line between this and gossip. And we need to choose our confidants wisely.

I’m pretty sure that if so-and-so wanted me to know about their divorce, their struggles with their kids, or whatever the case may be, they would tell me.

I don’t want someone else’s opinion on the situation.

Because even when I try really hard not to be affected, their opinion sometimes changes the way I view a person – usually for the worse.

5.  Abuse of power

I don’t care if you’re a teacher, boss, landlord, politician, police officer, caregiver, pastor or doctor.

When you abuse or misuse your authority and damage even one vulnerable person you better pray I am not witness to it.

When you hold authority over anyone, you have a higher responsibility to uphold a fair playing field.

That’s all.

4.  Disrespect

I once was invited to speak to an assembly of 700 students at a high school.

I was warned by no less than seven people that these kids were obnoxious and rude.

“‘You know what teenagers are like, right?”

Every teacher was in the gymnasium to make sure that all hell didn’t break loose.

I walked the gauntlet of sympathetic teachers to the front of the gymnasium and stood behind the microphone and said,

“Hey, I know it’s Friday afternoon. I know you’re tired, but if you’ll bear with me, I think you might actually get something out of this. I know I will.”

You could have heard a pin drop during my ‘anti-bullying’ talk.

And it was followed by students wanting to relate their stories and ask questions.

Later a few teachers asked me what the heck my secret was.

I responded, “Simple – I gave them my respect and they gave me theirs..”

3.  Generalizations

“I was in a bad relationship and therefore all men/women are deceitful, selfish, dishonest…”

“A man/woman from (insert country) once ripped me off while I was traveling, therefore everyone from (insert country) are dishonest tourist ripper offers…”

This logic makes me want to rip my hair out!

There are good and bad apples everywhere.

2.  Pat answers

We  all know people who are going through, or have gone through devastating life-changes.

And we feel this incredible pressure to solve it or make it better, don’t we?

Sure, we mean well. But sometimes we just say the stupidest things.

Sometimes people just need you to listen.

They just need you to cry with them and hug them.

They just need you to say that you’re sorry they’re going through a difficult time.

That you will support whatever decision they make and

that you’re there for them if they need you.

1.  Rudeness

I was once on a date. A great date with a lovely person, I thought.

The man sitting across the table from me was so charming, intelligent and funny.

It was only a first date but I found myself thinking, “Hey. Maybe he’s the one.”

When the server came around, this same delightful man turned into an ugly manifestation of everything I despise.

He called our server an idiot and reprimanded him about his lack of knowledge.

Mortified and angry, I left, apologizing to the server on the way out.

Can you relate to this list?

What makes you lose it? 

Talk to Diana


"I RELATE WITH, PROMOTE AND SPEAK COMMUNITY WHEREVER I AM..."

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