Quibbleism

N. - Practice of quibbling

Wow. It has been a very, exhaustively long time. I suppose I sincerely lost motivation to do this little project when I discovered, only two people every remotely read my blog. Well, to my two loyal, devout readers, the post you've been waiting for...

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. William James








I've admitted before that I think I might have a Google addiction. Does anyone else out there Google "Quotes" and then spend hours reading through quotes like I do?

This particular quote stuck out to me for many a reason... the first is simply referring to this blog. I was unmotivated to continue blogging, because frankly I felt like I was writing each post just so that I could read it four more times. Then check my blog hourly for a few days, hoping I would get more comments. Not to say I don't appreciate the comments I get, I just never received an overwhelming number of them. So in response to this fine quote... who cares? I'll blog as I like, and if no one reads it 'sides my two readers, at least I (hopefully) made them smile or ponder or keep informed on my vastly exciting trials and tribulations.

The second reason this quote popped out to me, was in its timeliness regarding my current job. It's one of those "I've been doing this job for three summers now and I feel like deja-vu all over again". The same people, the same problems, the same irritating character flaws. And I often feel treated as incompotent and irresponsible. Which is irritating because 1) I am niether of those things, and 2) I bust my little butt to keep things running in some semblence of organized chaos. So this quote reminded me, quite bluntly in fact, that even if no one else knows this fact but me, even if no one else will ever understand or appreciate the effort I put into my job, I'll know that I made a distinct and important difference in the lives of many. So there. It might not be much of a motivation, but when all seems dark and dismal, it's the tiniest of points of light in the tunnel.

Yet another reason I stopped upon this quote (I think too much, it's going to get me in trouble someday)... is how I look at quotes, ascertain some thoughtful meaning or interpretation and so rarely consider the author. Sure there's the typical Einstein, Emerson, Martin Luther King Jr. etc. quotes, but I'm talking about the quotes from people I've never heard of... like William James from above. I feel guilty that I should be taking his words, his thought and using it for my own purposes when I have not a clue as to who he was, what he did, or anything about him. It feels alost like stealing, or worse, showboating. So often I see people quoting (or perhaps misquoting) items in order to further thier own motives and actions, and its a bit annoying. The Bible is often labeled the "most misquoted piece of literature ever written" and it is because people tend to pick and choose what applies to them and what doesn't. I would never in a second claim to be an expert on the Bible or Christianity in general, and I would never use either to further my own selfish impulses. To share an idea, thought, or even fact, sure, but to promote an ideaology, belief, or political system other than the faith itself seems like stealing to me. "Well in the Bible, it says abortion is wrong, so that's why I think that." First off, does it really say that? Or does it say many things that support the idea (we were His from the moment he created us, all life is sacred), and by presenting the conclusion (Abortion= Bad), are we cheapening the message to support a political/social/ideological aim? Shouldn't it instead be said, "I believe, as a result of my faith and study of the Bible, that abortion is wrong." Perhaps I'm reaching, but I've never felt that God would want us to use our faith as a vehicle for other pursuits (selfish?), but rather our other pursuits should support our faith(selfless?). Is there a difference?

Whoa... didn't mean to go that direction.. oh well... I told you I think too much :)

And finally, I think this quote applies best to the world of retail. There are two types of retail workers in this world. Those that follow this quote and those that don't. The first group are helpful, cheerful, and fun to interact with. They take the extra minute to wrap your fragile purchase in tissue paper. They fix a price error themselves rather than send you to the mile-long custoer service line. They'll give you the motivating pep talk you need during that horrible time known as "bathing suit season." It's the cart collector who goes out of his way to grab your cart so you don't have to wheel it over to the cart corral. They'll help you find the perfect dress for the perfect evening.. Mostly, every minute you interact with them, directly or otherwise, you know they have a passion for what they do and they take care to make every effort to make a difference.

The second group makes your shopping experience the most miserable time of your life... A cashier too disinterested to notice she's starting scanning the next person's items in your order. The stock boy who parks his ginourmous pallet right in front of your cart, blocking the entire aisle. The customer service desk where it's anything but service for customers. 99.9% of retailers on Black Friday.

We've all been there, I'm sure... Just remember that if the first group of people can act so wonderfully in the midst of the most notoriously awful environments to work in, we shouldn't have any problems whatsoever :)



Look forward to in the future...

-A blog tour of my new room :)
-A ponderance of my post-graduation options
-Perhaps a few more stand-out quotes
-Anything else, as requested by my loyal readers :)