I hate impulsiveness. It’s
annoying, irresponsible, and causes problems that would’ve otherwise been avoided
if sound decisions were made. Sadly, I’ve seen far too many casualties of it.
Overspending. Casual hook ups. Diving into serious commitments or purchases
without doing necessary research. And neglecting to obtain as much information
as possible before making decisions -- just handfuls of examples of reckless and impulsive moves.
Know what those kind of decisions lead to? Eviction notices. Foreclosures. Repossessions.
Bankruptcy. Bad credit. Debt – financially and emotionally. Job loss. Heartache. Unplanned pregnancies. Unwanted children. Disease. Break ups. Divorce. Dysfunction. Frustration. Pain. Regret. Stress. And early
graves. Not only have I witnessed the pitfalls of impulsiveness, but experiencing
it in my own life has been a learning curve of what to do and what not to do as
an adult. When I was a kid, I saw different adults impulsively mishandle money
and how that poor decision affected everything. Overspending or charging things
on credit in areas that may not have been a priority, would mean lack in
another, ultimately leading to financial struggles that could've been avoided
if a budget was in place. I learned the difference between wants, needs, and
the benefits of delayed gratification. If you want something there needs to be
a strategy to save for it, while your needs are taken care of first. Waiting and having patience for other certain desires yields better rewards, and tends to give you
more value and appreciation for what you’ve waited for. Obtaining something too soon or before you're ready for it can complicate your life. Seeing impulsive
spending as a child prompted me to be more of a saver vs. a spender as an
adult. So, while I’m often ridiculed for being “stingy” my drive has always
been to be in a position of financial independence and fiscally responsible, so
that I’ll never have to struggle financially. I’ve also seen how impulsiveness
has impacted the kind of men different family members and friends have chosen to date,
marry, or have kids with. I’m not a big dater. I’m selective, because I’ve witnessed
the consequences of impulsively accepting dates and marriage proposals from men
who ultimately turned out to be disappointing suitors. I’ve seen too many women
in my own family and circles of friends, who’d rather have any guy in the picture than
to hold out for better. The impulsiveness of settling has prompted me to make
careful and informed decisions about the kinds of guys I date and exactly who to
stay as far away as possible from. There are causalities that come with
impulsiveness and all those impacted by it likely feel its blows. No
matter how big or small a decision is, I believe in carefully and strategically
thinking about how different decisions made, can and will impact your life and
your future. Think before making decisions. You can’t afford not to.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...