Indignation transforming into intelligence

[I]

Indignation

Dictionary meaning: strong displeasure — especially against something considered unjust, offensive, insulting mean or base.

Jentionary meaning:

It has been in my experience that a lot of people have indignation against one another for no real reason, other than, because they have the ability to be that way. I do not understand why this is happening and find it more common every day. It seems that people have the mentality of,  ‘if you aren’t with me, you’re against me.’

A picture of me getting my tattoo
on my 21st birthday last year

For example, when you bring up a controversial topic like politics or abortion and the person you are talking to happens to have the complete opposite view on the issue than you do. Often times when that conversation starts and you find out that the other person has an opposing opinion you begin to have indignation toward them, or strong displeasure.

It is second nature to instantly turn off our listening skills and attack when this happens. We attack with what we think is truth and go about our day without realizing the meaning behind the conversation as a whole.

What if the opposing forces that have come against us are the ones that are supposed to bring us together? Yes, I know that sounds like the cheesiest thing in the world, but I have a point here.

For example, my parents are complete opposites.

My mother grew up in a quiet household where she was shy and sheltered from the world. My father, however, was raised in a household where being obnoxious is an art and doing what you want is encouraged, even if it isn't the right thing to do.

So with my parents being polar opposites, I strongly believe that is why my personality has been shaped the way it is. I am quiet, but I am also loud. I know when to be serious and when to be funny. I am stubborn but also passive. I possess yin and yang, if you will. Unity of opposites that defines who I am and all that is around me.

My yin yang tattoo that
my dad was thrilled about
while my mom was unsure.
Typical of them both.

On July 14 last year, better known as the day before my 21st birthday, I got a tattoo that signified this yin and yang in my life. I got a yin yang sign tattooed on my arm (the sunflower around it is simply because it is my favorite flower). This tattoo helps to remind me that even though I may have a dislike for others opinions or their beliefs, that it is all about  balance in the end.

Next time you have a strong dislike for something going wrong in your life, take a step back and think of the balance that has to occur in order to keep yourself grounded. With that dislike, think of something you like. With that good news, know that circumstances are not always going to go your way.

Do not have indignation, but intelligence to know the difference between being selfish to your own views and being accepting of others. Learn from the experience instead of acting as if the world and every person in it is out to get you.

Observing surroundings to learn something new

[D]

 Dichromaticism [di-chrome-a-tism]

Dictionary meaning: Color-blindness in which only two of the three primary colors can be seen.

Jentionary meaning:   As a Wal-Mart employee during the daylight hours the dress code can be described as wearing a dark blue shirt and khaki pants. When I first started working at the Wal-Mart where I am currently employed one of the female managers did a good job of intimidating me into getting the clothing expected within my first day on the job. 

Unfortunately my first day was less than 24 hours from the orientation I had just attended.  A small part of me was freaking out when I was told that I was to get the clothing needed as soon as possible for the next day.

The next day I had acquired the clothing and was ready for my first day as a produce associate. During that first day I was able to label every employee by the familiar dark blue shirt and tan pants that were expected.  Now after being at Wal-Mart nearly a year and a half later I do not think much of the dress code and it is second nature to me, as it is for other employees. 

Or so I thought. 

Do you know anyone who is colorblind,
if so how were you informed?

On multiple occasions I had noticed a co-worker of mine wearing a purple shirt. When I first saw him with the shirt I had thought that I was seeing things. I had even made myself look dumb and went to the lengths of asking my department manager Phil why he thought the purple shirt was necessary.
It was only on the third occasion of seeing the purple shirt that I had decided to ask why he had been wearing it. 

“Mark,” I started in. “Why are you wearing a purple shirt?”

He looked over at me and uttered, “wait — what?”

“Why are you wearing a purple shirt?” I repeated.

It was only then that he started to laugh. “You have to be kidding me,” he said. “My wife even let me walk out of the house with a purple shirt on.” 

He had then explained to me that he was color blind and that when he got the shirt the rack that he picked it up from had said it was blue. 

"You’re seriously the only one who even brought that to my attention,” Mark said. 

 

Since that point whenever I see Mark I jokingly ask him what color his shirt is and he replies with something along the lines of, ‘If I knew I would tell you.’

Do you, any of your friends or your family suffer from dichromaticism? If so, how were you informed?

Acquiring the skills needed to succeed

[A]

Acquire

Dictionary meaning: means to gain for oneself through one's actions or efforts.

Jentionary meaning:
When I was first hired as a reporter for the Clarion at Sinclair Community College I had to acquire some social skills I really did not think I had in me.

When I saw that my story was on the
front page of the Clarion all the
apprehensions I once had disappeared

For those of you who are shy, I am sure that you can relate exactly to what I am saying. Being shy can hinder a lot of opportunities from being within your reach. You have to know when to swallow that nervousness within you and open your mouth to speak. When you want something you have to make yourself heard.

I have had a problem with this all my life.

I would never raise my hand in school when I needed something or knew the answer to a question that was asked and I definitely did not try to get my opinion across to my very loud and animated family members that go by the motto, “my way or the highway.”

I chose to not be heard because of my own nervousness and the fear of others judging me.

But what would happen if talking to people became my job?

Well, fortunately it did - and I quickly had to get over myself.

The first problem with that was that I had primarily spent my life letting the words on a page speak for me and secondly, I had never challenged myself against this fear.

I was assigned one of my first stories for the Clarion and I had two weeks to complete it.

Editions of the Clarion that
I have been in since my first encounter

Right then I knew I had to get over being shy. I could not just sit idle and let others talk for me.

I can assure you that I was not looking forward to this and that I was dreading the experience. It was in my own selfish ranting to myself that I realized if I acted shy that I would make the person I was interviewing reflect that, or I would make the experience awkward for myself.

To my own luck the person I ended up interviewing for the story was more than willing to help me out with all the questions I had come up with and had more information than I could have ever hoped for. It was in his kindness and willingness to show me things I did not know that I realized how inconsiderate to myself that I was being. I was selling myself short.

Sure, I did not become a pro at interviewing right away and I am still learning how every day, but in taking that dive right into what I had to do and playing off of my own fear I was able to “gain for myself through my actions.” I was able to acquire social skills I did not think I had in me.