Posted at Women and Money on Facebook.
There's nothing I am less interested in than the subject of money. Something must be wrong with me. But it is time. I must start viewing wealth differently than I have before. Money and Women at Facebook is a group that I think might help me do that. This article was posted there.
Wanna know what requires more courage than me accepting an invitation to "play" in YoVille? Participating in a 2 hour conversation, armed with less than 16 oz. of coffee consumption for the day, with your 26 year old son and a group of his intelligent, intuitive, educated, opinionated and articulate friends! Particularly when said conversation moves back and forth between the following topics:1. Homelessness and whether we are creating practical and effective solutions to assist the homeless people in America or are we spinning our wheels? 2. Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, the murder of Dr. Tiller, and of course, the next logical topic in that conversation... hypocrisy.3. Social Networking as a tool used with purpose vs. Social Networking as a waste of time and bandwidth.And my personal favorite...4. More than homelessness, the bigger threat to America today is hopelessness! Definitely the bigger threat to America's young people, and perhaps people, period. Yah. I'm supremely pleased to report that I was able to keep up with and participate in the conversation and no one even laughed at me once! The conversation shed light on so many issues. There were so many opinions and each one was heard fully. I saw and heard passion and brilliance and fear and internal debate for two hours. Every person left the conversation laughing and lighthearted. Perhaps each of us came away from the conversation still committed to our personal belief, I don't know. What I do know is that no one came away with less than they had before the conversation began. We all left the conversation better than we were before. Maybe that's because communication (that's when you listen and are listened to) creates and sustains relationships. And authentic relationships help cure hopelessness. And maybe even homelessness. Here's what else I know; authentic relationships take courage. Fully listening as well as fully participating in relationships takes courage.
Allowing my 47 year old opinions and my beliefs to be questioned and challenged by 20 somethings inspired and "in-couraged" me. I need to wind down now. Relax a little. Just a few minutes to do something that doesn't require so much courage. See you in YoVille!-Laurie
