While on Twitter the other day, I noticed a question from one of my Twitter acquaintances.
"Gina, are you a political expert?"
I was wondering what this individual was implying. Do I have many opinions? Yes. Are they well informed? Yes, I read the news constantly. Do I try my utmost to be factual in my statements of any kind? Yes, but am I an expert in this area? Hmm...
What is an expert? Someone with the formal credentials of this world? In this instance, someone with an MA or better in political science? See, I don't buy into these definitions of an expert. I think that everyone's life experience when a person is well read, properly informed and thoughtful can cause them to be an expert in at least a couple of areas. Parenting if they've raised healthy, happy children; cooking if they do a lot of entertaining and the guests are continually in awe of the food they've prepared; psychology if they've had lots of counselling and their life situation has improved; gardening if they know how to create an explosion of flowers on their property.
What led me to these conclusions were the writings of Soren Kirkegaard, the father of modern existentialism. His ideas have taught me that:
1) I am the ultimate authority in interpreting my own life experiences.
2) My life experience has taught me many valuable lessons that cannot be taught in a formal educational institution.
3) I have the freedom to express myself in any way I like so long as it does not undermine anyone else's freedom.
4) I have self-determination.
5) God has given me human rights and free will and it is my right to fight for what The Lord has give me.
Someone who has underscored this worldview has been my lovely psychiatrist. She always says to me, "I do understand the chemical mechanisms that take place in your body but only in a general sense. Everyone's bodies have quirks and somewhat different chemistry. You are the ultimate expert on yourself and I can only help you interpret what it's telling you and make informed decisions on what meds to take." I am the ultimate authority on how my body metabolizes and reacts to meds. Simple as that.
Am I slogging formal educations, no? I have heralded my psychiatrist and Kirkegaard, both of whom attained PhDs. However, these highly educated scholars realize that without practical knowledge, book knowledge isn't very applicable in certain circumstances. Theory doesn't always translate practically into the real world. This I know.
I used to think that I was less of a person because of my limited formal education. I had no "marketable credentials". I now know that my unconventional, unique life has shaped me into someone who is quintessentially Gina. :) And while my peers had their noses in books, I was living life and life was teaching me many valuable lessons. Also, each battle I have overcome as a person has made me stronger and provided me with wonderful insights. I have walked through fire and arisen refined. Hardship is now a blessing - a chance for me to grow. So life - hit me with your best shot, I just might turn out to be bulletproof. :)
"Gina, are you a political expert?"
I was wondering what this individual was implying. Do I have many opinions? Yes. Are they well informed? Yes, I read the news constantly. Do I try my utmost to be factual in my statements of any kind? Yes, but am I an expert in this area? Hmm...
What is an expert? Someone with the formal credentials of this world? In this instance, someone with an MA or better in political science? See, I don't buy into these definitions of an expert. I think that everyone's life experience when a person is well read, properly informed and thoughtful can cause them to be an expert in at least a couple of areas. Parenting if they've raised healthy, happy children; cooking if they do a lot of entertaining and the guests are continually in awe of the food they've prepared; psychology if they've had lots of counselling and their life situation has improved; gardening if they know how to create an explosion of flowers on their property.
What led me to these conclusions were the writings of Soren Kirkegaard, the father of modern existentialism. His ideas have taught me that:
1) I am the ultimate authority in interpreting my own life experiences.
2) My life experience has taught me many valuable lessons that cannot be taught in a formal educational institution.
3) I have the freedom to express myself in any way I like so long as it does not undermine anyone else's freedom.
4) I have self-determination.
5) God has given me human rights and free will and it is my right to fight for what The Lord has give me.
Someone who has underscored this worldview has been my lovely psychiatrist. She always says to me, "I do understand the chemical mechanisms that take place in your body but only in a general sense. Everyone's bodies have quirks and somewhat different chemistry. You are the ultimate expert on yourself and I can only help you interpret what it's telling you and make informed decisions on what meds to take." I am the ultimate authority on how my body metabolizes and reacts to meds. Simple as that.
Am I slogging formal educations, no? I have heralded my psychiatrist and Kirkegaard, both of whom attained PhDs. However, these highly educated scholars realize that without practical knowledge, book knowledge isn't very applicable in certain circumstances. Theory doesn't always translate practically into the real world. This I know.
I used to think that I was less of a person because of my limited formal education. I had no "marketable credentials". I now know that my unconventional, unique life has shaped me into someone who is quintessentially Gina. :) And while my peers had their noses in books, I was living life and life was teaching me many valuable lessons. Also, each battle I have overcome as a person has made me stronger and provided me with wonderful insights. I have walked through fire and arisen refined. Hardship is now a blessing - a chance for me to grow. So life - hit me with your best shot, I just might turn out to be bulletproof. :)
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