The unpopular choice

Tell us about a time when you had to choose between two options, and you picked the unpopular choice.

I am wracking my brains about a time when there was an unpopular choice and I picked it. If there was an unpopular choice, that means that it would have been a part of a group endeavor, unpopular being the operative word. I can't remember of a time when had to choose between option A and option B knowing that one was an unpopular choice. I didn't really do group situations when I was younger because I was much more of a loner and not very popular. Any of the choices that I have made in my life, I don't think were ever made with any thoughts of popularity or unpopularity associated with it.

Wait, high school just popped into my mind with all of the terrible choices that go with it. Smoking my first cigarette was bad choice but it was the popular choice. Going along this path of remembering, refusing to smoke pot was a good choice albeit an unpopular one. I refused to smoke pot because I knew that it made me ill and I didn't like it. I also didn't care how unpopular it made me. I never regretted standing my ground over my choice.

I think that the best part of growing older is that you don't care what is popular or unpopular, what you care about is if it is right for you and your family. That is the wisdom that comes with growing older and it is a gift.

The Pope announces his resignation?

Tags

legacy, Pope, postaday2013, retirement, Vatican

I, along with millions around the world, greeted the headline with surprise. My initial reaction was “you are not allowed to retire, abdicate, resign or quit, it isn’t part of the deal” I am a lapsed Catholic but I do remember that when one is anointed Pope, it doesn’t come with any back door caveats, you are Pope for life. That was my initial response, but upon further reflection, if he is putting the office above his own legacy, than I take back my hasty criticism.

He will be known as the Green Pope which I think will long outlast any other scandals that have plagued his time in Rome. The fact that he as made the Vatican carbon neutral for the future and made electric vehicles a part of the Pope mobile unit is such an important commitment to our Earth. I also admire his calling attention to the wars in Africa revolving around fossil fuels and how the African peoples are suffering for it and because of it. Africa as a continent has suffered for centuries because of colonial expansionistic behavior and it is beyond tragic that even in the 21st century, that still hasn’t changed. The Pope tried to call attention to its continued existence and he should be commended for that.

The world will be welcoming a new Pope and I hope that the new one continues the important environmental commitment and championing that our former Pope strongly believed in and strove for, I would hope that the new Pope will see that legacy through to its best end.

I wish the former Pope a restful retirement and I hope good fortunes for the new Pope when he is elected.