WEEK 21: MORE THAN JUST A FEW WORDS BY MAKAYLA REYNOLDS

​Hello all! This is my first blog I have ever written and was excited for the opportunity when Tonya asked me to write it. Tonya and I are cousins, and unfortunately, I only see her about one or two times a year since I live in Kentucky, and she lives in Oklahoma. This past year I have had the pleasure of being able to grow closer to my family, including Tonya, as I have been able to “come out of my shell”. For the first 17 years of my life talking to people scared me--even family. Thankfully, I am out of my shell and have the courage to write a blog post open for the judging of anyone who stumbles upon it.
 
Consideration. Tonya texted me one morning with a list of words to choose from when she asked me to write this week’s blog, but she preferred if I could do consideration. Personally, I thought helpfulness or friendliness would have been much easier to write about in the later weeks as the words came, but I decided to go through with this week’s word. I was hesitant at first, because the word is not one I commonly use, hear, or think about. My thinking was, “how can I write a post about something I am unfamiliar with?” So, before writing this post, I took several days to think about what the word consideration meant to me, and also consulted my friend Google. Google told me that it meant several things, but the two definitions that seemed to fit the word best were “thoughtful or sympathetic regard” and “continuous and careful thought,” I don’t know what I expected to see, but that was not it. In an attempt to define the word myself, I really struggled.
 
I found that the reason I struggled with coming up with a decent definition for the word was because although I do think about others needs and try to lend a helping hand when I can, I am a selfish person. I do not think I am rude, or mean, or a bad person overall, but I am, quite frankly, selfish. When I make decisions, I make them based on what would be best for me or how things would affect me. When I’m running late for work and the person in front of me is being very slow, I think “I am running late, how can they do this to me?” when I have no idea what their current situation is whatsoever. I think we all do this. We may buy two of something “just in case”, or we’ll cut in line because we think our reason for being in a hurry is far more important than anyone else’s. This sense of selfishness has been seen throughout this pandemic we are currently facing as well. Grocery store shelves were empty for days or weeks at a time because people kept thinking “what if we run out of this or that” when there are people out there who are struggling to even get one meal a day. All too often it is “Me, myself, and I” and we lack the consideration of others. That does not mean we are bad people. But I think we can be better people.
 
Now, I know this week’s word is “consideration” and not “selfishness,” but I feel that it is important to address the barriers that stop us from being able to have consideration. So, this week, make your motto “consideration.” Think “how will this affect others,” or “do I really need this, or could someone else get more use out of it?” Because in the grand scheme of things, there will always be more of whatever material thing you’re wanting, but there will not always be another opportunity to make someone smile or help someone out when they really need it. Try to think of others just as often as you think about yourself. Of course, our own needs are important. However, our needs and wants do not invalidate another’s.
 
When I think about what consideration means to me, I now think of more than just a few words for a definition. I do not think a few words can even define what consideration means. For me consideration is when you think of how your words and actions will affect other people. It means thinking of others when you really want to think about yourself. It means deeply thinking and pondering about something before making a rash decision. The word “consideration” doesn’t mean just one thing, but the bottom line is just what google told me--“thoughtful or sympathetic regard” and “continuous and careful thought.” What does consideration mean to you?

This week's blog writer is Makayla Reynolds. She is 18 and just graduated from Rowan County Senior High School in Morehead, KY, but spent the last two years of high school taking only college classes. In the fall she will be a college junior and is majoring in psychology and Spanish. Her dream in life is to be able to help people achieve happiness, fulfillment, and contentment with life and as a therapist she feels that she could do that. Family and friendship means everything to her and she is very thankful for all the support she has around her.

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