petraweiser

THE (IM)PROBABILITY OF DEI

Thu, 04 May 2023 16:44:19 +0200

DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s everywhere these days. In the workplace, DEI is advocating for people of diverse backgrounds (race, gender, sexual orientation, age, etc.) to be treated equitably while providing an environment or a feeling of belonging and inclusion. Unless you are an evil person, I’m sure that we can agree that DEI should be part of every organization because the benefits of a diverse workforce can be positively beneficial under the right circumstance. I stated should and right circumstance because—as with many things related to businesses and ethics—DEI wouldn’t be the first policy companies implement without actually living it.

In my experience, most companies are all about the TALK. They don’t WALK that talk. In typical American fashion (by the way, when did America become synonymous for the United States), it’s all about the appearance of things, not about the reality of things. Everyone knows that, when it comes to marketing (and pretending), the United States ranks at the very top. Unfortunately, great marketing is not about marketing a great product, cause, or company.

Nonetheless, if a company is truly committed to implementing DEI and wants to be successful, then it first needs to address two huge roadblocks. They are called blue-collar mistrust and sexism.

BLUE-COLLAR MISTRUST

Blue-collar workers are those who work on the factory floor, being productive, yet they are the lowest of the lowest paid in any corporation. Here are the people tasked to churn out an actual perfect product while, at the same time, being faced with some of the worst working conditions typically associated with a third world country. It is not uncommon for factories in the South to be without any climate control; all while asking their production workers to pull twelve-hour shifts around machinery that could mangle or kill them.

Occupational hazards are often ignored because worker safety is too expensive. There’s a stigma of blaming employees for unsafe behavior versus corporations not having trained them properly and/or not providing them with a safe work environment to begin with.

It’s not just about the absence of decent working conditions but also about the presence of targeted micromanagement that makes working in a production environment less than fun: factory workers are constantly interrogated or bullied about their attendance, punctuality, breaks, and circumstances (such as clothing, transportation, children, health, etc.) in an effort to make them feel invisible and unimportant, keeping them in line and appreciative of a job that employers think they clearly don’t deserve.

Management often refers to blue-collar workers as unappreciative loathers who only abuse the company’s kindness.

Companies and managers tend to assume the worst of their production workers. Sure, these days, blue-collar workers aren’t dedicated to the cause anymore. And why should they be? Corporations did away with loyalty a long time ago. You can only cut down your lowest, most important employees for so long before they don’t care anymore about their jobs, the product, or themselves. There is no return on the investment for them, only a dead-end job with few actual benefits. Blue-collar workers can see—clear as day—that they are not appreciated, and that free pizza, by the way, has run its course after the third time.

You know what else doesn’t help? That double standard when it comes to office people (white-collar workers). They are in a whole different class, but management will deny it. Equal treatment? Don’t believe it for a second. Case in point: At my last production start-up, there was no heat in the manufacturing area. The large uninsulated metal building, at over 70,000 square feet, was forty years old with a concrete floor. Forklift traffic was constantly in and out of the building, meaning that several overhead doors had to remain open. Additionally, the product was shipped on flatbed trucks, leaving an entire shipping department exposed to the elements. When winter approached, with temperatures hovering at freezing, I asked about winter jackets for everyone affected by the extreme temperatures. Management simply said that they were not responsible for providing clothing for their employees. I couldn’t believe they said that with a straight face, seeing that all the office people had just received fleece winter jackets. None of them ever had to go outside to do their work. Additionally, office people received more vacation and flex time, whereas factory workers had a total of five days to use for vacation, sick days, and personal time.

What does it say about the importance of production workers when a company cannot afford them to be away for more than five days a year?

If blue-collar workers are that indispensable, then it is obvious that companies should re-evaluate their treatment of those they consider worthless. And what’s the big deal with salespeople and office staff? They already get so much more without prejudice, mistrust, and intolerance thrown at them. And I’m not trying to devalue them. But the bias is so obvious, I’m wondering who the corporations think they are fooling. Adding insult to injury, when white-collar workers fail to produce results, they mostly face no consequences. For example, when the revenue numbers aren’t where they are supposed to be, I bet the purse strings are tightened more severely in production, not the office, punishing the workers who are the largest contributors in value to the organization.

I’ve always felt at home on the production floor with the most loyal employees one could ever ask for if given fair treatment. I love being in touch with the real world, even though that real world is sad, depressing, and broke. Most every production employee struggles financially, emotionally, and physically.

Financially, because prices have increased to a point where everything is barely (or not really) affordable, like housing, food, and childcare, yet wages have not kept up with that pace.

Emotionally, because there is no support. What happens when children get sick, school lets out early, or cars break down? Companies make it clear that any absence from work is inexcusable and can be grounds for termination. And any type of abuse at work, such as belittling, micromanaging, and deflecting, adds to the emotional and mental stresses already caused by the financial strain.

Physically, because there is a definite toll on a body for having to work hard in less than optimum conditions (understaffed, unsafe, uncaring) without the luxury of time to recover or funds to pay for medical issues. Blue-collar workers do not have it made despite making it happen for greedy corporations.

The reason behind the misery of blue-collar workers can be found in the rewards reaped by those in upper management.

SEXISM

What’s worse than being a blue-collar worker is being a female blue-collar worker. Still, most any woman in any work environment faces constant sexism and ageism. Everyone wants to control women. It really makes me wonder how much of a threat women are to the patriarchy and the male authority at work. It says a lot about the power of women, when men fear that women will take over if given the opportunity. Such frail egos.

Earning less, having to work harder, staying under the radar (quietly fitting in), and being thankful for simply being allowed to work are expectations placed on women that should have been eradicated by now. Our country is heading in the wrong direction on this front. I don’t believe we were ever on the right path for long. Because companies and societies have no honesty when faced with basic human rights.

Women—as a definite minority on the production floor—are at the bottom of whatever evil trickles down from the proverbial privileged top. And even the bottom layer can be grouped by race with white dominating over black and brown. The oppression really weighs the heaviest on women of color.

Male blue-collar workers add to the complexity of problems that women face in the manufacturing world. Instead of supporting one another, including the women working factory jobs, most blue-collar male workers resort to chauvinistic oppression in a defensive move. They don’t want to be the absolute unworthiest beings at work, and so women become easy targets. Men’s survival and honor depend on their feelings of inadequacies, keeping sexist oppression alive and thriving on most all production floors in America. A blue-collar woman is so far removed from having it made, that it makes the blue-collar men look like they’ve made it.

I do want to address that DEI includes women, of course. However, my point is that companies have failed miserably at respecting, including, and valuing women since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Mind you, that is FIFTY percent of the population of the United States (and the Earth)! What world is this where we intentionally and systemically oppress half of our citizens? DEI may just be the nicer and newer term to use, which is more inclusive of, well, everyone. But fundamentally, our society has never embraced women as equal beings (as in our species), and this entire repackaging of intentions seems dishonest and futile. If we can’t even get equal rights for women, then . . . good luck with DEI.

Starting at the very top, the power hierarchy is about oppressing someone else who has been deemed less worthy. It’s the lousiest way to run a business.

CEOs – The Root of The Evil

I’ll cut to the chase. CEOs are to blame (or any C-level executives, VPs, owners, shareholders, or other managers, however, the brunt of the blame always goes to the one person in charge of it all). And yes, I get that most are too removed from the “real people” who make the product. Heck, most CEOs are too removed from everything. Reality being one of them. CEOs see themselves as the “big picture guy,” the “strategic genius,” the “hero out to make profits,” who cannot be bothered with human issues or the banality of daily work routines. But you know what? CEOs are in charge of ALL people in an organization, not just the select few privileged elites. It is their responsibility to ensure that the company has processes, procedures, and most importantly, leaders in place who cultivate an environment of fairness, inclusion, and decency. Nobody disputes that profitability is unimportant, but it cannot come at the cost of bleeding the blue-collar workers dry while the executives enjoy their bonuses, car allowances, stupendous pay, freedom to operate, and immunity of termination for small infractions.

“It’s not me.”

It is.

I’m so tired of CEOs deflecting from the fact that they are obviously part of the problem. If not you, then who?

Nobody wants to be the bad guy in public, but unless you are advocating for your lowest paid employees, you are a contributor to the current oppressive system. A CEO creates the system and then hires managers to follow it. Change should start at the very top and it should include the betterment of employment conditions for those workers deliberately ignored by the C-suite.

I don’t want to devalue CEOs. I get how important they are, which is not an excuse for them to turn a blind eye to the people who have the most to lose in their company. If you treat all employees with decency, they will be loyal. If you value them, they will go out of their way to work toward a common goal because they know that they will profit as well. Tit for tat.

Corporations (and CEOs) need to grow a heart and a brain if they want to be attractive employers who can hire and retain talent and good employees. Can’t find employees? Well, take a good look at your policies and your treatment of ALL. Word gets around. You have a reputation, which is not the same as your image. Or could it be your job postings? Can you even see how selfish they are, only listing requirements, tasks, and expectations – and nothing about WHAT YOU CAN OFFER in return?

Time for some real honesty if, in fact, your company is all about DEI.

Put your money where your mouth is.

Thanks for reading! I’m Petra, and I’m an author, speaker, and women’s advocate.

While my passion is advocating against sexist oppression, I love to write about all things that connect us as humans.

If you enjoyed it, support me: The biggest compliments are comments, followers, likes, and shares!

https://www.petraweiser.com

Who wants to be an IMPACT ARC?

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:09:49 +0200

So...what's happening with you? Did you miss me?

Life sure is busy! Even for me, and I'm not "technically" working full-time, still flying high on that second sabbatical (until the money runs out). I've not been completely unproductive though. I have FINALLY finished my second book, and before I start uploading it to Amazon's platform (called KDP), there are still a few things to check off first. Such as: obtain feedback on my cover design, wait for final proofreading check, on to formatting the digital version, the paperback, and the hardcover. Once I have all that, I'll need to order "author's proof copies" to ensure that the printed version looks good and the formatting is adequate. THEN, I can hit the famous "publish" button and hope for KDP to approve everything in a timely manner.

But WAIT, there still is ONE more very important task. I need ARC readers. No, it's not the arthritic reader's club (even though I'm there). ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copy. It means that a reader will get a digital copy of my book before it's published in exchange for a review on Amazon once it becomes published.

Any takers? A note of discouragement to all you MEN: This new book is a self-help book for women. So, welcome to the world of exclusion, where your opinion doesn't matter. Wow, yes, so that is what exclusion feels like.

So, WOMEN: time to step up! This book WILL help you! What's it about? I guess that would help. I'll post the blurb and cover below. It is about 66,000 words - at 8.5 x 5.5" that comes out to 225 pages. It's a perfect size and read for those rainy Carolina winter days.

I'll come up with a prize again, like I did for my first book. All ARC readers (who have left reviews on Amazon) will be entered into a drawing. What that prize will be...I'm not certain yet, maybe a dinner with me, a signed copy of the book with some cool merchandise, or...if you have any ideas or wishes, let me know. I don't think it could get better than dinner with me, but feel free to surprise me. (I do know my value though.)

I hope one of you wants to help me. If you didn't know, Amazon won't even consider you to be in existence unless your book has 50 reviews. My first book has 13. I don't exist. Can I be your Frankenstein? I so want to be alive. Have I ever asked you for anything before? I have? Well, THIS is existential. I would like to stay on my sabbatical to continue writing. Your review could help attract more readers and spread the word how awesome I am and how impactful women could be. So...are you in?

ARE HUMANS STUPID? IT’S AN EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS.

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 19:53:28 +0200

I typically never write poetry. Okay, let me rephrase that: I rarely am drawn to write poetry. That’s because poetry only comes to me when I’m down on life, which, yeah for me, doesn’t happen often. Nonetheless, back in 2016, it did. At the same time, I was handed a five-word writing challenge. The goal of this challenge was to weave those random words into a story. The two converged, and I gave life to MANKIND by way of poem over my usual prose. Sometimes, sorrow and despair demand to be expressed in ways already shaped by destiny. MANKIND was meant to be written, and, still, to this day, it touches me to the core and pleads to my consciousness every time I read it.

Maybe you’ve experienced such a feeling of despair before?

If you’ve ever had those days where everything seems to come crashing in and you feel that there is no point to exert more of your energy because all is lost, then you’ve been there. I’m not talking about depression. What I’m referring to is a deep, moral sense of responsibility and connection to all beings, the planet, and the universe. This feeling touches on the heaviness of our decisions as a species. In those moments and in that feeling, you are burdened with the world’s sorrow. Your observations of the actions of people in general result in disgust and frustration. Evil seems to have wrapped its tentacles around everything, and the fight seems unwinnable. You wonder whether we will ever be smart enough to care enough about our beautiful home; this planet we call Earth. I call this the ‘existential awareness conundrum’.

Fortunately, there is an upside to this existential awareness: You see the beauty in nature, the complexity of every living organism, the ingenuity behind every creation, and you are aware of the impact one tiny thing has on everything because it is all connected somehow. You catch that glimpse of unconditional love and forever-togetherness, albeit only on the fringe since our limited minds cannot fully comprehend and define ‘that glimpse’ with our logic. All you know is that there is a bigger purpose that eludes us. It is not religion or faith. It appears more tangible even though it is not visible. It will make you feel insignificantly small but also significantly important. If we all had this feeling, we would treat each other, and the planet, much differently. I want more of it because I want to learn and understand. Sometimes, I experience this high when I’m living a beautiful day with a clear mind and happy heart. But even then, the dichotomy of this conundrum reminds me of the existential crisis we are facing, because how could we let it all go down the drain so badly?

The good and evil that defines the human race is ever present. People have the best intentions to be and do good. But the results don’t lie. There has been little progress despite our technological and evolutionary growth that should allow us to troubleshoot existential and humanitarian threats as a collective. And alas, while we pretend, we keep kicking that can down the road, hoping for the next generation to do better. History repeats.

I would hate to imagine my worst fear coming true: that humans don’t matter. That any trace and record of our existence will be wiped out due to our stupidity. Yes, you heard right: When we knowingly kill our habitat while intentionally refusing to prevent our demise on a global scale as the human race, then ‘stupidity’ is the only smart word choice for our obvious arrogance in assuming that our lives shall go on as before indefinitely. In that sense, I hope that there are no aliens around to study us (now or later), because that is the legacy we would leave behind. Are we really that stupid?

History will repeat. Extinction is a definite possibility considering the past. Today, humans pose an active internal existential threat for sure. And if we don’t destroy ourselves before then, some day, there will be an actual external existential threat to Earth and whatever inhabitants are left. Shoot, aliens may fly by one day soon and decide to end our suffering for us (since their stupidity meter went off the charts when pointed at Earth).

Honestly, I want humans to be around somewhere in the universe to watch in safety when that next Earth (mass) extinction event occurs. For that scenario to be anywhere near feasible, humans must work together for many, many, really…many moons in order to have the advanced technology and social aptitude to escape or survive. That is the only way we can make it as a species. Forget greed, hate, selfishness, vanity, prejudice, and ignorance. Those attributes truly do not matter on any level. If humans could look beyond the now and themselves, humanity may have a chance. Saving our planet to remain inhabitable for us must be our priority before we can get off this rock. Getting off this rock should be the absolute last resort; not our go-to for justifying or excusing trashing it.

I want humans to matter in the best of ways. Not as contributors to our extinction but as collaborators in preventing it and in becoming enlightened enough to respect and value, even honor, all life.

MANKIND, the poem, represents my anger, sadness, powerlessness, and deep despair. At the same time, it is an apology to Mother Earth.

We do matter. You matter. We must do our part to be remembered as having existed. And by that, I mean existed as stewards and preservers of life in general.

Mankind

The ashtray of humanity

can be found anywhere

beyond the curtain of pretend.

Ugly,

rotten,

mindless,

neglected.

But truthful.

It reveals what does not

want to be understood.

It was glorious

in the beginning.

It was righteous.

The order of the universe

had dictated

the evolution of humans.

The replay button hit a few times

meant nothing;

and so the unassuming

active participation in the next extinction

began.

In time,

the pencil mark of humanity

will be erased.

What use can be made

of intelligence

when all that once was beautiful

will suffer the fate of not

having mattered?

Mankind’s time,

fleeting faster than

a hummingbird’s need to survive

one night

on the nectar collected

before darkness.

Living now,

because tomorrow may never come.

Deciding not to care,

because there will be no

imprint on the pillow.

The flag has been raised

on Earth’s mailbox.

There currently is no Planet B.

Eventually, we will need one.

With time, we may find one.

Do your part.

Be kind.

Think.

Do.

It is not survival of the fittest.

It is survival of the smart species only (and/or cockroaches).

Thanks for reading! I’m Petra, and I’m a writer, author, publisher, and equalizer.

While my passion is advocating against sexist oppression, I love to write about all things that connect us as humans.

If you enjoyed it, please support me. The biggest compliments are comments, follows, likes, and shares!

https://www.petraweiser.com

CONSIDERING A SABBATICAL? HERE’S HOW TO GET THERE.

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:05:36 +0200

CONSIDERING A SABBATICAL? HERE’S HOW TO GET THERE.

What is a Sabbatical?

According to Wikipedia, a ‘sabbatical’ is a lengthy, intentional break from a career.

A sabbatical can be a beautiful thing. I should know, I’m on my second one.

However, before you tell your boss to shove it, I would encourage you to do some homework first. There are no shortcuts.

Why A Sabbatical?

Some people want a break, not necessarily from employment but the circumstances stemming from employment: bad management, unethical values, no work-life balance, overall dissatisfaction, etc. As much as companies expect it, we are not machines. And most of us don’t want to work for bad bosses anymore. A sabbatical can be the opportunity to simply reflect on life and the next chapter. Others wish to finally pursue their dreams and passions. And then there are the ones who may take a sabbatical to care for a family member, friend, or maybe even themselves when faced with a medical or family crisis. While a sabbatical isn’t always in the pursuit of something bigger, it almost always offers us the chance to grow as humans emotionally and mentally.

I fit into the first two categories: I wanted a break from the rat race, and I wanted to pursue a passion. This article addresses how I got there, which will show you that you can do it, too.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM IS KEY.

I never minded work, quite the opposite: I’ve always taken pleasure and pride in my work.

Work pays money, which then grants me rights to do other things with it.

So, money equals happiness, right? The short answer is, yes it does.

If you can look at money as a tool to financial independence, then you can realize that you don’t need a lot of money to achieve financial freedom to pursue your passion.

You must shift your perspective away from the traditional viewpoint of what it means to be “rich”.

'Rich' is in relation to how much debt you have.

I have no debt, and to me that means that I’m rich. I’m not dependent on a certain (high) income, I can walk away from any job and get another at the income level needed to sustain my lifestyle, and I am my own boss because my decisions are mine. Trust me, a lot of rich people can’t say the same. They will always have the pressure of obligations because most rich people aren’t liquid. Their fortunes are tied up in debt as well as their standard of living (or the expectation thereof). Even though they are ‘rich’, they don’t have financial freedom.

The sad truth is that most Americans live to work: the more money they make, the more they spend and the higher the cost will be of the items that they desire because there’s a certain expectation that comes with a job title and a salary. It’s a vicious cycle: consumerism demands commitment to employment. Often, Americans go off the deep end of the debt pool.

If you can grasp the concept of financial freedom, you are on your way to realize that it’s all relative, depending on your debt, your income, and your monthly living expenses to sustain a certain level of comfort to pursue your passion. And if the balance is off, then ask yourself: Am I willing to make changes to my life?

It’s as Easy as 1, 2, 3.

Whatever your reason may be for considering a sabbatical, I’m here to tell you that it is doable. Below are some tips on how to get started (or at least get you thinking about it):

STEP 1: Be clear on what you want out of life.

This is where you must be completely honest. Take stock of your life and your accomplishments. Are you where you thought you would be or could be? What’s holding you back? What’s your motivation in life? What’s your passion?

In my case, I wanted to write a book to share my frustrations about the gender inequality in corporate America. If you don’t know (yet) what you want out of life, no worries, start smaller. What do you enjoy? What do you dislike? What do you like or hate about it? What would make a difference? In a nutshell, take some time to figure out who you are and where you want to be. Or maybe trying to figure out who you are could be your goal for taking a sabbatical.

STEP 2: Set a goal.

Envision the end goal, and then work backwards. Evaluate and document all the steps needed until you get to the beginning.

This may seem daunting, and you may only see obstacles. But you must acknowledge the hurdles so that you can formulate a plan. Do not let your current situation dictate your confidence in your success. There always is a way, maybe even multiple ways, to get to where you want to be (again, ask yourself, “Am I willing to make changes?”).

For me, I had jokingly said, “I’m going to write a book one day about the Dick Club, seeing that I don’t have one of those.” After I had said it a few times, I had to decide if I was serious about it. I felt the message of being dickless needed to be heard; my goal became publishing my memoir with many steps in between (publishing, marketing, formatting, editing, writing, concept, software/hardware, time, money, idea).

If you have figured out what you want out of life, you can determine if there is a goal to be set. It could be as simple as learning a new skill. Even a new language. But unless it’s immersive learning, you may not need a sabbatical. When I set my first goal of writing a book, I hadn’t planned on a sabbatical either. If it’s overwhelming, start small. But the goal is to dream big, where a sabbatical can really play into your strengths. The key is to set yourself up for success, and the only way to do that is by breaking a (big) goal down into smaller manageable stages, and then:

Step 3: Set your steps in motion.

As they say, either sh*t or get off the pot.

Having set your goal in Step 2 with achievable milestones, you now have no more excuses. That’s why it is particularly important to really break these down into bite-size pieces. You must have a clear vision and understand what is needed. It’s like wanting to climb Mount Everest (and hey, maybe that’s an actual goal of yours). You don’t simply look at it and say, “Yup, I got my hiking shoes ready, let’s go.” No. You must establish a base, and from there, multiple camps to get to the top. And before you even get to the airport to fly to Nepal, there are so many other things that must be done first (oxygen, visa, warm underwear, money, time, conditioning , etc.). Don’t look at the mountain.

After a few years of ‘I’m going to write that Dickless book’, I realized the book wasn’t going to get written unless I dedicated some time towards, well, actually writing it. But I was always tied up with work or too tired from work to write. I lacked TIME. And the only way I would get more time was to quit my job to have time. And the only way to quit my job to have time was to have money so that I could stay at home and support myself. My first step that I set in motion was to realize that the thing that I lacked was time (and commitment). I know, it sounds obvious, and it was such a small thing to do in my head, yet, it had taken me years. I needed to save money to afford me the time. So, I started looking for another job. My current job had paid well enough, but the cost for health insurance for myself and my spouse had been astronomical. Within two months, I had a new job with decent, low-cost health insurance. I started paying off my debt, and then after, I put any available funds into my savings. Three years later, I had enough saved to sustain a one-year sabbatical, and I quit my job.

Time Flies, Even When It Doesn't.

Okay, so three years is a long time and some of you may get discouraged, but honestly, it didn’t feel like those years were wasted.

I had looked back on many more years regretting not having taken that very first step. There’s nothing worse than looking back at another year of inactivity. And that’s why it’s so important to set small milestones. Once I started seeing my debt grow smaller and smaller, it was like I had gained momentum. After achieving the first goal, I knew I could get to the others if I stayed on course, and if I valued time as an investment in myself and my future. I oversaw my destiny. The best part? Instead of one year, I made it two years. Once you see how happy you can be being your own boss, it’s addictive and you’ll do whatever you can to stay there.

The Impact of a Sabbatical.

When I went back to work (for someone else), I quickly realized that I wanted another sabbatical. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my new job. I was excellent at it, and I made an impact while there. Yet, I recognized that I wasn’t willing to put up with a lot of things anymore that had seemed so acceptable before my sabbatical. And fortunately, I didn’t have to. Still debt-free, I had continued to save what I could for the worst-case scenario. Or best-case scenario, seeing that quitting my job meant the continuing pursuit of my passion. Being locked out at work when it came to top management decisions, combined with my husband’s recent retirement, and a raging pandemic with employees unwilling to get vaccinated, made me reconsider my priorities in life (once again). It would be less stressful and more fun to spend some quality time with my awesome spouse while continuing down the road of authorpreneurship. I quit my new job after just one year. Life’s too short.

Key is to know how much it takes to maintain that financial independence. Sometimes I get these moments of FOMO (fear of missing out). Friends buying new cars, eating at fancy restaurants, trying out the latest and greatest gadgets, remodeling kitchens, etc. But it doesn’t last long. My quality of life is no less because other things are more important and fulfilling to me. I don’t want to be house-poor or married to a certain income just to be supportive of debt or an expectation that is not realistic or healthy. First world problems, no doubt.

Should you attempt to adjust your lifestyle for your long-term goal, you will be faced with these emotions. Financial independence comes at a price. Think about though, what that price is. All you have to do is be honest about your feelings. Are you jealous? Over bragging rights that are truly short-lived?

I wasn’t suffering while on sabbatical. I still had money to spend for things I needed and wanted, and I still went out to eat. I had planned for it. I’m sure some thought that my husband was wealthy or that I had inherited money to be able to sabbatical repeatedly. The truth is that while my husband supported me, it was not 100% financially. We each kept obligations on what we would buy every month, and yes, we had shifted a larger portion of expenses on him (since he was still working during my first sabbatical). But that was the right thing to do. Whoever makes more, should carry the larger burden of expenses. For years, my financial commitment had been much bigger since I had earned more money. When I started my sabbatical, I had not planned on him stepping up to the plate, but he did. (The point is that you should always count on yourself to get you to your goal). If your spouse does not support you in this endeavor financially and emotionally, then you can still do this on your own, but your financial and emotional drain will be much larger. You must know this going in, but don’t let this prevent you from doing it. You are doing this for YOU.

It's all about FREEDOM .

For me, it remains an easy choice:

Freedom to do as I please.
Freedom to live my values.
Freedom to pursue my passion.
Freedom to choose my employer.

I highly recommend a sabbatical once you have set yourself up for financial independence.

A sabbatical does not have to last two years. Make it a few months or until your money runs out. But set the timeframe and plan accordingly. Be uncomfortable with the unknown, that’s when you are the most creative. Don’t rush into looking for another job while on the sabbatical either. But decide on when to start looking, so that you can find an employer who shares your values. Worst case, find employment when you get desperate and keep looking. There always is a way. You have more control over your destiny if you can find and pursue what makes you tick.

Dream Do IT!

Photo by carolyn christine on Unsplash

Thanks for reading! I’m Petra, and I’m a writer, author, publisher, and equalizer.

While my passion is advocating against sexist oppression, I love to write about all things that connect us as humans.

If you enjoyed it, please support me. The biggest compliments are comments, follows, likes, and shares!

https://www.petraweiser.com

‘DICKS "R” US’ – MY THOUGHTS ON TRUMP’S REPUBLICANS.

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 02:21:34 +0200

‘DICKS “R” US’ – MY THOUGHTS ON TRUMP’S REPUBLICANS.

Dear Trump-Supporting Republicans:

The headline is spot on. You have been DICKs. You’ve had every chance to stand up for what was right.

You had the opportunity to be on the other side of that coin: You could have been RICKs.

But here we are and you’re not. You’re still DICKs because you lack so many things: Sense, courage, decency, morals, integrity… I could go on.

I didn’t used to be like this. But I can’t keep it in anymore, nor do I wish to.

The constant misinformation, the smear ads, the outrageous, false claims, the dicktator-in-chief at the White House. The bullying, the lying, the pettiness, the ignorance, the arrogance…

I can’t believe I have to become political over humanity issues, over morals and ethics that seem to have disappeared – alongside logic and compassion – from Republicans full of greed, hatred, and ignorance to deny racism, global warming, human rights, equal rights, and social programs meant to safeguard Americans from financial ruin and ensure access to affordable health care.

WTF. The inhumanity of it all is forcing me to vomit out my contempt.

Contempt which I have accumulated over the past four years. Four super stressful years. Years full of anxiety, sleepless nights, uncertainty, and the awful realization that a lot of American have hearts full of hate and shit-for-brains.

Thanks to you.

I can’t believe our country has fallen into such despair.

You have played a major part in this.

When I immigrated in 1990, this -still- was the land of opportunity. It is now the land of the opportunistic, greedy person of false-Christian denomination and Republican political affliction with the following mindset: Let’s forget about the environment or equal pay or making big corporate firms pay their share. Let’s ensure our profits are there, and let’s not share our prosperity with the working people, whom we will bleed for all they got, and let’s keep them dumb and low so they cannot be educated and vote for their interests.

You’re DICKs for oppressing women, for cheering on a pussy-grabbing narcissist, for not defending (disabled) veterans, for filling RBG’s seat prior to the election rather than passing a relief bill for the millions of struggling Americans, for rejecting BLM yet not rejecting white supremacy, for giving Christianity a really bad rep, for all the lies that spill out every time you open your mouths.

It’s obvious: You are no longer Republicans. You are Trumpsters.

The way I see it, if you’re still a Republican under the Trump administration, then you are part of the biggest problem this country has ever faced. Read up on Nazism and how silence and compliance was one of the biggest errors made by well-meaning, proud, and patriotic Germans. Of course, you could be part of the root problem: You love putting your interests above others. You love injustice and classism. You’re all about yourself. I’ve lost you at the headline.

If you are still reading this as a Republican, here’s what I’m saying: All I see, is you not caring about what you leave behind for the next generation. It’s as clear as day.

It’s not even political; it’s about ethics. You made it political and partisan, just like the pandemic. You could have saved many lives. You didn’t.

Go ahead. Call me the unthankful immigrant. The one who’s never done anything for this country.

The one who only takes and feeds off the government. How ignorant.

You do realize that I’m not from a shit country?

You tried to bully me into silence before. For fact checking. For requesting decency.

For patriotism that you call Unamerican but is more American than you’ll ever be.

I’m not sure you realize that you can’t change patriotism into white nationalism. Just like you can’t make America great again. In fact, you made America miserable. Four more years, and I may have to find an exit strategy before I’m turned into a Martha.

I realized early on that the wall wasn’t meant to keep people out.

Petra Weiser Tweet

I became a citizen in 1997. I was all about the American Dream. I loved MY freedom. And I don’t mean the freedom to own a gun and wear it in public just like I had seen in the Cowboy movies growing up. I mean the freedom that gives me the freedom to choose whether I want to own a gun to carry on my body, or the freedom to choose whether I want to give birth to a child in my body. I won’t go there in detail, but don’t let me catch you without a mask while you pretend to be pro-life in an effort to control and oppress women.

I still believe in the American Dream that anything is possible. Even though you don’t want me to realize that potential. I believe – within reason and circumstance – that you can be who you want to be. Even if that’s a DICK. Look at you: It’s a choice you made.

I created my DICKLESS brand a few years ago when I wrote a book about the imbalances of life as an average woman. I created DICKOTOMY – the title of my memoir – because it addressed the conflict in men that determined whether they would be a Rick or a Dick (to me). You should read it. You’re probably in it in your capacity as one of the many DICKs every woman meets in her life.

I am so proud of my dicklessness.

Unfortunately for you, I want to believe that Americans will do the right thing.

I have faith in the goodness of people.

I pray (even though my freedom of religion includes no religion) that YOU will wake the F up.

Either to have that curtain lifted to see the truth and ugliness of what your party has become.

Or to the realization that humanity took back this country in an effort to make things right again.

Thanks for reading! I’m Petra, and I’m an author, speaker, and women’s advocate.

While my passion is advocating against sexist oppression, I love to write about all things that connect us as humans.

If you enjoyed it, support me: The biggest compliments are comments, followers, likes, and shares!

https://www.petraweiser.com

ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 19:15:48 +0200

ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

When I was a kid, I admired Mother Teresa. She helped the poor and the sick, and she was an international symbol for Catholicism.

Now, as an adult, I realize that she poses somewhat of a challenge because of her extreme religious views and how she worked towards accomplishing someone else’s narrative – not always in the best interest of her fellow human beings (especially women).

Nonetheless, she will make an excellent subject for this article since I will compare my goodness to hers. Additionally, like most of us, she must have had the best intentions of wanting to do good on a larger scale when she was a child. While most of us failed at that, she succeeded. Yet, as mentioned above, many now question whether she was a good person in hindsight.

If you are anything like me, then you want to be considered and viewed as a good person.

Having been raised catholic, it was not difficult to admire Mother Teresa; she was a prominent staple in catholic teachings, and her photo was notably displayed in many catholic facilities. In a way, it was not surprising that I wanted to be like her when I grew up.

So why didn't i?

I do not know why this thought struck me just the other day. I am happy with my life. Yet, images of Mother Teresa kept popping into my mind, especially during vacuuming while contemplating my place in the world. A world full of social injustice, unrest, and human animosity – if you want to believe all the media outlets.

When we are frequently bombarded with hostility and hatred, we tend to want to go to the extreme opposite.

We long to believe in the good of people, and we cling to the hope that decency and justice will prevail in the long run. We look to those individuals who have brought light into this world, and we want to trust that one single person can make a change for the better.

Mother Teresa is a prime example of one individual impacting many lives with little resources (at first). Other than her, I had a hard time coming up with another ‘living’ humanitarian who was down in the trenches with the same international impact.

While the news these days is depressing, it was not the reason why I kept thinking about Mother Teresa.

Bear with me as I’m about to indulge in some self-pity:

Pushing the vacuum around and seeing the nice smooth carpet in its wake, I was sulking on the fact that after all my efforts in writing meaningful articles and posting educational content on social media, my audience not only remained small but didn’t seem to want to engage with me. It made me question my purpose as a women’s advocate.

It can be demoralizing when people comment and react to cute cat memes, but then fail to comment on a touching article or post about real issues. It made me question “me” as a person and influencer, and ultimately, if I was good enough.

And then, Mother Teresa popped into my mind as my childhood heroine and how she had succeeded in engaging a world audience while advocating for the poor and the sick. I really felt like I had failed on a larger scale.

What had happened to me that prevented me from “doing better”?

I had the best of intentions. By adulthood, I was aware of the road travelled by Mother Teresa in order for her to get to be “Mother Teresa”. I was not religious or into the poor; two things that propelled Mother Teresa. What I am really trying to say is that I want a smooth carpet without vacuuming.

Okay, maybe not to that extreme, but I had to consider that I craved the attention and recognition “as a good person” while not wanting to put in the effort.

Whereas I had put in a decent effort in my advocating, yet still had little to show for in monetary or emotional rewards. I had not turned out to be like Mother Teresa, and I was not making a difference anywhere else when I did give it a whirl. Hence the self-pity.

While considering the injustice of me having become an average person, I was faced with another reality. One that did not add to my feelings of worthiness:

Family, Friends, Acquaintances and The Spread of Disinformation on Social Media

I got attacked on social media.

It finally happened. It was something I had purposely tried to avoid for the longest time.

There were many reasons I did not want to get into a debate (really, more like a pissing match) with someone on Facebook. For one, having launched a business recently, I tried to stay away from politics. And it was not politics that started it. Unfortunately, “making a point or commenting” on anything these days means taking a political side. My business was new and handicapped because of the pandemic, and I wanted to appeal to a broader audience, careful about not offending my followers. Let’s not forget the many examples of ridicule and personal attacks on social media that had gotten out of hand because of, well… ignorance. I was not sure if I was ready to face that (or wanted to).

petraweiser

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‘DICKS "R” US’ – MY THOUGHTS ON TRUMP’S REPUBLICANS.

‘DICKS “R” US’ – MY THOUGHTS ON TRUMP’S REPUBLICANS.

Dear Trump-Supporting Republicans:

Get updates by email

ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

So why didn't i?

What had happened to me that prevented me from “doing better”?

Family, Friends, Acquaintances and The Spread of Disinformation on Social Media

I got attacked on social media.