Self Reliance

 This week we learned about self reliance and microfinance. I loved this weeks material. I love the doctrine of self-reliance. This doctrine that helps us care for ourselves is one that helps everyone. Being able to care for ourselves makes us feel valued and a contributor to society. I know this to be true. 

I love the video we watched by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel peace prize winner in 2006. He talked about a bonsai tree and if we took a seed from the tallest tree in the forest and planted it in a small flower pot, it would not grow tall like the tree it came from. it would stay small. Even thought the small tree looks just like the small one, it would never grow like it because it was contained in a small pot like a bonsai tree. He compared this to poor people. He said they were not lazy or dumb, or anything else other people think of them, they just needed the room, the space, to grow.

I have learned how to be self reliant over time. I was raised poor and for much of my married life I lived poor. After my divorce I decided I would not live like that ever again. I lived within my budget and started back to school. I started my own business and provided for myself. I am not rich, but I have no debt besides my home. No credit card debt, no car loan debt. None. I want to keep it that way. I am grateful to learn these lessons and apply them in my life.