Chivalry versus Feminism

I was at a public building today. As I was walking out there was a man walking in. If I had to guess, I'd say he was my age or a little younger. As he hurried through the doors- as I waited... he opened the door just enough for himself to get in and walked past me. I found myself agitated. He seemed like a real ass. Why? I realized that I am used to a door being held for me. And it was surprising how I reacted when a man didn't show that courtesy. I'm a southern girl at heart. I spent my adolescence in a little town called Thomasville, North Carolina. Down there, boys are raised to be respectful men. You hold the door open, you allow the woman to go first, and you pay. I know that in an effort for women to be seen 'equal' to men some women have expressed their disinterest in doors being held for them, in waiting and going second, and in paying their own way. These women are caught up in proving they can do what men do... and maybe they can. However, for me, call it what you will: I appreciate it when the door is held open for me. I appreciate it and I say thank you. I don't see it as an inequality type of issue. I see it as a small gesture of respect. I'm even further impressed when a car door is opened. Silly? Maybe. But, I want to teach my son to open the doors, and wait on the women in his life, and to pay when he asks her out... or when she asks him out. ;-)

As I was talking to Chris last night, we discussed how we can get back on the 'healthy wagon.' It struck me that I got an "A" in my nutrition class this semester... I KNOW the right things to do and I know what we are doing wrong. The real test isn't in KNOWING the right things... its in doing them. This point is true in most areas of life. Just with being 'healthy'.... sometimes the right thing is the harder thing. I tend to want to take the easy route... but then I'm unsatisfied with the road I'm traveling. You could say there is a lesson here in contentment. However, isn't discontentment what propels us (in general) toward change? Isn't it when we become indifferent and complacent that we find ourselves gaining weight and getting flabby? This is obviously just an example but I think its an appropriate one. Somehow there has to be an even ground between healthy and fat. Driven and complacent. I think they call it depression. I don't really want to be in the middle... I want to be driven. But, I can't make myself. I want to make the right decision, even though it hurts sometimes. But, I make the wrong decision. Its not just enough to know. Action has to come from knowledge or else knowledge is void.