Don’t Tell Anyone

Virtue Signaling
The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue.

Every morning I surf my favorite blogs on minimalism to see what catches my eye. As I was browsing a word I had never heard of before jumped out. I entered the word into my browser and the subject is huge and has been around for a long time. I wondered if I had been guilty of “virtue signaling” in my life. I then remember a conversation that occurred a few days before regarding a necklace.

I was in the local grocery store and ran into a friend and we began to talk, she commented on my necklace and asked “is that a KENDRA?” I said no, actually I made it and she said “well don’t tell anyone!” This young lady then proceeded to tell me that Kendra donates a lot to charity and that is why she only wears KENDRA. I asked, what kind of causes does KENDRA support? The young lady couldn’t answer my question. I will admit I have a few KENDRA’S that were gifts. I discovered her and I were both virtue signaling, neither of us had a clue why?

I googled Kendra Scott and I was amazed at what I found.

• In 2017 Kendra Scott was awarded the entrepreneur of the year.
• 3.5 million dollars and 75,000 pieces of jewelry were donated to charitable organizations.
• In 2017 Kendra Scott set a goal of 5 million dollars to be donated to charity.
• Kendra’s core values are family, fashion, and philanthropy.
• Kendra supports many charities such as, National Down’s Syndrome Congress, MD Anderson Children’s Hospital, YMCA among just a few.

I sat down and really thought about why I had asked for Kendra jewels and it wasn’t because she is charitable and I wanted to support her cause. I knew nothing of her cause, I wanted the social status of the gem hanging around my neck. I guess I was trying to impress everyone with my valuables around my neck instead of the valuables in my heart. Our identities should be shaped around what is in our heart not our bodies.

I am guilty of virtue signaling in many areas of my life, social media, clothes, car, home, and probably many others that I am not aware of. It is funny how a tiny conversation and a word can make you think about how you can change your life into something a bit more meaningful and creative.

Creating is a better way to convey who we are and not Flaunting our personal property signals that we care only about ourselve, But when our identities are shaped by creativity, our creations can be an honest way to signal to the world that we care about others, too.

Minimalism Life

The next time some says “don’t tell anyone”, I am going to stand proud and say “I chose to be creative and walk my own path” instead of virtue signaling that I am on a cause for someone else that I know nothing about.