Prompt: Write about what you would do to entertain yourself if you did not see a soul for 7 days.
Day One, I think I'd be excited to be all on my own. No pressures, no worrying about making other people happy, no trying to juggle everyone's needs and schedules. I'd go hiking. All day. Allow the solitude to infiltrate my inner mind and remind me to embrace the stillness of quiet.
Day Two, I'd retrieve one of the leatherbound journals stored in my library and fill its blank pages with reflections I gained from my day spent outdoors. I'd drink chai tea and breathe in the smell of spices mixed with the scent of recyled paper and fresh ink.
Day Three, I'd head outside with a tote full of gardening tools and spend my time in the dirt. Barefoot and bare-handed, I would drink in the earth as I planted, hoed, weeded, and raked.
Day Four, I'd clean the house from top to bottom. I'd even polish the hickory cabinets. I would listen to music while I worked, every different style imaginable, and dance.
Day Five, I'd read the stack of books which has been tempting me for months.
Day Six, I'd bake five different kinds of cookies and deliver them to neighbors' doorsteps anonymously on my bike. In the afternoon I would make popcorn and watch an entire video series from start to finish.
Day Seven, I'd call a friend. I need human interaction!
March 28, 2011
March 25, 2011
I Wish Someone Would've Told Me
I wish someone would've told me...
...that it's okay to fail. Failure shows that you at least tried. Maybe the failure comes as a blessing in disguise, because success might make you stop trying.
...that love is not easy. To maintain a true, long, and lasting love, you have to apply conscious effort.
...that love comes in endless forms. Why restrict it with your own expectations?
...to make healthy exercise a regular part of my life even when I was young. It would have been so much easier to continue a habit rather than continually try to start it.
...that it's okay to do the things you said you'd never do. People change. You change.
...that it's okay to fail. Failure shows that you at least tried. Maybe the failure comes as a blessing in disguise, because success might make you stop trying.
...that love is not easy. To maintain a true, long, and lasting love, you have to apply conscious effort.
...that love comes in endless forms. Why restrict it with your own expectations?
...to make healthy exercise a regular part of my life even when I was young. It would have been so much easier to continue a habit rather than continually try to start it.
...that it's okay to do the things you said you'd never do. People change. You change.
March 24, 2011
Service
It's probably clear by now that I have quite a few pet peeves. Bad drivers, paperwork,... I have another one to add to the list today: bad service. Can anyone tell me why a person who is horrible at service should be in a service position? I shouldn't have to feel guilty for asking a department store employee where to find an item, or a medical receptionist to make an appointment. Is it just my perception, or does service seem to be getting worse with time?
Enough venting, here's the "Pollyanna" side: I went for fastfood at a drive-through (which I hardly EVER do!), and the lady serving behind the window was incredibly cheerful and efficient. I watched her with the car in front of me, and was impressed by her personable manner. When I pulled up to her window, she acted as if I had just made her day. I'll probably never see that lady again, but I want her to know that she made MY day by her modeling the philosophy "service with a smile"!
Enough venting, here's the "Pollyanna" side: I went for fastfood at a drive-through (which I hardly EVER do!), and the lady serving behind the window was incredibly cheerful and efficient. I watched her with the car in front of me, and was impressed by her personable manner. When I pulled up to her window, she acted as if I had just made her day. I'll probably never see that lady again, but I want her to know that she made MY day by her modeling the philosophy "service with a smile"!
March 23, 2011
Educational Issues
The field of education is one I have chosen to enter. Sometimes I am thrilled about this decision, and at other times I am disheartened. Over spring break, I read several books to reawaken my enthusiasm for teaching. One of the books, "Letters to A Young Teacher," presented so many educational issues that I actually got more overwhelmed by reading it. I get too impassioned about high-stakes testing, political legislation, diversity, and resource allocation to take an objectively optimistic view toward teaching. At the same time, I wouldn't want to be objective because issues that matter in education require us to have opinions. Change doesn't come from lack of passion.
This semester, I've been growing frustrated with the jargon that seems to accompany my daily reading, writing, and discussing educational issues. I'll admit, I have employed educational jargon in my class papers because that's what our instructors often seem to look for. A few buzz words, and you can seem as if you know what you're talking about. But often I'm left thinking, is that what I wrote what I really know? Could I have eliminated all the "noise words" and just stated knowledge or ideas in simple, simple language? Educational author Jonathan Kozol says it best: "Teachers need to fight hard to take pride in their own voices too. The jargon factory in education is a very busy place and it will doubtless keep on churning out new words and phrases that are no less cumbersome, or lacking in substantial meaning, than the ones in use today. Defend the freshness of your voice. Defend its authenticity."
So to all of you whose writing I have had the privilege to experience this semester... thank you. You have each shown me what it means to defend the freshness and authenticity of your own voice.
This semester, I've been growing frustrated with the jargon that seems to accompany my daily reading, writing, and discussing educational issues. I'll admit, I have employed educational jargon in my class papers because that's what our instructors often seem to look for. A few buzz words, and you can seem as if you know what you're talking about. But often I'm left thinking, is that what I wrote what I really know? Could I have eliminated all the "noise words" and just stated knowledge or ideas in simple, simple language? Educational author Jonathan Kozol says it best: "Teachers need to fight hard to take pride in their own voices too. The jargon factory in education is a very busy place and it will doubtless keep on churning out new words and phrases that are no less cumbersome, or lacking in substantial meaning, than the ones in use today. Defend the freshness of your voice. Defend its authenticity."
So to all of you whose writing I have had the privilege to experience this semester... thank you. You have each shown me what it means to defend the freshness and authenticity of your own voice.
March 22, 2011
Hooky
Yesterday morning I woke up with all the motivation of a dormant turnip. After sitting at my laptop for two hours and accomplishing, well, nothing, I agreed to my husband's invitation of accompanying him to town. Yay, a chance to play hooky! It was so fun to just hang out with my best friend. Running errands in the pouring rain, we had lots of laughs, hugs, and "close time." I helped Scot pick out a new suit jacket, dress shirts, and dress shoes. And I have to say, men are SO EASY to shop for/with! It took him about 10 minutes to collect and purchase his spring wardrobe. What I would give to have that kind of shopping ability!
So this morning I'm having nearly as hard a time getting back to school... and I'm wondering, what can I do to get motivated? Even the highlighted deadlines on my calendar are doing little to prompt me to work. I just feel tired and like I don't care anymore, or at least not enough to continue investing days on end to my studies. It makes me wonder, how can I turn my experience with lack of motivation into a future advantage for my students? How can I show them how to hurdle over apathy and approach assignments with eagerness?
So this morning I'm having nearly as hard a time getting back to school... and I'm wondering, what can I do to get motivated? Even the highlighted deadlines on my calendar are doing little to prompt me to work. I just feel tired and like I don't care anymore, or at least not enough to continue investing days on end to my studies. It makes me wonder, how can I turn my experience with lack of motivation into a future advantage for my students? How can I show them how to hurdle over apathy and approach assignments with eagerness?
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