Decision Time

It's been month's since my last post - and most of my posting's have been tame and boring.  Maybe I'm just cranky, maybe I just don't care, but that stops NOW.  Let's be honest - most of us avoid confrontation, most of us avoid speaking our minds for fear of being seen as rude or bitchy.  That too stops NOW.

Here goes............................

The state of our education system is appalling!  Every parent, teacher, student, grandparent, human being should be horrified of what we are teaching our kids (or more importantly what we are NOT teaching them).  This is the future of our country, where we go from here, how prosperous we are, how technologically advanced we are, how safe we are will be in the hands of our children before we know it.

We (parents & schools) are not teaching our children

• respect
• common courtesy
• giving
• caring
• honesty

We (parents & schools) are teaching our children

• don't worry if you fail, you get a re-do
• you have no money? no problem - just borrow it, then claim bankruptcy and you'll never have to pay it back
• if you want something someone else has, just take it 
• don't give money to panhandlers - they could get a job if they really wanted to

I have two children in the public education system - one is a Junior in High School and one is an 8th grader in middle school. 

Until the schools STOP teaching to the test and start educating our youth - and until the government STARTS investing in our future it all looks very very bleak from where I am standing. 

  A long time ago I learned that when you discuss a problem you should have some idea for a solution.  My idea (call it revolutionary)

1. GET RID OF ALL STANDARDIZED TESTS (I know, just bare with me)
2. GET RID OF ALL BAD TEACHERS (you know who you are)
3. Classes are taught & graded on homework, tests and classwork - if you fail the class you have to retake it.
4. After elementary school - the model should be
1. if you pass the class you move on, if not you retake it
2. you need X number of credits to graduate from high school
3. once you reach X number of credits you graduate (PARTY)

 Make Middle and High School resemble college - no more retaking test if you fail them, no more getting 50% credit on homework even if you didn't turn it in! 

Now I have no illusions that this "plan" would in any form ever be implemented, there are too many people with the mindset "we've always done it this way" - which proves that educators are out of touch with the business that their students will soon be entering.

Think Out Loud Tuesday.....

'as you are.' says the universe.

'after...' you answer.

'as you are.' says the universe.

'before...' you answer.

'as you are.' says the universe.

'when...' you answer.

'as you are.' says the universe.

'how...' you answer.

'as you are.' says the universe.

'why...' you answer.

'because

you are happening now.

right now.

right at this moment

and

your happening

is beautiful.

the thing that both keeps me

alive

and

brings me to my knees.

you don't even know how

breathtaking you

are.

as you are.' says the universe

through tears.

--as you are | you are the prayer

~Nayyirah Waheed

Challenges...yes or no?

One of my friends recently challenged herself to 28 days without repeating an outfit.  Her goal was to clean out her 3 closets.  While I applaud her and want to be like her, I'm just not sure I have that much desire to.  Yes I'd like to simplify my wardrobe (though it's pretty small compared to others I've seen), I'd like to lessen my possessions, unclutter, declutter, downsize - call it what you will.  The big question is what's stopping me?


Today I saw a news report about someone who didn't buy anything new for an entire year (with the exception of toiletries and medicines).  An ENTIRE YEAR?  that's just plum crazy!  I guess I could probably do that for 6 months, but 12?  I'm not so sure.

I get the premise - to challenge yourself outside of your comfort box. 

American's are the Queens & Kings of over consumption...I get it!  But I love my Ugg boots that keep my toes toasty in the winter and my Dooney & Bourke handbags that last for years (literally I've had one for 7-8 years now and it still looks great)!  Maybe the lesson here is to have a few quality items or a lot of poor quality items - they last longer and in the long run end up costing less because you are able to use them for a longer period of time.

Do I need to challenge myself to something?  If that's what I'm going to do then I want to make it something positive like.....how about when someone asks me "how are you today" I'll answer "I can't complain".....to remind myself that things could ALWAYS be worse and really what do I have to complain about? 

But that seems rather lame compared to "28 days of no repeating outfits" or not buying anything new for a year.  I'm still stuck on how that works.

What do you think?  Challenge or not? 

the power of words

Imagine a world where the words you speak appear on your skin. 

Would you be more careful of what you say? 

Artist Ronit Bigal.

 The written word provides some sense of anonymity.  I personally find it easier to express my thoughts and feelings in written form than verbally.  When I try to speak, my brain moves faster than my mouth and it all comes out wrong.  I can practice, I can recite, I can use note cards but still it's not as eloquent or professional as when I write.

Words can build someone up or tear someone down.

Words can inspire or deflate.

Words can hurt.

Words can heal.

But you can never take them back, 

there is no delete button, 

no recall email button, no cancel text button.

WORDS ARE POWERFUL

I CHOOSE TO USE THEIR POWER FOR GOOD

we all have that ONE friend.....

I had a work meeting today with someone who is helping my company with our volunteer activity this fall.  I spent over an hour with her and left the meeting feeling refreshed, supported, listened to and genuinely cared about.


I decided this is someone I want to hang out with more often and introduce T (husband) and A & M (children) to.  Someone they can gain positive experiences from knowing!

We were talking about advice (my daughter is 16 and her's is 9) for the mom of a girl, you know - sex, dating....all of it.  She shared advice her mother gave her and it literally moved me to tears.  I hope I get this right:

Everything in life is a phase and every phase will pass.  

If you're in a difficult or sad phase, hang in there because it will pass.  

If you are in a happy, fun phase, enjoy it because it will pass.

How profound an moving, this woman who I don't know and will never have the opportunity to meet (she is no longer with us) touched my heart today.  

Thank you 'big fella for spending time with me an opening your life to me.

Special Day

Yesterday my DD *dear daughter* turned 16....what a special day for her and I wanted to do everything I could to make it extra special.  For the last 8 years we haven't had her home on her birthday, she attended a camp every summer the same week.  Now she's a full blown counselor at that camp and turned 16 the day we picked her up.  The specialness started by bringing 40 cupcakes for the camp counselors & staff to enjoy for her birthday. When we pulled in the driveway from camp she was greeted with a Happy Birthday sign above the garage door. Of course she ran upstairs to "check" on her room - she missed it I guess and opened the door to approximately 275 balloons.......


By far my favorite was the "rock jar"...I asked family and friends to send me a small rock with words of wisdom, advice, memories on it and to sign their name on the back.  Her colorguard coaches, friends, aunts, grandma/grandpa (and even her co-counselors at camp and some of the campers) all sent rocks....she cried as she read them.  Here are photos of the jar and some of the rocks.....

ponder this.....