How Not to Be a Zombie

This New York Times article discusses why - maybe - zombies are so hot right now.  In short, mindless slogging is what we fear, and it is what we fear we have already become: purposeless wage slaves, consumer sheep just going through the motions that we have programmed to do.

Psychologists - and Rick Warren - rightly tell us that having and feeling a purpose to our life is a key ingredient to long-term satisfaction and happiness.

Take heart, non-zombie!  You and I, O colleague,  have an advantage: ours is a helping profession. We can exist not on autopilot, but purposefully, to bless others. Our society depends on our shaping future adults to be intelligent and sane. May you have a good week as you go about that serious work, being mindful of your importance! Zombies be gone!

Sincere Condolences

My family offers its condolences to the family and friends of Sam Hengel, who was a son, friend, scout, Tae Kwon Do participant, and student.

Focus on a strength.

"The artist who aims  at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing."
~ Eugene Delacroix

It is true you have some weaknesses, like all of us. Chances are they are not sinking you. Certainly you cannot eliminate them all. Effectiveness depends more on focusing on strengths.

Think of a particular strength of yours.

Give thanks for it.

How can you build on it just a little bit, to bless others?

Be well, O colleague.

How you phrase it affects how you think and act.

Another great article about how the symbols and metaphors we use influence behavior! People holding hot or chilled coffee rated people they read about as having warmer or colder personalities.  Reading about scary bacteria or not, influenced how people responded to the issue of immigration.

This is really making me think about how I phrase things, both to myself and to others. One I know I can do better on is saying "I have to. . ." First, that is rarely true. Second, a better way to say it is "I get to . . . ."

How about you?

Careful the things you say . . .

. . . children will listen.

So goes a wonderful song by Stephen Sondheim. And I got some proof of that truth over the weekend. A former student found me online and relayed that somehow, things I had said or done had given her self-confidence in junior high. I have no idea what I did.

The same is true for me and you now. Things you say and do are affecting people in ways you do not know, and perhaps never will.

Although you are not perfect, you often do affect young people in positive ways. Good job.  Keep it up!

Invisible Fruit

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.  
~Jacques Barzun

Take heart and be courageous!

Many people tell me, "I could never do your job!" Happened again tonight.

Many people couldn't do what you do for a living.

Go get 'em. Bless those kiddies and future adults.