Seized

As I believe I've mentioned before Calvin and Hobbes is one of my favorite comic strips. This strip in particular is one of my favorites. For me, it invokes a quintessential feeling of summer youth.

The message here isn't that hard to find. I remember back in my days of grade school summers. It was the best of times. From running to the neighbors house across the road, to riding my bike everywhere around the countryside, it was truly a time to seize the day. At that age I'm sure a lot of people could say they seized the day.

So what changes? Why when we get older do we suddenly start feeling like the days aren't quite as full, as if there's something still out there to be grasped? When was the last day you utterly seized the day? Sometimes, all it takes is a chance to be a little kid again. No matter what gives you that feeling, you deserve to do it, at least every once in a while. And if you are lucky enough to make a career out of something you love so much as to seize the day, everyday, hats off to you. Join me in echoing Hobbes, because I say, consider this day seized.

Change

I must say this Thought called out to me today. Perhaps it's because I just watched the episode of Fringe in which this statement is made. Perhaps it's just fate. At any rate, here it is. I'm not sure if this takes into account the give-and-take in a relationship. Both sides of a relationship have to act in order to affect major change. But I maintain that everything you come in contact with, every person, every animal, every experience, leaves you changed somehow. These things touch us.

I think back to when I first moved down to Kansas City at the beginning of the summer. It was a new city, a new experience. Looking back, everyone I have known and interacted with has touched me. Around the lunch table today I made some smart-alecky comment in response to a question, a response that I would not have made at the beginning of the summer. You see, those people around the table with me, they changed me. At the beginning of the summer, they were simply people sharing the same office-space as me. However, as the summer went along, I somehow became to know these people more. I'm not sure if I had this sense of humor before (I'm sure certain individuals would say that I did), but I can't help but feel like I've been changed this summer. Maybe it's just an external change, an awakening and refining of my innermost traits. It is a change, nonetheless.
The key, is harnessing this change and making it a change for the better. Certainly there are relationships out there that bring you nothing but bad. You aren't improving from those. They aren't making you better. Are you willing to recognize change? Embrace the good and ignore the bad. Believe me, it's not an easy process. I'm not even sure if it's something that can be consciously done. I'm still not sure how my change this summer came about. I know I wasn't trying that hard. Perhaps the key is to keep moving. Constantly evaluating, adjusting, changing. Eventually, you might stumble on something great.

Try

Today's Thought comes from the great mind of Theodore Roosevelt. As you look at the title and the quote, you may be wondering if I'm contradicting one of my earlier posts. I may be, but hear me out. There indeed is some wisdom left in 'ole Teddy.

Failure is hard. There's no doubt about that. It's hard do to your best and be told, "not good enough." Miraculously, somehow, we are able to learn from our failures. But what is there to learn from not even trying? You may fail, but you can only succeed if you try.
This weekend I had an interesting experience. I was at church sitting in my normal spot with the same folks sitting around me. As I was walking out at the end, I was approached by a young gentleman, about my age. He said he noticed I had been there a few weeks and that I should join him in a youth group meeting after church. I turned him down, rationalizing that I only have two weeks left in the city and so why get too involved now? However, I had to ask myself, what did I miss out on?
You see, I failed to even try. I may have found success, even though I didn't know exactly what success was, in that meeting. Instead, I went about my day. You see, like me, you have an opportunity to try. You never know when opportunity will knock, don't be afraid to open the door. Will you fail? Will you succeed? Those aren't important questions. The important question is this: Will you try?

Astonishing

Today's Thought is courtesy of the television show Community. Specifically, it's lovable antagonist, Ben Chang. It seems that no matter what he does, it always ends up as he puts it, 'astonishing'. It's one of those things where you just shake your head while laughing at his crazy antics. Despite good intentions, it always seems he ends up in some crazy situation.

Perhaps you have had a day where you are like Ben Chang. Maybe not the crazy part, but the part about astonishing events. Those days that you surprise yourself at just what you do and accomplish. One day in particular stands out to me.
This summer the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, was speaking in Kansas City. Somehow, I had gotten to go hear him speak as part of my internship. Perks of the job I suppose. I'll spare you the details and say, by the time everything was said and done, I had asked him a question and I had gotten my picture with him. When I woke up that day I had no idea either of those things would happen. It was astonishing.
What will you do that's simply astonishing? It's nothing big, you just have to go with what feels right. Isn't that how life goes? The astonishing moments only occur when you are your unbridled self. When you don't care what anyone thinks of you. Those times you simply 'do'. Will you do something astonishing?

Do

One of my favorite movie series has to be Star Wars. While we don't possess the abilities of the Force, or even know a funny little green person, there are some applicable nuggets of wisdom within the movies.  The character Yoda is usually a source of this wisdom.

How many times in your life have you said something to the effect of "Sure, why not. I'll give it a try"? If you're like me, it's a lot. Now, in those same instances, how many times have you actually succeeded in doing what you set about doing? Again, if you're like me, it's not all that often. So what's the problem? What gives?

As Yoda is alluding to, often it has to do with attitude. You often get what you expect. So it stands to reason that if you are only 'trying' something, not fully convinced that you can do it, the chances of you succeeding are not that great. What does this mean for us in our daily lives? In my life, it means acting with reason, purpose and conviction. Instead of being content to just 'give it a shot', it means not stopping until I can do, I WILL do. Act with conviction. Do with passionate commitment. Go all in. Do or do not. There is no try.

Tools

Although I try to keep my Thoughts fairly neutral, today I have to post about something that I see misused a lot. That thing? Tools. Specifically, technology. Technology is a tool, not a learning outcome.

Many times in my life I have questioned why I want to be a teacher. And the answer is always the same: I want to help students make their lives better, I want to help them change the world. I want them to do just about everything that is a Right Answer.

When I hung this picture up at work today, one of my co-workers looked at it with a questioning look. She said, "isn't that common sense?" I had to laugh a bit, and as I said, "no, it's not", I had one of those moments of clarity that showed me just why I was doing what I was doing. Perhaps it was fate or simply good timing, but over the lunch table we got into a good discussion about just what we are trying to accomplish in education and why things are the way they are.

What are your tools? What are your outcomes? Everyone has their own unique tools and outcomes. I guarantee they are different things. However, that doesn't mean we don't get them confused from time to time. I think this Thought is a subtle jab at that tendency to get them confused. Sometimes, we all need a little reminder. Find your tools. Use them. But don't let them become the outcome.

Faith

One of the greatest trilogies of the early 21st century has to be the Dark Knight Trilogy chronicling the story of Batman. That's where today's thought originates from. Despite being slightly dark and depressing, the whole of the trilogy has an air of wisdom and feeling behind it. This quote is from the second movie of the trilogy, The Dark Knight.

In my life, the three biggest things are my faith, my family, and my friends. I suppose you could say that faith is the biggest thing in my life as the other two rely heavily on faith. Perhaps you have these same values as me. For the purposes of this post, I suppose it doesn't really matter. Everyone has put their faith in something or someone at some point. When did you deserve to have your faith rewarded?

I remember back to my high school and FFA days. My senior year I was excited about running for a State Office position. This is what my entire career had been leading up to. I did it right, I went through the Chapter to the Region, and now I should be going on to the State. Well, come convention time, I was not chosen as one of the six State Officers. At the time, I was angry. Had I not gone through the ranks, doing my due diligence at every step along the way? I had put in the faith, where was my reward?

As it turns out, the future, and faith in what is to come, has this funny way of always working out. Looking back, me not being selected was one of the best things to happen to me. Without that, I wouldn't have gotten as involved with my fraternity. I might not have gone on to organize events on campus. I might not even be in my internship that has changed my life this summer. The point is, everything that happens to you must be taken on faith. Your reward might not be what you think, or even what you think you want. But your reward is waiting. Your faith deserves to be, and will be, rewarded.

Time

This past weekend, my family and I visited the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. For those of you unfamiliar, I'm not sure how to explain it other than giving you today's Thought. Needless to say, it is one of my favorite movies.

Baseball marks the time. But what is time, really? Is it a physical length? Or perhaps it's something more. Perhaps it's marked not by hours, days and years, but rather by events, decisions and emotions. Throughout my life, I have found that my life events mark the time far better than any number that marks my age.

Take my high school years. These four years were not marked by flipping the calendar 48 times (12 X 4, come on math majors). Instead it was marked by my involvement in FFA. My freshman year I turned 17. I will forever remember that year as the year I got involved in FFA and started down a path that has led me to where I am today. Similarly, this summer has been marked by numerous events in my life. From moving away from home to discovering my passion that I can turn into a career, it has been eventful.

How do you mark the time? Baseball has been the constant, always marking the time for America. What reminds you of all that was once good and could be again?

Truth

Lately I've been on a kick of re-watching the television show Fringe. For those of you unaware, Fringe is a show with a cult following that deals with the area of fringe science. It is fantastic science fiction with a twist of horror and drama mixed in. One of the main characters is the eccentric scientist Walter Bishop. Described as the Einstein of his (present-day) generation, he is able to see and do things that are only in our imaginations.


I particularly enjoy this Thought because I think it speaks to the creativeness and carefree nature that we so often lack in our quest for truth. I remember back to my high school calculus class. I was often the one that was able to work through an equation or problem so fast that I usually had time left over to help my classmates. One lesson had me stumped though. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't seem to figure it out. I eventually got so frustrated that I just gave up. The next day, I came back with the problems yet unsolved. And yet, many of my classmates, some of whom I had decided were thoroughly goofy and uninvested in calculus, had solved the problems.

Why was this? I was the one putting in all the serious work, and yet I couldn't figure it out. What I had overlooked was the ability to have an imagination and think of unique and sometimes crazy solutions. As we grow up, I think we lose that sense of imagination and sheer carefree-ness that can allow us to do things beyond our wildest imagination. Are you seeking truth? Perhaps take a page out of Dr. Bishop's book. Let your imagination run free. For in fantasy, there is often a nugget of truth.

Stupid

Today's rather large Thought is another one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. In my days, I think I've seen some pretty pointless things. This strip points out the utter ridiculousness of war and fighting. Now I don't care what your views on war and peace are, but it is an interesting thought. In the last frame, Calvin remarks on the stupidity of their game. Perhaps he has hit on something here.

It seems that with every stage in my life, I have been able to look back and think, "What was I thinking?" I believe that this feeling, this realization of the stupidity of youth is a sign of growth. If you look at the work the same at 22 as you did at 12, something's wrong. The thing is though, you can't consciously try to remedy this. It's something that happens organically. It's a combination of your innate abilities, your drive for knowledge, and many other factors. I realize today's thought may not be the most well-planned or even the best I've ever had, but I think it's worthwhile to revisit. Are you able to say that your choices have led you a better worldview? Are you still playing the game?

Cynicism

Today's Thought comes from the mind of General George Patton. Cynicism is a state of general negativity, where there is a general distrust of motives. In short, it doesn't matter what anyone says, you aren't going to believe them. In this quote, General Patton articulates that a person is cynical about what he or she doesn't have. While I didn't think of it before, as I sit here looking back on my times of cynicism, I can't help but feel the truth in his statement. One of the most common topics for people to be cynical about, at least in my opinion, is love. How many times have you heard someone utter a condescending or derisive phrase about love or finding 'the one'? The funny thing is, you usually get what you expect. Cynicism just feeds into itself.

So how do you go about breaking the cycle of cynicism? In my own life I've found the easiest way is to simply stop thinking. I tend to over think. I remember back when I had just graduated high school. I hadn't left on the best terms, in fact I was quite upset at many of my classmates, the school, and just about everything that could have led to my poor exit. That summer I had the opportunity to go to Washington DC with a group of peers. Going into the trip, I had the attitude of a cynic - nothing was going to be fun, no one wanted to be around me, things just weren't going to be good. At the moment, I was overthinking.  Throughout the week as I got to know the folks around me, I came to a conclusion. I had no reason to be cynical. When I was cynical about the people around me, I simply wasn't letting them. I was lacking those relationships in my life.

When you have been a cynic (don't pretend like you haven't been, we all have at times), what were you missing? Maybe it was a friend. Or maybe it was some faith. What are you a cynic about right now? What are you lacking? Oftentimes, it is only you. You have the power to change. You have the power to believe.

Curiosity

At my internship this summer, I seem to have tapped into a new-found sense of adventure. Perhaps it is the teacher in me coming out to play, but I have had a strong sense of curiosity. The most recent example of this has to do with today's Thought.
Just like most offices out there, my office has a water cooler. You know the one. Jokes are made about 'water-cooler gossip'. People go there to kill time. I can't say that there's much time-killing at my office, but the water cooler was the source of an intense discussion,  namely, how does it work? Without much thought, I set about finding an answer to this question. I searched high and low on the internet and finally I came up with an answer. Or at least, a graphic.
I won't bore you with the technical description, because that's not important. What is important is what led me to searching for the answer. Remember back to when you were a little kid. At least in my home, when I got bored I was told to go outside. While outside, it was up to me to entertain myself. Naturally, I got good at exploring. If there is one thing that is at the base of all learning, it's curiosity. Maybe you've gotten out of touch with your curious side. Maybe you are just discovering it. Where ever you are, never stop questioning. Never stop exploring. Stay curious, my friends.

Explain

I feel I owe you all an apology.  Looking back today, I have been not posting on this as regularly as I'd like.  This latest brief hiatus was due to a work trip.  Perhaps someday I will have an interesting lesson from this trip, but for now, let's get to today's Thought of the Day.  Today's Thought particularly calls to me as a teacher.  Coming from Albert Einstein, simple is a relative term.

As a teacher, I am striving to impart some knowledge and wisdom on my students.  Many times, I find myself causing more trouble than good by not being simple enough.  I'd like to think that this is a function of presenting too much information all at once.  Many times though, I have to question my own understanding.

As I have articulated my desire to be a high school teacher, many folks have told me, "You're too smart to be a teacher."  I have to shake my head at these people.  As a teacher, you are responsible for shaping students.  What you do and what you say has a profound effect on students.  I think we've all had that teacher who made an immeasurable difference in our lives, good or bad.  In my mind, a teacher should be the smartest person.  If you don't understand something, how on earth can you expect to help someone else understand it?  If you can't explain, what meaning can anyone hope to create?  Whether this explanation deals with nuclear physics, deep philosophy, or even how to tie your shoe, simplicity is the best option.  How can you explain yourself?  Do you understand?

Compensation

Have you ever wondered why it is that athletes are paid millions of dollars while teachers get paid very little?  I have, and I had to chuckle when I saw today's Thought.

This summer I'm reading a book for my internship called The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann.  It's a story about a powerful business idea and focuses on The Five Laws for Stratospheric Success.  This comic strip is an interesting commentary on one of these laws: The Law of Compensation.  This law states: "Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them."

Thinking about professional sports, this makes a lot of sense.  These athletes serve a lot of people.  The viewership on any given football Sunday certainly is in the millions of people.  Now I'm not saying that everyone should run out and become a professional athlete (there's gold in them thar stadiums!).  Rather, we should reconsider our idea of compensation.

As a future teacher, money scares me.  What if I don't have enough?  I sure could go make a more comfortable living doing something else.  So why do I do it?  I keep coming back to the idea that my compensation as a teacher isn't about the money.  It's more than that.  It's not only about my money, it's about the money and the lives that my students will have as a result of my teaching.  It's about the relationships, the people you impact.  What is your TRUE compensation?

Lucky

If you are a baseball fan, today's Thought needs no introduction.  If you aren't a baseball fan, I would suggest reading this speech.  This is the speech that Lou Gehrig gave.  His famous "Luckiest Man" speech.  Every day, this speech is something we should remember as we deal with our 'bad breaks'.

I can't say that I've had this good of attitude toward life.  I thoroughly admire a man who can stand up in front of thousands of people, know he is dying, and give this speech.  See, the thing is not the bad breaks.  It's about feeling lucky.

I firmly believe that I have the best friends and people around me.  Despite everything I do and say, they keep coming back to my side when I need them.  Granted, I've broken a few beyond repair, but yet, I still am blessed beyond belief.  I am truly lucky.  Everyday, we should be able to look in the mirror and say, "I am the luckiest (wo)man on the face of the earth?"  I firmly believe that every should have this feeling.  What are those blessings in your life that you feel blessed to have received, seemingly without just cause?  Everyone has them.  Lou Gehrig had it right.  He was dealt a bad break.  We all are dealt bad breaks.  And yet, we are lucky beyond measure.

Cool

Today's Thought comes courtesy of the television show, Community.  One of the characters, Abed, has a catchphrase which he utters to signal his approval to whatever is being offered.  This picture doesn't do it justice, if you haven't checked out a clip, I would highly encourage you to do so.

Within these four words, I believe there is an important lesson. Instead of arguing, or pointing out the problems, Abed simply trusts.  He trusts that whoever is getting him into something is doing so with the best of intentions.

I'm a fisherman.  Some of the best fishing I can think of is chasing smallmouth bass through small, rocky rivers.  Once, I was fishing this particular river, where I couldn't quite seem to hit a spot that I wanted.  It was just out of my reach.  I kept hitting the fast current right where I knew no fish would be.  For whatever reason (probably pure frustration), one time I let my lure float on down the river.  Lo and behold, not twenty feet downstream, my lure floated right under an overhanging branch, and into the mouth a nice smallie.  In my frustration, and single-goal mindedness, I had missed this golden opportunity.

I see this far too often in my own life, where I get so focused on one thing that I miss what's right in front of me.  Perhaps you're the same way.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and say 'Cool'.

Change

Today's thought comes from the popular show How I Met Your Mother.  The show's premise is that this man, Ted Mosby, is telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.  Now I won't spoil the entire show, but I will say that fate and the yellow umbrella he's holding are both major parts of the story.  He asserts that no matter what the day, something could happen to you that will change your life.  You don't always have to go out making change.  Sometimes you just have to wait for it to arrive at your doorstep.

Looking back on my short life, the most important things that have happened to me had very little to do with choices I made, or action I took.  I remember back to December 2012.  I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my summer.  I knew I needed something to change it up.  Somewhere to move away to.  New scenery and new people.  At the end of that month, a friend of mine encouraged me to apply for this internship with an organization in Kansas City.  After dragging my feet a bit, I finally filled out and sent in my application.  Long story short, I interviewed and received an offer for my internship that I am currently on in Kansas City, MO.

Looking back, I didn't do anything to get the opportunity to apply for the internship.  It just sort of happened.  Granted, once I heard about it, I had to apply, interview, and accept the internship, but I'd like to focus on the part before that.  Looking back, I am so happy that I ended up taking action on the opportunity.  This summer has been a blast, giving me a whole new outlook on life and a fresh start.  It was just one of those things that happened.  I was able to step out the front door and recognize something that has changed my life forever.

So often we get caught up in trying to make change happen.  Sometimes, you can't force it.  Change happens.  Will you let it happen?

Service

Today's post comes courtesy of guest-poster Cassie Olson.  Be sure to check out her own blog, Cassie Is...  If you want to keep up with her exploits, check her out on Twitter.  Without further ado....

“Challenge Accepted.”

For all of the How I Met Your Mother fans that are out there with me, you know this iconic phrase as stated by Barney Stinson. Now, Barney may not be the best role model as far as lifestyles go, but this common tagline of his has so much meaning to someone such as myself. When I hear  the words “challenge accepted”, one word comes to mind: service.

What is service, exactly? The dictionary definition will tell you that service is “the act of helping or doing work for someone.” Simply put, when we dedicate ourselves to completing a service, we are doing something to make a difference. A service may be mowing a lawn, taking an elderly person to the grocery store, or simply making someone’s lunch. But sometimes the service we do have such a greater impact on those we are serving.

I have been a part of various service organizations in the past, but one that I am really dedicated to is Feed My Starving Children. Feed My Starving Children is a volunteer organization that strives to feed children in starving nations. To date, FMSC has shipped packed meals to 70 countries throughout the world. Thousands of volunteers nationwide pack these meals every single day. Because FMSC volunteers “accept the challenge”, children worldwide are able to go to bed not feeling the pangs of starvation.

Service is actually what made Steve and I friends in the first place. Steve and I were both FFA members who attended the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in 2010. One of my favorite things about WLC is the commitment to service. I still remember the 200 students attending the conference chanting the theme, “We Must Because We Can”, as we went out into communities surrounding the Washington, D.C. area to complete service projects in small groups. The group I was a part of weeded kale feels of an organic farm that provided vegetables to low-income families in Washington, D.C. Our job was tedious, that I will admit, but along with the calluses on our hands, sweat on our brows, and aches in our backs, we also ensured those without sufficient incomes could feed their families. Because we “accepted the challenge”, we impacted a community.

Service does not need to be something where we change people’s lives on a large scale. Service begins with the opening of a door for a friend, helping someone up who has fallen, and going the extra mile to make sure someone gets a chance to smile throughout their day. Accepting to help others in even the littlest of challenges makes the greatest of differences.

Currently, I am serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) in my home community in Wisconsin. As a part of my term of service, I am working with other AmeriCorps in my community doing youth programs and activities. One such activity is “10 Days to Change the World”, and I would like to challenge you all to participate in your own communities. I challenge you, for the next ten days, to complete random acts of kindness during a 10 day period...what could your impact be? Who could you serve? What challenges can you accept?

Service is many things, and many times, it is a challenge. Service is not to benefit one’s self, but rather to benefit the life of another, even in the smallest of ways. Will you commit yourself to the service of others?

As for myself, let’s just say:

“Challenge accepted.”

Responsibility

Today's Thought comes from an interesting article I read during the spring semester.  It came in one of my many education courses that I take in order to obtain a teaching license in Minnesota.  The article had to do with the Finnish school system.  While the article in it's entirety is quite interesting, I chose one quote from this article:

If you spend much time around me, you learn that I'm big on personal responsibility.  You take care of your own house.  If you mess up, you own up to it and work to improve it.  If you are responsible for your own stuff, who do you need to be accountable to?  Take a step further, if we are ALL responsible enough to take care of our stuff, our part of the project, who needs to hold us accountable?  If we can maintain responsibility, accountability (at least the way it is mean in many education discussions) is rendered obsolete.  Now I know that this goal of 100% responsibility will likely never happen, but it is an intriguing goal to pursue.

Do you have personal responsibility?  While I like to say that I do, far too many times I stumble and forget just what my responsibility means.  That doesn't mean we can't keep trying.  Take a look at your life.  Are you a responsible friend?  Brother? Co-Worker?  Don't be the person that has to be held accountable.  I firmly believe in the goodness of humanity and the ultimate desire to do what is right.  Do you have personal responsibility?