Filter

Part of the challenge this spring has been filtering the type of Thoughts that I've posted. Since beginning to post the pictures on my office door at school, I'd like to post things that have some relevance to my students. That being said, I've found that I really miss these type of teacher-y Thoughts.
One of the things that really made me want to be a teacher was the fact that not only am I able to help others learn, but I am also able to learn throughout the day. When I think about my day, all of these actions are things that I do. Yes, every day is different. But somehow, all these things end up happening.
No matter how much we filter what we say and what we post, our true actions always seem to shine through. What do you filter? Do you filter your thoughts, actions and words? Without a doubt, there are certain places where you must filter yourself. Social media, the workplace and school being three of them. That being said, those in-born characteristics will always shine through. Don't lose sight of what you do. Filter sure, but never lose sight.

Honor

In today's Thought I return once again to the manly mind of Ron Swanson. British english aside, I truly believe that this quote holds a lot of truth. As I've gone through a number of my courses designed to train me as a teacher, I have consistently found an issue explaining what I feel. It's as if I KNOW what the professors are talking about and I KNOW what it looks like in the classroom. Sometimes I even KNOW how to put an idea into practice. Yet despite all this, I can't explain it.

Honor is in the same boat. When people ask what it means to be an honorable person, I simply don't have an answer for them. It's something that comes from within. Like religion, it means something different to everyone else. And like my education ideas and concepts, it cannot be verbalized. If you need it defined in order to know if you have it, you don't have honor. It's one of those things that is only apparent and explainable through actions and thoughts. Can you define it? I say no.

Choice

I must confess, the last couple days have been rather harried. I can't say I've put my best effort into these Thoughts. However, today I believe I've found something rather applicable. It is commonly said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Everything that happens to you provides a choice. Every choice has a chance to define us.

This week I am moving back to college and back into my Fraternity house. When I returned to the house, much to my chagrin, I found a boarder living in my room. Here I am with a truck full of stuff and nowhere to put it. Not only that, but I am a senior, shouldn't I be able to have things work out for me? Well, what could I do? I can throw a fit and come no closer to getting my room back. OR I can do the best I can and work with the cards I have been dealt. I must say this week has been one of trying to deal with a level of ambiguity that I would much rather not have, but in the end. It will work out.

It's my choice that defines me. Not who I am deep inside. My reaction to this situation shows a lot more than any words I could use to describe who I am. Maybe you have been presented with a moment like this one. How did you react? Perhaps looking back you aren't all that pleased with how you defined yourself with your actions. Don't fret though, you will have plenty of chances to redefine yourself. I know I have. So, that leaves a question: How will you define yourself?

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?

Action

Today's Thought is from a great man of history - Theodore Roosevelt.  Reading and listening to accounts of his tales have filled many hours for me and my friends as we strive to be like good ole' Teddy.  What is it that draws us to him?  What makes someone who died almost 100 years ago so appealing?  I believe this quote about sums it up.

How many of us have said that we are a person of action, that we don't sit around waiting for the other guy, we do what we think is right and we do it with conviction?  Now, how many of us actually DO all those things?  I know in my own life, those two questions are answered very differently far too often.  I firmly believe that Teddy has it right here.  In any decision, we have three choices.  While it may stink to do the wrong thing, at least you did SOMETHING.

I would imagine that large percentage of visionaries - people who change the world and inspire others to do the same - never knew exactly what they were doing.  I suspect they simply did what 'felt right'.  And yet for every wrong action, they ended up with some pretty spectacular results.  With that, I leave you with something to think about: How will YOU take action?