Treat

I must confess, I posted this Thought on my door on Friday, but I am just getting to writing about it now. It's interesting (and a little exciting) that my cooperating teacher, a thirty year veteran, commented on my Thoughts. I suppose I must be making a good impression? I suppose this weekend has given me some extra time to think of what I want to write, so I do apologize if I am a little long-winded today.

I think so much of the time as agriculture teachers we get so busy in our students and our work (which doesn't often seem like 'work'). I think I've been at school from 7am to at least 4pm every night in the last week. So many of us forget to take some time and treat ourselves. While it's fantastic to be involved in such a wonderful career field (I will be at school serving breakfast to other teachers at 6:30am tomorrow!) we all need to make sure that we are treated first.

How will you 'treat yo self'? I know my girlfriend for one will have a few suggestions on this one. Even though she's halfway around the world in Rome, I think she's getting the feeling of just how busy I am. Whether it's perfume, fragrances, mimosas or even a batman suit, we all need to take time to treat ourselves. If we can't take care of ourselves, how can we hope to take care of anyone else? How will you 'treat yo self'?

Repair Man

I have to start out by saying, I love this line. I thought this line from the television show Community hits particularly close to home. My fraternity has the motto "Builders of Men". This motto sums up our entire purpose, our Object that I wrote about in an earlier post. I believe that this line says the same thing.

Recently, I have been struggling with a very difficult decision. I can't say what that decision is but I can tell you that it's one of the hardest things I've ever done. It seemed like no matter what I did, I would be in the wrong. As is usually the case though, someone is always there. In this case it was one of my best friends and best brothers from my fraternity. He spoke truth that I wasn't able to speak to myself. In the end, he was simply looking to help me, he was looking to repair man. Maybe you have someone like this. Maybe you're that person. No matter what your place is now, we all can be a True Repair Man. In all things, seek to help your fellow man. Seek to be a True Repair Man. Will you repair man?

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?

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'.

Imagination

Today's Thought is from one of my favorite television shows, Community.  If any of you out there watch this show, you know exactly what this picture is about.  And for those of you who don't, well, you're missing out.  These two fellows, Troy and Abed are as best of friends as anyone in the show.  No matter what, they are always together, though each is very different from the other.

At some point, Troy and Abed decided that they were going to host a morning show.  The kicker is that everyone seems to realize that it's fake (they don't even have any cameras!).  Everyone that is, except Troy and Abed.  Now I know it's only a TV show, but I can't help but marvel at their sense of imagination and carefree living.  At the very least I have to give a shout-out to the writers of the show.

I'll try not to get too deep because, honestly, I just thought this was a funny meme.  Whether it's putting on a fake TV morning show, dreaming of where your life will take you, or picturing a totally outlandish event that could never happen in a million years, it's important to take time and just let your imagination run wild.  Who knows, you just might end up entertaining yourself (and those around you) for hours.  At the very least, I guarantee it will make you feel better about yourself.  I feel like I'm all over the place with this post, so I will leave you with something to ponder.  When was the last time you let your imagination run free?