10-26-2018

Mary’s Minute

“Live your life and forget your age.”

                                                           ~ Norman Vincent Peale

I just finished reading Ed Whitcomb’s third book that he wrote about sailing solo around the world.  He began the journey in his 70s and completed the goal 10 years later right before he settled in Perry County.  (I highly recommend Cilin II: A solo Sailing Odyssey: The Closest Point to Heaven.)

He began the journey after he had served as Governor of Indiana and retired from a successful career as an attorney.  He was feeling lost in life when he decided to sail the Greek Islands. Circumferencing the earth became a goal shortly after he began sailing in the Mediterranean and met others who were on such a journey.

I was inspired by his story.  Although I loved reading about his adventures, most of what I appreciated is that age was not a factor in his decision or his drive. 

I had a similar reaction when I read an autobiography of my great aunt.  In her 50s she retired and moved across the country.  Her “retirement” didn’t last long, as she soon started a booming business.

Ed Whitcomb and my Aunt Eleanore didn’t focus on their age, but rather on living.  Maybe not so coincidentally, they both lived into their late nineties. Age is just a number, and life is a wonderful adventure regardless of our number.

        

                                                                         Have a great week!

                                                                                           Mary

10-12-2018

Mary’s Minute

“Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.”

                                                                 ~ Tennessee Williams

Have you ever thought about the difference between memory and memories?  On Bloom’s Taxonomy remembering is considered a very low level skill.  We strive to push our students to higher order thinking, going beyond simply remembering to analyzing and creating.  Memories can be so rich that they go beyond simple low-level remembering of facts, evoking emotions that push us to higher levels of thinking.

I remember a lot from my days in school, at least I assume that is where I learned many basic skills I use today.  Memories from my school days are different.  I don’t have many, but the ones I have are powerful.  One of my memories is of my senior English teacher, Mrs. Gondring doing a scene for the class as Lady MacBeth.  It is a memory that far exceeds anything I could have been asked to remember by spewing facts on a test. 

A keen memory is nice – it can be helpful for high stakes tests, trivia games and being thoughtful on special dates. I think what is more important than memory is memories.  In our own life and with our students, our real success may come not in remembering, but in creating memories that bridge the emotional and intellectual.

                                                  Have a great fall break!

                                                                                      Mary

10-5-2018

Mary’s Minute

“There is no truth. There is only perception.”  

                                                                          ~ Gustave Flaubert

We often say and do things with one intent, but ultimately what counts is how what we say or do is interpreted.  If we have love in our hearts, but the person we are talking to interprets what we say as being negative, the negativity is what is spread.  I was giving my son some advice about how what he says comes across to people, he asked, “Is that what it means or what they interpret it to mean?”  My response was that it doesn’t matter. 

We may have the best lesson planned and think we are saying all the right things to our students, but ultimately what counts is their interpretation.

We care deeply about our students and people around us, but sometimes what we say or do can be interpreted differently. In the end, perception is reality. 

The lesson in this phenomena of understanding is two-fold. First, we when we express ourselves we need to not only consider what we are saying but consider how what we say is interpreted. Second, as receivers of information, we need to strive to seek true understanding which can beyond initial perceptions to a deeper understanding of the person’s intent. My hope is that we always give each other the benefit of the doubt by assuming the intention was a positive one. 

                                                                  Have a great week!

                                                                                         Mary