Tag Archives: action

100 Days

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As an educator, 100 days was a milestone measure. I would revise my check list of the objectives I had proposed at the beginning of the school year. It was a sobering endeavor sometimes because I would have to face the truth and realize that I had to make some changes. A few times the changes would be major. However, either way, my entire self-evaluation was a learning experience.

One year, I actually created a resource guide for the student teachers I was mentoring to help them assess how and when objectives were attained. I explained in the diplomatic way I could that assessing whether or not teaching was something they should do was pivotal to the success. I truly believe that some people decide on a career for the entirely wrong reasons. This might sound a bit cruel but teaching to me was a labor of love and total commitment.

So why am I thinking about a 100 day assessment even now that I am not teaching? A teacher is always an educator even beyond retirement. I made a commitment yesterday July 26, 2020 that the next 100 days would have to be meaningful and purposeful. My motivation is primarily my grandchildren who will inherit the earth we leave them. They may have to face some hard times if our beloved democracy fails because their elders did not speak up or gave into feeling helpless and hopeless. Each of us has a purpose to fulfill in life. I suppose this will be one of mine. I refuse to leave my grandchildren in a chaotic world if I can help it. Therefore, as a mother, grandmother, educator and simply an ordinary human being, I promise to do something and say something when I see or hear something that is not right. I do not want to scream at, or complain to or even try to coerce anyone into doing as I say. I do want action. I want people to assess the situation they are in now. The now is now, not 100 days from now. But, here’s the thing it will be up to us, the people, to effect change. We can all be agents of change.

I recently viewed an on-line interview conducted by Maria Menounes from Better Together with NYT Bestselling psychic medium, John Edward, It opened my eyes and ears to some deep thoughts. I have been thinking about some of these things for a while. To be exact I been thinking about do something since the Corona Virus took over our lives. But it took a closer look to give me the courage I needed.

One hundred days can seem like an eternity to some. It can mean some people loose their homes and even their lives. It could mean that we find ourselves engulfed in even more uncertainty. Now ninety-nine days from today, we will know what our destiny will be in terms of the politics of this beautiful country. It is up to us folks. Only our collective positive energy can effect the changes we want and need.

Please post your comments. I want to hear about what is going on in your life. Let us begin to truly talk to each other. A like or an emoji really do not express what we feel, real words do. Thanks for your continued support. Join me on the count down to the survival of our democracy and the return of a healthy mindset for the future.

On the 8th day of a New Year

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A tad late at wishing everyone on WordPress a Happy New Year! I certainly hope that this year will be more harmonious, full of wise choices, less political bickering and more, at lot more tolerance and love. Last year was at a tough year for me and my family. We lost a few loved ones and grieving is most definitely a long process.

On this 8th day of our New Year, I hope we all have a “Year of Magical Thinking”. I borrowed the title of Joan Didion’s national best seller of 2005, which I have just recently read. The book helped me through my grieving process. It is an extraordinary read for anyone who has had to accept the death of a family member of dear friend. A true must read.  But the title also connects to my newly found optimism that we will collectively begin to read more, think things through more objectively and clearly as well in quite stillness and complete mindfulness. Therein, lies the magical thinking.

Mario Gianluigi Puzo’s novel The Godfather uses the reference of “going to the mattresses” in the voice of Sonny:

“No, no, no! No more! Not this time, Consigliere, an adviser, especially to a crime boss. No more meetings, no more discussions, no more Sollozzo tricks. You give ’em one message: I want Sollozzo. If not, it’s all-out war: we go to the mattresses.”

I ask for all of us to go to the books, the sacred documents of our founders penned and to the words of thoughtful, mindful writers. Read, write, react, respond and foster great ideas and stand up for our democracy. I ask you as a teacher, a mother, a grandmother of four, a proud American and of course as a poet.

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Outside noisy, inside empty.” I see this in politics today and it scares me.  However, we have the moral responsibility to make the “Noisy” go away. Hopefully, something will fill the emptiness. The emptiness inside any individual can only be filled by that individual. I can only pray for people who have that void.

On this 8th day of the New Year I hope you can join me in growing hope for the present, for the now. We must nurture it like a plant and keep it safe from storms. and coldness today. Death has taught me that life is too precious and too short. One of my favorite authors Dr. Wayne Dyer said it the best:

                                               “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal.

                                               Live this day as if it were your last.

                                              The past is over and gone.

                                              The future is not guaranteed.”

 

 

There seems to be much uncertainty today. It may overwhelm us this very moment. I felt that way. But it made me ill. I began asking myself, what I can do today to change that feeling, erase the fear. The response was the same each time. Act now. Think magically now. All shall pass. Happy today! Happy today, the 8th day of the New Year!