If Everyone Jumped Off a Bridge

Did you grow up in a house where your mother or father used the phrase, "Well if everyone jumped off (Insert name of local bridge) would you follow them?" In our house it was my mom's way of saying, "Do you really always need to be a follower, stand up and think for yourself!"

This is one of those phrases I have repeated to my own children. I am certain a younger version of myself swore to never repeat it but my older self realizes the value of the lesson. I have to admit I still use it to check my own choices.

My most recent jumping off a bridge experience has to do with the little known (Ha!) book, "Fifty Shades of Grey." Just about everyone is reading this book, or has read it, or is planning on reading it. Everyone it seems but me.  For some reason I have no interest. I know it's steamy and naughty and if I want to be a part of conversations I should read it but I want to start a different conversation. My disinterest in the book is a gut feeling I have because I really didn't know that much about the story line - and I think I am using that term loosely.

I am usually one to jump off the bridge, metaphorically speaking of course, and not only when I was younger - In my adult life I bought beanie babies, stood in line for Harry Potter books and movies, have waited in lines and payed $2.75 for a cupcake and have wasted far too much time watching silly You Tube videos of people singing "Call Me Maybe."

But I cannot bring myself to read this book.  I am not adverse to reading steamy novels but I read a review that made me believe the relationship between the young reporter and Mr, Grey was obsessive, possessive and unhealthy. Who needs to read about that? So I am listening to my gut feeling along with my mother's voice inside my head and walking right past the bridge.

Feeling brave enough to join me?
Magda

Recharging

In daily life a person spends time recharging things. Recharging their cell phone, computer, IPad, camera batteries, etc., we even have the ability to recharge cars. How much time does the average person spend recharging themselves? Aren't we more valuable than our phones?

Daily life demands so much of our electronics that we sit them at bay for a period of time so they can reboot. Shouldn't we do the same for ourselves? As adults we demand so much of ourselves and our lives demand so much from us that we should take the time, daily, to recharge. It seems obvious that this would be ingrained in every person and we shouldn't feel guilty.

For most school aged kids summer is their time to recharge. It is their time to relax and switch gears from the grueling schedule of school and activities. Summer routines hopefully slow down the frenetic pace of life, or at least switch things up a bit. I think this is one of the reasons I chose to become a teacher. It's not all about shaping young minds...if I were being totally honest it's also about the schedule.

But it doesn't seem quite right to have to wait until the summer to recharge. If we make the time daily then summer, or vacations, would be bonus recharging time rather than a complete replacement of one’s batteries. Anything or anyone will burn out from overuse. I would rather learn to take it easy, recharge every day, and hope to make it past my warranty.

Magda 

Gone Fishin

When I think of the phrase "Gone Fishin" I think of a wooden sign hanging on the door of a market in a town that would resemble Mayberry. The sign would be hung to let people know that the proprietor was out on a boat or on the shore of a lake with nothing but their thoughts and nature with the hope of a nibble from a fish that may or may not become dinner. When we see those words now they indicate someone is taking a break or has gone on vacation.

Not too long ago my husband took a break while on a business trip and spent the night on Mt. Ranier in the fine state of Washington. He called from the cabin where he was staying. He had to use a pay phone because there was no cell reception on the mountain. He was surprised. I was grateful. It made be happy to think there may still be a place or two left on the planet where a cell phone would not work.  A place where someone could be alone with their thoughts and nature.  Studies frequently show that the benefits of complete down time are essential to a person's well being - thoughts can be fully processed, relaxation achieved and serenity restored.

It used to be a traveller could count on not having cell phone reception on an airplane. Some quiet time to read, talk to your travel companion, or sleep with the only unwanted noise being the cry of a baby. Virgin America is in the process of taking that away. I hope they will give passengers earplugs along with their free beverage service because the last thing I want to hear on an airplane is 200+ people's conversations.

As I write this I am a day away from a trip of my own - a well deserved week in Hawaii where I plan on sitting on the beach and by the pool, swimming, and hiking a volcano (or not).  I am packing my cell phone, of course, because it is the one accessory I can't leave home without in case there is a teenage crisis. As I daydream about my trip I am hopeful that I can unplug from the world and sit with my thoughts and nature. I am hopeful there will be at least one place, like Mt. Ranier, where cell phone service is non-existent. If that place exists I will be there...knee deep in the water with the blue sky breeze blowin wind in my hair wearing a big ole sign that says, "Gone Fishin'."

Aloha.
Magda

If Cigarettes Cause Cancer... and Other Obvious Questions

In a classroom full of Third Grade Students stating the obvious or asking the obvious question is a daily ritual. It keeps one on their toes and absolutely reminds one, Why DO we do that, anyway?

Third Grade questions are usually the easy obvious questions such as: What page are we on? Any teacher knows how many times you say, "Please turn to page 59, Page 59, I need you all to turn to page 59,that's 5-9,........ please", and that page 59 is usually also written on the board! OR What's today's date? This is my favorite because in the classroom where I have been working, on a good day, the date is on the board in about four different places.  AND Third Grade is also the time when the students start noticing their classmates and just about every Monday you will hear, "Did you get your hair cut?", usually said to the student who comes in with ALL THEIR HAIR BUZZED OFF.

There are times when the students ask the thoughtful obvious question for which there are no real answers. For these the standard reply is, "Because it's always been that way", or "I have no idea". Students always look at a teacher funny when they say, "I don't know" as if we have failed them in some way.

In actuality there are some questions for which there just seem to be no real good answers. We just seem to accept these things as the way it has always been or we don't really think about what the outcome would be so much if we did finally answer the questions in a different way or with a different action. I guess it's also possible, sometimes we just wish, maybe even hope, things were different and we ignore reality.

My list of obvious questions:
1. If we know we are a size 10, Why do we reach for the size 8?
2. If we know that "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world", (N.Mandela), Why do we continue to slash education budgets?
3. If we know that cigarettes cause cancer, Why do we continue to produce them let alone smoke them?
4. If we know that plastic bags take 1000 years to biodegrade , Why do we continue using them? (This one actually came from a student in third grade when discussing Earth Day and things we can do to help Save the Earth.)
5. If we know that too much Tequila is a bad idea, Why do we have that last Margarita? Of course this could be any type of alcohol but since it is Cinco de Mayo.....
6. If we know our kids are going to break curfew, Why do we let them go out? I bet some of you thought I was going to ask, Why do we set one? Just wait until you are a parent yourself, is my stock answer these days.
7. If we know that football causes serious brain injury, Why.....oh never mind on that one I know the answer and I still don't like it!
8. If we know laughter is the best medicine, Why don't we as much of it as possible?

What is your obvious question?
Magda