Do you ever watch a movie or TV show and think that the lives of the people on the screen or the events happening in that world are vastly more interesting than your reality? I'm not talking SciFi or fantasy or intense action thrillers, but the regular lives of people in a movie always seem so much more interesting and important than my own life. However, for me it is the little things that happen that make me wish my life was a movie; for example, the sounds and attention that is paid to small actions like opening a door or getting into bed. These acts are seemingly trivial, but often are done with great intention in a movie, either because it has something to do with the plot or because it causes a desired effect on the watcher. Now these are things that most people do on a daily basis, but no one is paying attention to them or alots them any special degree of importance because they are so normal. So why are they so effective in the movies? Why does the creaking of a wood floor during a night scene in a romance movie give the audience a sense of nostalgia for old homes, but when the floors creak at our own houses we get mad at the ratty architecture? When a character in a film rides a bus or goes to a movie, why does it seem like those are such intriguing and desirable things to do, but when we ride the T or sit in a movie we hardly pay attention to what we are doing?
From now on I am going to experiment with this and try and change my own perception of the world around me. I am going to pretend I am in a movie and that everything I do is done intentionally and has a degree of importance to it. While I sit at this cafe typing on my laptop, I am imagining that there is an audience out there watching and they are feeling a sense of curiosity for coffee shops, wishing they were sitting at a street-side table right now just like I am, doing something so incredibly important like it seems I am doing writing this post. When I ride my bike home I am going to ride with an air of quaintness, because that is what a person riding a bike looks like in the movies and I am going to watch my surroundings like they are something brand new to me, that I am not used to, because the audience will have never seen it before; thus giving me a novel experience in a place that I am quite accustomed to. I am very excited for this little experiment and I hope I keep it up, however it may not work all the time. We shall see!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
If you can't beat'em, join'em.
As I grow up and become a working adult in society, complete with responsibilities, a job, and future plans, I begin to reflect on my role in this society. Taking everything I was brought up with and everything else that I learned in and since college, I have learned to look at my world critically and not just take things as they are presented to me (about time, right!). However, I am caught in a spot where I do not want to be overly analytical and turn into a cynic just for the sake of it, but I also don't want to go through life naive just doing what I am told. So where do I go from here?
Currently, I am in a phase of my life where I find more at fault with society than positive. I may be old-fashioned or maybe this is just because of the environment I am in right now, but I do not like where my society is headed. There is so much emphasis on looks, money, clothing, stuff, and so much is done through computers; it just seems like we get more and more superficial and less natural, less human as time goes on. Don't get me wrong, there are many great triumphs we have made in the last few decades, but at what cost? When I watch TV and see the sorts of things everyone calls entertainment and all the advertising that is telling us all these things we need when we don't really need them at all and when there are websites to help us find our soul mates because we are incapable of doing that on our own, it just bothers me. As a teacher I am not sure how to present all this to my students because they can't just fight it, they need to know how to succeed in it, as do I. More importantly they need to develop their own opinions on it, which I am also working out.
But then here is the question: should I put my energy into fighting back against society, should I flee society because I do not agree with it and it is not going to change, or do I somehow find a way to integrate myself into it because I can't live without out it? Here is the catch, it is my life dream to help the people at the bottom of this society who are most taken advantage of and who really need someone their as their advocate; I am not willing to give up on the children because they had no choice in the life they were brought into and I want to give them some choice. But when I do that, do I give away my own choice? How can I create a lifestyle for myself that adheres to my own morals enough to keep me happy, at the same time coexisting enough with societies morals so that I can still function and work within society and maybe change it? Being a young adult these are the things I am going to be facing soon and it is scary as hell. I want to be the kind of person I feel right being and I will not be forced into any lifestyle I am not just because society is telling me I should; but I also want to stay in the US and cannot become a hermit who lives in the woods because that does not do a damn thing and does not help anyone. Any advice would be welcomed. Maybe I just need a new perspective, because again, who am I to think society needs changing? Maybe I am the one that is just stuck in the past and needs an update.
Currently, I am in a phase of my life where I find more at fault with society than positive. I may be old-fashioned or maybe this is just because of the environment I am in right now, but I do not like where my society is headed. There is so much emphasis on looks, money, clothing, stuff, and so much is done through computers; it just seems like we get more and more superficial and less natural, less human as time goes on. Don't get me wrong, there are many great triumphs we have made in the last few decades, but at what cost? When I watch TV and see the sorts of things everyone calls entertainment and all the advertising that is telling us all these things we need when we don't really need them at all and when there are websites to help us find our soul mates because we are incapable of doing that on our own, it just bothers me. As a teacher I am not sure how to present all this to my students because they can't just fight it, they need to know how to succeed in it, as do I. More importantly they need to develop their own opinions on it, which I am also working out.
But then here is the question: should I put my energy into fighting back against society, should I flee society because I do not agree with it and it is not going to change, or do I somehow find a way to integrate myself into it because I can't live without out it? Here is the catch, it is my life dream to help the people at the bottom of this society who are most taken advantage of and who really need someone their as their advocate; I am not willing to give up on the children because they had no choice in the life they were brought into and I want to give them some choice. But when I do that, do I give away my own choice? How can I create a lifestyle for myself that adheres to my own morals enough to keep me happy, at the same time coexisting enough with societies morals so that I can still function and work within society and maybe change it? Being a young adult these are the things I am going to be facing soon and it is scary as hell. I want to be the kind of person I feel right being and I will not be forced into any lifestyle I am not just because society is telling me I should; but I also want to stay in the US and cannot become a hermit who lives in the woods because that does not do a damn thing and does not help anyone. Any advice would be welcomed. Maybe I just need a new perspective, because again, who am I to think society needs changing? Maybe I am the one that is just stuck in the past and needs an update.
What is out there?
I was caught off guard last week while I was home in NY when I looked up at the sky and for the first time in months saw a brilliant starry night. Living in the city, it is one of those things that I have missed without even realizing it, but boy did I miss it. Growing up, I used to spend hours just gazing at the night sky during the summer. One time, an experience I will never forget as long as I live, I was down in the Bahamas and I witnessed the most intense night sky of my life; there were more bright spots in the sky than dark patches and the stars seemed so real and so close that I could almost touch them.
For me, looking up at the great beyond has always been a very humbling experience. I look, watch, listen, and just think to myself, "what is out there?" When you think about it, there are sooooo many stars and planets that are soooo far away and even more that our little eyes cannot see. There are thousands of galaxies like ours with limitless potential for....well anything. I marvel at how outstanding life is that we have this beautiful and amazing planet with millions and billions of fascinating life forms all with unique characteristics, and yet, we are just one planet amongst a universe. Holy shit we are insignificant. I mean does it really matter in the grand scheme of things what I do today, does it affect anything else in this gargantuan universe? The fact that it can is just mind-blowing, so most of us tend not to think about things in terms of their universal impact and justly so. But I just get so excited when I think that (assuming the big bang is somewhat close to true) every spec of atomic particle in this universe was once all gathered together in the tiniest space imaginable and then blew up to spread out everywhere. But since matter is not ever created or destroyed (at least that is what they tell us so far), all matter on this planet is somehow connected to everything else on this planet and every other planet out there. Ok this may be getting a little nerdy and heavy, but it just blows my mind that life even exists sometimes. I mean sure we are alive, but we also manipulate matter, we think, we can use our senses, we wonder at our own existence; everything we do is just so complex and brilliant, so significant. How is it possible? This, this complexity, our capabilities, our gorgeous design, that fact that all that I just mentioned is seemingly insignificant compared to the humongous universe is what makes me love life so damned much. The fact that we exist is something so awesome that I just can't help but appreciate it and be thankful for it and try to take advantage of all the life I have by living every moment and learning as much as I can.
Back to the stars though, can it be possible that we are the only planet with life on it? Is that self-centered to think? Can we ever know? I really hope there is life elsewhere and although I cannot even fathom what it is like, I hope they are wondering about us. There is just so much potential out there it can't be all for not. Either way, when I do die I hope that my life becomes apart of all that again, the cosmos, and maybe gets deposited somewhere else. I just wish that for now, I could still stargaze in the city.
For me, looking up at the great beyond has always been a very humbling experience. I look, watch, listen, and just think to myself, "what is out there?" When you think about it, there are sooooo many stars and planets that are soooo far away and even more that our little eyes cannot see. There are thousands of galaxies like ours with limitless potential for....well anything. I marvel at how outstanding life is that we have this beautiful and amazing planet with millions and billions of fascinating life forms all with unique characteristics, and yet, we are just one planet amongst a universe. Holy shit we are insignificant. I mean does it really matter in the grand scheme of things what I do today, does it affect anything else in this gargantuan universe? The fact that it can is just mind-blowing, so most of us tend not to think about things in terms of their universal impact and justly so. But I just get so excited when I think that (assuming the big bang is somewhat close to true) every spec of atomic particle in this universe was once all gathered together in the tiniest space imaginable and then blew up to spread out everywhere. But since matter is not ever created or destroyed (at least that is what they tell us so far), all matter on this planet is somehow connected to everything else on this planet and every other planet out there. Ok this may be getting a little nerdy and heavy, but it just blows my mind that life even exists sometimes. I mean sure we are alive, but we also manipulate matter, we think, we can use our senses, we wonder at our own existence; everything we do is just so complex and brilliant, so significant. How is it possible? This, this complexity, our capabilities, our gorgeous design, that fact that all that I just mentioned is seemingly insignificant compared to the humongous universe is what makes me love life so damned much. The fact that we exist is something so awesome that I just can't help but appreciate it and be thankful for it and try to take advantage of all the life I have by living every moment and learning as much as I can.
Back to the stars though, can it be possible that we are the only planet with life on it? Is that self-centered to think? Can we ever know? I really hope there is life elsewhere and although I cannot even fathom what it is like, I hope they are wondering about us. There is just so much potential out there it can't be all for not. Either way, when I do die I hope that my life becomes apart of all that again, the cosmos, and maybe gets deposited somewhere else. I just wish that for now, I could still stargaze in the city.
Take me on a trip somewhere
One of my favorite things to do, which I happily get to do often, is go on short trips via public transportation. Going back and forth between home and Boston gave me ample opportunities to ride the bus and train to get where I needed to. These little trips bring me a lot of joy because they give me time to think, time to relax--because there is nothing I need to do, and time to just look out the window and admire the scenery. Taking the train is especially awe-inspiring because I live right on the Hudson River, the valley being one of the most beautiful places in the country. Lucky me, I got to ride right at dusk (my absolute favorite time of day during the summer) when the lighting was just perfect over the water and the trees. Not to mention the clouds, oh the clouds. When it comes to sunsets, some people love to see the different colors and shapes of the radiant sun. I, however, love to watch the clouds. When they form massive shapes that just hover over you and look strangely like they are all part of a crusade siege, moving onward to attack some foreign land. It is just beautiful. And sure, as some say the colors of the clouds at sunset is a result of pollution in the air, it is stunning none the less.
When asked whether or not I would rather drive or fly somewhere or take the bus/train, I will almost always prefer the later. It may take longer, but it gives me an overwhelming sense of satisfaction to watch the world from that point of view and to really feel the distance I am covering. I can meet people along the way (Fungwah tends to have many interesting characters) and I can go into my own little world of thought. Many of these posts were thought up on a bus ride and many of the books I have read in the past few years were finished timely because of the long trips I often made. Some people do not like public transportation, so for them I am glad there are other options. I however relish in the fact that it is eco-friendly and will most likely be sticking around for quite a while.
When asked whether or not I would rather drive or fly somewhere or take the bus/train, I will almost always prefer the later. It may take longer, but it gives me an overwhelming sense of satisfaction to watch the world from that point of view and to really feel the distance I am covering. I can meet people along the way (Fungwah tends to have many interesting characters) and I can go into my own little world of thought. Many of these posts were thought up on a bus ride and many of the books I have read in the past few years were finished timely because of the long trips I often made. Some people do not like public transportation, so for them I am glad there are other options. I however relish in the fact that it is eco-friendly and will most likely be sticking around for quite a while.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Two-sides of every coin
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21farmers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw
In this Times article, there is some frustration from farmers over the quick increase of farmer's markets in the last couple years. At first while reading this I was a little shocked, isn't that a good thing...more people choosing to buy their vegetables fresh from local farms rather than from giant corporate supermarkets that ship them from all over?
Then I started thinking about it from an economic point of view, and their grief makes sense. So many people are buying from a large number of markets that no one or two farms can capitalize on the demand and make any money. The demand is there but it is so spread out over the market that the money is not able to support the production and farms themselves are loosing money while the markets are able to stay afloat. So should there be less farmer's markets? For the time being, I think that might be a good idea. It is the classic case of too much of a good thing, the economy is not structured to handle such a quick boom in demand.
However, a number written in this article also showed an increase in the number of farms in the US. This is something to celebrate. As far as susatainabiliy of the planet, our economy, and our health goes we need more farms and more farmers. Our country is starving (literally) for healthy food that does not need gallons of oil to transport and our communities need to be able to support themselves and not depend on giants like Cisco for our basic needs. So what I think this article represents is a clear request from the people of the United States for our government to start subsidizing these smaller farms that produce for the local boom farmer's markets. I know that right now our country is in a bit of trouble financially and now might not be the right time; but I do think this is the direction we need to go in.
Now I am clearly writing all this with a bias because I love farmer's markets and I love fresh food. I am most definitely not an economist so maybe someone with that background could give me some better strategies or respond to the article more intelligently. But I do like that these issues are receiving press and people are at least thinking about them. I just hope we can find a way to bring fresh vegetables to people without hurting the farms that grow them.
In this Times article, there is some frustration from farmers over the quick increase of farmer's markets in the last couple years. At first while reading this I was a little shocked, isn't that a good thing...more people choosing to buy their vegetables fresh from local farms rather than from giant corporate supermarkets that ship them from all over?
Then I started thinking about it from an economic point of view, and their grief makes sense. So many people are buying from a large number of markets that no one or two farms can capitalize on the demand and make any money. The demand is there but it is so spread out over the market that the money is not able to support the production and farms themselves are loosing money while the markets are able to stay afloat. So should there be less farmer's markets? For the time being, I think that might be a good idea. It is the classic case of too much of a good thing, the economy is not structured to handle such a quick boom in demand.
However, a number written in this article also showed an increase in the number of farms in the US. This is something to celebrate. As far as susatainabiliy of the planet, our economy, and our health goes we need more farms and more farmers. Our country is starving (literally) for healthy food that does not need gallons of oil to transport and our communities need to be able to support themselves and not depend on giants like Cisco for our basic needs. So what I think this article represents is a clear request from the people of the United States for our government to start subsidizing these smaller farms that produce for the local boom farmer's markets. I know that right now our country is in a bit of trouble financially and now might not be the right time; but I do think this is the direction we need to go in.
Now I am clearly writing all this with a bias because I love farmer's markets and I love fresh food. I am most definitely not an economist so maybe someone with that background could give me some better strategies or respond to the article more intelligently. But I do like that these issues are receiving press and people are at least thinking about them. I just hope we can find a way to bring fresh vegetables to people without hurting the farms that grow them.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Which side of the glass are the animals on?
We took our annual family trip to the Bronx Zoo yesterday, but this time around was a little different for me. For the first time, I was not so sure who was observing who.
Walking around the extremely crowded paths of the zoo, I noticed how strange it was for a place like this to even exist. Here were are, thousands of people from all over, all packed together in one small area to watch animals in cages. What!? What other species of animal congregates like we do to observe the behavior of other animals? Then you think, these animals are NOT behaving like they normally would in their natural state. How could they? They cannot hunt, they cannot run, they cannot explore their environment. They are domesticated. The animal has been taken out of them. They are acting quite human actually, all because we put them in a zoo so we could watch how they act. Then you look at us, pushing and shoving to get the best view, waiting on lines for food, getting aggravated, taking pictures, all sorts of strange behavior. It just makes me wonder if we are doing things right. I understand that human beings and animals are different, but why have we taken the liberty of enslaving these animals, why do we have that right?
Alright so maybe I am getting a little too cynical and just mad that my childhood naivety has gone, but part of my point is that humans are taking too much advantage of their ability. Just because we have "superior intellect and reasoning skills" does not mean we have the right to abuse other animals and do whatever we want with them. I will consent that part of what the zoo does is great; they are saving endangered species and attempting to learn more about our world through its inhabitants. But isn't there a more humane way of doing that? Let me rephrase because it probably is very humane, but it isn't very just. I just get so frustrated when people think that we have the privileged of walking around and doing whatever we want to the planet and everything in it. We have a responsbility to take care of it, not mutilate it.
So part of me is thinking I will never go to a zoo again. Another part of me thinks I will keep going because it has such amazing people watching opportunities. Maybe the animals don't have it that bad, perhaps they like the entertainment too.
Walking around the extremely crowded paths of the zoo, I noticed how strange it was for a place like this to even exist. Here were are, thousands of people from all over, all packed together in one small area to watch animals in cages. What!? What other species of animal congregates like we do to observe the behavior of other animals? Then you think, these animals are NOT behaving like they normally would in their natural state. How could they? They cannot hunt, they cannot run, they cannot explore their environment. They are domesticated. The animal has been taken out of them. They are acting quite human actually, all because we put them in a zoo so we could watch how they act. Then you look at us, pushing and shoving to get the best view, waiting on lines for food, getting aggravated, taking pictures, all sorts of strange behavior. It just makes me wonder if we are doing things right. I understand that human beings and animals are different, but why have we taken the liberty of enslaving these animals, why do we have that right?
Alright so maybe I am getting a little too cynical and just mad that my childhood naivety has gone, but part of my point is that humans are taking too much advantage of their ability. Just because we have "superior intellect and reasoning skills" does not mean we have the right to abuse other animals and do whatever we want with them. I will consent that part of what the zoo does is great; they are saving endangered species and attempting to learn more about our world through its inhabitants. But isn't there a more humane way of doing that? Let me rephrase because it probably is very humane, but it isn't very just. I just get so frustrated when people think that we have the privileged of walking around and doing whatever we want to the planet and everything in it. We have a responsbility to take care of it, not mutilate it.
So part of me is thinking I will never go to a zoo again. Another part of me thinks I will keep going because it has such amazing people watching opportunities. Maybe the animals don't have it that bad, perhaps they like the entertainment too.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Chickpeas, sesame tahini, olive oil, and a few others...
These are the main ingredients to the most amazing food on earth: Hummus!!
Putting it on a sandwich with grilled vegetables, dipping pretzels, wheat thins, pita, carrots, or even your finger into a tub of it. Cooking with it. Making it. It is so delicious any which way you eat it. I literally go through it like water and can't get enough of it. Garlic lovers, roasted red pepper, pine nut, tahini, and soooo many others. Going to a Lebanese or Mediterranean market or restaurant and ordering their homemade hummus just makes my mouth water and I get so excited to dip in some fresh bread. MMMMM. It is light and airy and packed with savory protein that just makes my body so happy.
I used to feel this way about peanut butter (and believe I still LOVE pb) and I am sure I will find something else to drool over. But for the time being, I am comfortable eating my weight in hummus. I am even dropping some money on my very own food-processor so I can stop using my friends' and make my own hummus any time I want. If you have never tried it, go get some!
Putting it on a sandwich with grilled vegetables, dipping pretzels, wheat thins, pita, carrots, or even your finger into a tub of it. Cooking with it. Making it. It is so delicious any which way you eat it. I literally go through it like water and can't get enough of it. Garlic lovers, roasted red pepper, pine nut, tahini, and soooo many others. Going to a Lebanese or Mediterranean market or restaurant and ordering their homemade hummus just makes my mouth water and I get so excited to dip in some fresh bread. MMMMM. It is light and airy and packed with savory protein that just makes my body so happy.
I used to feel this way about peanut butter (and believe I still LOVE pb) and I am sure I will find something else to drool over. But for the time being, I am comfortable eating my weight in hummus. I am even dropping some money on my very own food-processor so I can stop using my friends' and make my own hummus any time I want. If you have never tried it, go get some!
"You want to tousle?"
The other day I was driving around and I saw a couple kids (well teenagers maybe) messing around on the sidewalk. At first it looked like one was attacking or hurting the other, but really they were just fooling around. I could not help but smile and laugh. I think that play is one of the greatest things ever and being able to engage in it is a very admirable quality to have.
I remember back to when my brother and sister were growing up, all we did was fool around and "fight" eachother. Sure once in a while someone got hurt, much to my mom's predictions, but it was some of the most fun I have had with my family. Having a sense of imagination and being able to just run around doing something ridiculous with someone else is just so necessary. Most of my fondest memories with friends and loved ones consists of wrestling on the floor or tackling one another or making up some stupid game and just going at it. Even as an...adult?...I still love to tousle around with anyone who is willing. It just seems so natural and so carefree, like nothing else matters for a little while except connecting with someone you love and making a mess of the house.
I think I missed out a little growing up on the sports arena. When you think about it they are in fact games. It seems like throughout history and in every culture on earth, human beings love to compete and play games. I am a little less competitive than most, but I still love a good game and wished I thought about Junior High CYO basketball a little more like this. It is kinda cool though that everywhere there are people, we find something fun and strategic, that usually involves physical contact, to pass the time.
So whenever I am walking around and I see people playing something, messing around, or even just running around the park chasing each other, I just get so happy. I remember me and Amanda practically killing each other, my siblings and I giving my mother a headache, my friends and I tearing up the neighborhood, and many others who gave me some of the most giddy-filled moments in my life. I also feel relief in seeing people just relaxing and letting go for a few minutes to have some plain-old simple fun with someone else. This world moves so fast and is filled with so much negativity and bs that we need a little fun every once in a while. One of the things I am looking forward to more than anything else is getting down on the ground and playing games with my kids.
Until then, anyone want to come over and play? =)
I remember back to when my brother and sister were growing up, all we did was fool around and "fight" eachother. Sure once in a while someone got hurt, much to my mom's predictions, but it was some of the most fun I have had with my family. Having a sense of imagination and being able to just run around doing something ridiculous with someone else is just so necessary. Most of my fondest memories with friends and loved ones consists of wrestling on the floor or tackling one another or making up some stupid game and just going at it. Even as an...adult?...I still love to tousle around with anyone who is willing. It just seems so natural and so carefree, like nothing else matters for a little while except connecting with someone you love and making a mess of the house.
I think I missed out a little growing up on the sports arena. When you think about it they are in fact games. It seems like throughout history and in every culture on earth, human beings love to compete and play games. I am a little less competitive than most, but I still love a good game and wished I thought about Junior High CYO basketball a little more like this. It is kinda cool though that everywhere there are people, we find something fun and strategic, that usually involves physical contact, to pass the time.
So whenever I am walking around and I see people playing something, messing around, or even just running around the park chasing each other, I just get so happy. I remember me and Amanda practically killing each other, my siblings and I giving my mother a headache, my friends and I tearing up the neighborhood, and many others who gave me some of the most giddy-filled moments in my life. I also feel relief in seeing people just relaxing and letting go for a few minutes to have some plain-old simple fun with someone else. This world moves so fast and is filled with so much negativity and bs that we need a little fun every once in a while. One of the things I am looking forward to more than anything else is getting down on the ground and playing games with my kids.
Until then, anyone want to come over and play? =)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Nature!!!
I miss the trees, the grass, the stars, the animals, and the fresh scent in the air so much! The city has its perks, but nothing can beat all-natural, home-grown, full-bodied dense woods. Sure it doesn't have shopping malls, sidewalks packed with people you don't know, tons of pollution, advertisements every which way you look telling you what to buy, where to go, and what to look like; but I kinda like that it is missing those things. Don't get me wrong I love the city-the freedom, the adventure, and the challenges. But my roots have me always aching for a walk in the woods, or a swim in a stream, or something as simple as reading my book on real grass.
I think what most people that go through feelings of depression, anxiety, or just emptiness are missing is a reconnection with nature. We are living, breathing, animals (sorry people but it is true, we are in the animal kingdom). Doesn't it make sense that we would naturally want to be in a living environment like the great outdoors, the country? I have heard some people say they hate nature or they are afraid of it. I don't know if those are accurate emotions but if they are I feel terrible! Life is beautiful, and real life is what comes from the Earth, not what is created and manufactured by us. These things do have their purpose, but I think everyone should experience that amazing feeling of being surrounded by life.
Go into the woods or find a nice meadow. Hear the silence, allow yourself to breathe the fresh air, take a minute to not think about anything but just to exist. Peace. Feeling the dirt beneath your bare feet, touching the leaves, smelling the flowers, hearing the animals talking, climbing a tree, and just feeling apart of something greater than yourself. I mean think about it, the entire planet is connected. Sure we are on different countries, but the soil that is under you comes from the same place as the soil across the world; the water that feeds your trees is water that may have evaporated from a lake in China. We are all one system, one world. And people, every last human being, are a part of the same planet just like everything else. When you hug another person, you are hugging life, real life.
It is very hard to explain, I just love life so much. Not my life, not living, but life. The biological living, breathing, moving, thinking that everything does. And all life breeds life; as one of the greatest Disney movie says, it is the "circle of life." I am going home, back to the woods, in a few days and the first thing I am going to do is go for a hike and talk to the trees. Yes that sounds crazy, but man does it feel good.
I think what most people that go through feelings of depression, anxiety, or just emptiness are missing is a reconnection with nature. We are living, breathing, animals (sorry people but it is true, we are in the animal kingdom). Doesn't it make sense that we would naturally want to be in a living environment like the great outdoors, the country? I have heard some people say they hate nature or they are afraid of it. I don't know if those are accurate emotions but if they are I feel terrible! Life is beautiful, and real life is what comes from the Earth, not what is created and manufactured by us. These things do have their purpose, but I think everyone should experience that amazing feeling of being surrounded by life.
Go into the woods or find a nice meadow. Hear the silence, allow yourself to breathe the fresh air, take a minute to not think about anything but just to exist. Peace. Feeling the dirt beneath your bare feet, touching the leaves, smelling the flowers, hearing the animals talking, climbing a tree, and just feeling apart of something greater than yourself. I mean think about it, the entire planet is connected. Sure we are on different countries, but the soil that is under you comes from the same place as the soil across the world; the water that feeds your trees is water that may have evaporated from a lake in China. We are all one system, one world. And people, every last human being, are a part of the same planet just like everything else. When you hug another person, you are hugging life, real life.
It is very hard to explain, I just love life so much. Not my life, not living, but life. The biological living, breathing, moving, thinking that everything does. And all life breeds life; as one of the greatest Disney movie says, it is the "circle of life." I am going home, back to the woods, in a few days and the first thing I am going to do is go for a hike and talk to the trees. Yes that sounds crazy, but man does it feel good.
One semester done!
I just finished my first set of graduate classes at BC and it feels really weird. On the one hand, it is really relieving to be done with classes, but on the other I feel even more weight on my shoulders now. I got a lot out of my three classes, but the biggest thing I took away was the amount of work that is ahead of me. However, it is work that I am going to love doing.
While in class, first the first time ever I felt surrounded by the future leaders of the world. My classmates have so much passion and so much knowledge about education. I truly walked away inspired and at ease knowing that students all over are going to be taught by these people of such caliber. On a different note, the discussion we had during class brought to our attention many issues that the education system faces, that we will face while teaching.
Teaching is not just a 7-3 job where you walk in a classroom with some lessons planned and stand in the front talking to children. Good teachers, real teachers, make it their life's work; and trust me it is work. Inside every school is a microcosm, a miniature American society, where students are facing all the same things adults face. Racism, oppression, media, peer pressure, pain, hunger, competition, failure, success, self-discovery, relationship building, and exposure to everything that happens in the world good or bad. It is our jobs as teachers to prepare our students for real life and to teach them about the experiences they are having. I don't just teach social studies, I teach about life and the connection between the two. I need to be a role model by teaching them the right things and showing them the wrong things that are out there. So many times students are looked at as kids who are not ready for the truth, classrooms are more like a teacher's personal power trip, and schools are places that simply teach students that life is stressful. I do not want to be that teacher. I want to treat my students like equals, I want to engage with them, I want to learn from them, and I want them to connect with what they learn by doing not just reading.
Our society may or may not be in big trouble. Natural resources are being depleted, debt is ever-increasing, crime has not gone away, people are still starving, and worst of all people are still taking advantage of others and treating certain groups like shit. Our students need to face these issues. I want to teach my students to criticize all these things that go on around them, think critically about everything they hear and see, and go out and do something about it.
While in class, first the first time ever I felt surrounded by the future leaders of the world. My classmates have so much passion and so much knowledge about education. I truly walked away inspired and at ease knowing that students all over are going to be taught by these people of such caliber. On a different note, the discussion we had during class brought to our attention many issues that the education system faces, that we will face while teaching.
Teaching is not just a 7-3 job where you walk in a classroom with some lessons planned and stand in the front talking to children. Good teachers, real teachers, make it their life's work; and trust me it is work. Inside every school is a microcosm, a miniature American society, where students are facing all the same things adults face. Racism, oppression, media, peer pressure, pain, hunger, competition, failure, success, self-discovery, relationship building, and exposure to everything that happens in the world good or bad. It is our jobs as teachers to prepare our students for real life and to teach them about the experiences they are having. I don't just teach social studies, I teach about life and the connection between the two. I need to be a role model by teaching them the right things and showing them the wrong things that are out there. So many times students are looked at as kids who are not ready for the truth, classrooms are more like a teacher's personal power trip, and schools are places that simply teach students that life is stressful. I do not want to be that teacher. I want to treat my students like equals, I want to engage with them, I want to learn from them, and I want them to connect with what they learn by doing not just reading.
Our society may or may not be in big trouble. Natural resources are being depleted, debt is ever-increasing, crime has not gone away, people are still starving, and worst of all people are still taking advantage of others and treating certain groups like shit. Our students need to face these issues. I want to teach my students to criticize all these things that go on around them, think critically about everything they hear and see, and go out and do something about it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Do you hear what I hear?
Being able to hear is something many of us, myself included, take for granted and we often forget that there is an entire community of people who live with hearing impairments or unable to hear at all. These people have a very different perception of the world and an extremely intelligent way of communicating. I do not personally know anyone who is deaf, but I have met a few people who work passionately with deaf people in their community and I think it is fascinating to be able to live and work without sound. In our education courses on special needs and moderate disabilities, we have touched upon the learning needs of students with hearing impairments and it has really gotten me to rethink how I approach language. At the same time, it has made me really appreciate my abilities to hear.
Just being able to talk and verbalize my opinions, wants, needs, questions, etc is such a remarkable skill. Human beings throughout history began to develop communities and societies based around common languages and before ever learning how to write, passed down information via an oral tradition of storytelling. It is in our nature to communicate and for most of us that means using our hearing to listen. There are also so many sounds that are just so beautiful. Think about what it sounds like to hear a car driving slowly over gravel or small shells, or walking on tightly packed snow, or wooden floors on a boat or in a house creaking, the crackle of a fire, the coo of a baby, the pur of a kitten, the engine on a plane, the ding of a bell out at sea, or the chime of a clock. Just like smell, many of these can be tied to memory. In fact, that is why movies are so impacting; they use sound effects and soundtracks during scenes that they really want people to remember. Which brings me to another set of amazing sounds: music.
One of my all time favorite things to do is belt out a song and dance to it. Hearing certain beats or melodies or listening to really powerful lyrics strikes a chord (no pun intended) with many people. Whether it is a song from an popular artist or a drumbeat or classical song on the piano, so many people I know are very passionate about music. I think there is something inherently human about being moved by music; maybe it is not human, maybe it is deeper than that and we are picking up something subconsciously that other life recognizes. Either way, music is an integral part of life and being able to hear it and replicate it brings me a lot of happiness.
At one point in my life, when asked that incredibly hard question "if you had to live without one of your senses, which would you lose?," I would always pick hearing. After spending more time appreciating all those little sounds that really do make me feel good, that question has gotten even harder. So go out and listen to the world around you! Hear the birds, the bees, the trees, and people communicating. Practice some music or just appreciate that you can hear everything on TV. =)
Just being able to talk and verbalize my opinions, wants, needs, questions, etc is such a remarkable skill. Human beings throughout history began to develop communities and societies based around common languages and before ever learning how to write, passed down information via an oral tradition of storytelling. It is in our nature to communicate and for most of us that means using our hearing to listen. There are also so many sounds that are just so beautiful. Think about what it sounds like to hear a car driving slowly over gravel or small shells, or walking on tightly packed snow, or wooden floors on a boat or in a house creaking, the crackle of a fire, the coo of a baby, the pur of a kitten, the engine on a plane, the ding of a bell out at sea, or the chime of a clock. Just like smell, many of these can be tied to memory. In fact, that is why movies are so impacting; they use sound effects and soundtracks during scenes that they really want people to remember. Which brings me to another set of amazing sounds: music.
One of my all time favorite things to do is belt out a song and dance to it. Hearing certain beats or melodies or listening to really powerful lyrics strikes a chord (no pun intended) with many people. Whether it is a song from an popular artist or a drumbeat or classical song on the piano, so many people I know are very passionate about music. I think there is something inherently human about being moved by music; maybe it is not human, maybe it is deeper than that and we are picking up something subconsciously that other life recognizes. Either way, music is an integral part of life and being able to hear it and replicate it brings me a lot of happiness.
At one point in my life, when asked that incredibly hard question "if you had to live without one of your senses, which would you lose?," I would always pick hearing. After spending more time appreciating all those little sounds that really do make me feel good, that question has gotten even harder. So go out and listen to the world around you! Hear the birds, the bees, the trees, and people communicating. Practice some music or just appreciate that you can hear everything on TV. =)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Run Forest, run!
Running! One of my all time absolute most favorite things to do on the planet! There is nothing quite like the feeling of losing yourself in thought while speeding down the sidewalk, using up nothing but your own energy and motivation. Running is something so special to me, that it has probably come close to saving my life, multiple times.
The first time I ever ran was with Amanda during the summers when she needed to run a mile in six minutes for varsity soccer. That first day out was the worst day of my running life. I was out of breath by minute two, everything hurt, I was sweating more than I ever had before, I was tired because she forced me to get up early to beat the heat, and I absolutely hated everything in the world. But, she had to do it and I wanted to be there for her, so I kept it up (mostly because she would not let me stop) and as she got better I also got better. I was never into sports during my childhood. I played CYO basketball just because my dad put me in it and it was something I thought I had to do, but I never really enjoyed team competition or exerting myself too much. But after running in those mornings and seeing real improvements in physical ability, I kept it up. For the next few years it was restricted to treadmill running and trying to push more and more miles. Since I was more concerned about my body image then I should have been, a lot of my motivation was to look good, so I did not have anything really pushing me to run for running's sake or to get really into it. Again, I did it because I had to. Then, my sophomore year at BU, my roommate Jeff pushed me to get off the treadmill and run outside again. We took a 2.5 mile lap around the river and I was hooked. I am not joking when I say that day probably changed my life.
After that first run I began to run outside constantly. I could not go as far as I could on the treadmill at first because I had to adjust to breathing outside air, avoiding people, and being in the sun; but every time I went out I got better and better. I invested in a good pair of shoes and committed to running the Boston Marathon with Jeff our senior year, two years away. I trudged through a couple knee and food injuries, combated my first New England winter running outside, and discovered one of my most passionate joys in life. And yes, we both went on to run TWO marathons our senior year including The Boston.
Running is my time to get away from anything and everything. I think about so much while I run, my thoughts are usually racing and when I run it feels normal because I am actually keeping up with them as I move. Stress is instantly removed, I have so much energy (not that I did not have this in abundance before), and I am a much more relaxed person. I sometimes use running as an outlet to relieve some of my physical anxieties; it is a form of exercise that is extremely heathy, burns through everything, and makes me feel lighter. I also run to explore my environment; I have gotten to know so much of Boston that I never would have without running and whenever I go on vacation to a new place I love to see what it has to offer by running. When I can literally go for hours and miles, I get to see so much and don't fear getting lost, in fact sometimes I love to! I love challenging myself physically and seeing how much I can push myself by running faster and harder and longer. I love to run when I am in a good mood because I smile the whole time and belt out whatever comes on my ipod. I love to run when I am really sad or worried about something because I manage to clear my head and get a much better look at the situation. I love to lesson plan and think about my classroom when I run; in fact my kids give me so much motivation because they are all so impressed with how much I run. I love that I can run marathons and that I have committed to running at least two every year, I never thought in my life that I could accomplish something like that.
Running just brings me so much happiness. It is something I do for me only and one of the few things that I can actually satisfy myself without needing anyone else. The feelings I get while running are like being on top of the world, in fact it is probably as close to flying as I could ever feel (which is something I always wished for when I threw a penny into a fountain.) I love being a runner and treating my body with respect so that I can stay a runner and perform at my best. Being a distance runner for so long has even taught me to think more long-term and has helped me to not stress the small stuff too much because I can always keep the goal in mind and know that it takes awhile for things to happen. I love that I get to teach people how to run and go running with my students and my friends, helping them to get something life changing out of it. It just feels so right and natural and has kept me from destroying myself. Whenver I feel like a bout of anxiety or depression is coming on too strong, I go for a looooong run. It is not a quick fix, but it really helps me to relax, think clearly, and put things in perspective. It is my way of handling life, and it just so happens to bring me tons of physical and health benefits. Going to the doctor and hearing "you are in perfect shape" makes me so genuinely happy; especially when being the opposite is such a possibility for me. What I have discovered in my life is that the only way to enjoy life and be happy is to emphasize the positive things you have and not give in to negative thoughts or behaviors. Running brings me those positives and I am very confidant that I am going to run for the rest of my life.
There is so much more that I want to and could say about this but I would end up writing for hours and still never be done. I think instead I will just keep running and running and running.
The first time I ever ran was with Amanda during the summers when she needed to run a mile in six minutes for varsity soccer. That first day out was the worst day of my running life. I was out of breath by minute two, everything hurt, I was sweating more than I ever had before, I was tired because she forced me to get up early to beat the heat, and I absolutely hated everything in the world. But, she had to do it and I wanted to be there for her, so I kept it up (mostly because she would not let me stop) and as she got better I also got better. I was never into sports during my childhood. I played CYO basketball just because my dad put me in it and it was something I thought I had to do, but I never really enjoyed team competition or exerting myself too much. But after running in those mornings and seeing real improvements in physical ability, I kept it up. For the next few years it was restricted to treadmill running and trying to push more and more miles. Since I was more concerned about my body image then I should have been, a lot of my motivation was to look good, so I did not have anything really pushing me to run for running's sake or to get really into it. Again, I did it because I had to. Then, my sophomore year at BU, my roommate Jeff pushed me to get off the treadmill and run outside again. We took a 2.5 mile lap around the river and I was hooked. I am not joking when I say that day probably changed my life.
After that first run I began to run outside constantly. I could not go as far as I could on the treadmill at first because I had to adjust to breathing outside air, avoiding people, and being in the sun; but every time I went out I got better and better. I invested in a good pair of shoes and committed to running the Boston Marathon with Jeff our senior year, two years away. I trudged through a couple knee and food injuries, combated my first New England winter running outside, and discovered one of my most passionate joys in life. And yes, we both went on to run TWO marathons our senior year including The Boston.
Running is my time to get away from anything and everything. I think about so much while I run, my thoughts are usually racing and when I run it feels normal because I am actually keeping up with them as I move. Stress is instantly removed, I have so much energy (not that I did not have this in abundance before), and I am a much more relaxed person. I sometimes use running as an outlet to relieve some of my physical anxieties; it is a form of exercise that is extremely heathy, burns through everything, and makes me feel lighter. I also run to explore my environment; I have gotten to know so much of Boston that I never would have without running and whenever I go on vacation to a new place I love to see what it has to offer by running. When I can literally go for hours and miles, I get to see so much and don't fear getting lost, in fact sometimes I love to! I love challenging myself physically and seeing how much I can push myself by running faster and harder and longer. I love to run when I am in a good mood because I smile the whole time and belt out whatever comes on my ipod. I love to run when I am really sad or worried about something because I manage to clear my head and get a much better look at the situation. I love to lesson plan and think about my classroom when I run; in fact my kids give me so much motivation because they are all so impressed with how much I run. I love that I can run marathons and that I have committed to running at least two every year, I never thought in my life that I could accomplish something like that.
Running just brings me so much happiness. It is something I do for me only and one of the few things that I can actually satisfy myself without needing anyone else. The feelings I get while running are like being on top of the world, in fact it is probably as close to flying as I could ever feel (which is something I always wished for when I threw a penny into a fountain.) I love being a runner and treating my body with respect so that I can stay a runner and perform at my best. Being a distance runner for so long has even taught me to think more long-term and has helped me to not stress the small stuff too much because I can always keep the goal in mind and know that it takes awhile for things to happen. I love that I get to teach people how to run and go running with my students and my friends, helping them to get something life changing out of it. It just feels so right and natural and has kept me from destroying myself. Whenver I feel like a bout of anxiety or depression is coming on too strong, I go for a looooong run. It is not a quick fix, but it really helps me to relax, think clearly, and put things in perspective. It is my way of handling life, and it just so happens to bring me tons of physical and health benefits. Going to the doctor and hearing "you are in perfect shape" makes me so genuinely happy; especially when being the opposite is such a possibility for me. What I have discovered in my life is that the only way to enjoy life and be happy is to emphasize the positive things you have and not give in to negative thoughts or behaviors. Running brings me those positives and I am very confidant that I am going to run for the rest of my life.
There is so much more that I want to and could say about this but I would end up writing for hours and still never be done. I think instead I will just keep running and running and running.
Food....a love/hate relationship
If you know me, you know I love to eat. If you know me well, you know that eating comes with a lot of baggage as well. I absolutely love love love food! Cooking is one of my favorite things to do because I get to go to the store and buy all different kinds of fresh veggies and spices and come up with a recipe to make them all taste delicious while at the same time nourishing my body and keeping it healthy. I love the fact that we need to eat and that everything you eat has a different effect on the body. Some vegetables have certain vitamins and minerals and others do not, some fruit helps you poop and some clogs you up, some spices can help with colds and others can make you sweat, some food helps to make everything in your body work the way it wants to and other foods make your body stop working all together. Getting in tune with your body and figuring out what you need is such an awesome skill. I am a vegetarian so it is very important that I get the right amount of protein; so picking out different foods (besides just peanut butter--my favorite--and tofu) to make sure I get enough is all the fun. Combining different foods to get different tastes, experimenting with how you cook and for how long, adding different sauces and spices, and making enough for everyone to share make cooking one of the greatest things to do. And it is all so necessary. Point blank, we cannot survive without food.
However, sometimes food comes with its price. When you are particularly concern with your physical self, food can bring some anxiety. Is this too fatty? Is this unnatural? Will this make me bloat? How much do I need to run to burn all this off? These are questions I am all too familiar with and when they come too frequently they can cause all types of normally delicious and satisfying foods to leave a bad taste in your mouth. However, through this maladaptive behavior of mine, I have learned a great many positive things. One thing is that I was very addicted to sweets and they were the source of most of my problems. Sweets, and I am talking real ones like ice cream, cookies, brownies, and peanut M&Ms, are naturally high in sugar and fat and very often made with unnatural sweeteners or high fructose. These are things that, although amazingly delicious, are not really meant to be in our bodies in very high doses. I unfortunately have very little will power and was incapable of having A cookie or SOME candy, I would instead gorge myself till I felt sick. This is bad, as I would then feel extremely guilty about eating and developed a strong negative association with the things that used to bring me so much joy. So, I picked up on the lovely motto of "everything in moderation," and realized that my body can handle some sweets every once in a while. I also learned that my body loves natural ingredients and the Earth loves it when I buy natural ingredients. Therefore, I love to make all my own meals and eat pure, all-natural, local, farm fresh vegetables. This is the kind of food that makes my body work so how could I feel guilty?
So, I am continuing on a journey to find peace with food. I am getting there and I think that exerting a little control over what I consume and what I buy is not a bad thing. If I keep up a healthy diet most of the time (lots of water, vegetables, fruit, protein, and a moderate amount of carbs), then I can afford to get off the train once in a while. This summer, now that I have the time, I am cooking all the time and really loving food. I have made so many new dishes and learning that I will actually feel full and better about myself when I put things in my body that belong there. I have also found that I have less cravings for sweet things and can exert more control when I eat them. So love food! Enjoy our life source! And appreciate everything the Earth gives you by consuming that, and not making it come from a processing manufacturing plant that needs to package and ship it from across the country.
However, sometimes food comes with its price. When you are particularly concern with your physical self, food can bring some anxiety. Is this too fatty? Is this unnatural? Will this make me bloat? How much do I need to run to burn all this off? These are questions I am all too familiar with and when they come too frequently they can cause all types of normally delicious and satisfying foods to leave a bad taste in your mouth. However, through this maladaptive behavior of mine, I have learned a great many positive things. One thing is that I was very addicted to sweets and they were the source of most of my problems. Sweets, and I am talking real ones like ice cream, cookies, brownies, and peanut M&Ms, are naturally high in sugar and fat and very often made with unnatural sweeteners or high fructose. These are things that, although amazingly delicious, are not really meant to be in our bodies in very high doses. I unfortunately have very little will power and was incapable of having A cookie or SOME candy, I would instead gorge myself till I felt sick. This is bad, as I would then feel extremely guilty about eating and developed a strong negative association with the things that used to bring me so much joy. So, I picked up on the lovely motto of "everything in moderation," and realized that my body can handle some sweets every once in a while. I also learned that my body loves natural ingredients and the Earth loves it when I buy natural ingredients. Therefore, I love to make all my own meals and eat pure, all-natural, local, farm fresh vegetables. This is the kind of food that makes my body work so how could I feel guilty?
So, I am continuing on a journey to find peace with food. I am getting there and I think that exerting a little control over what I consume and what I buy is not a bad thing. If I keep up a healthy diet most of the time (lots of water, vegetables, fruit, protein, and a moderate amount of carbs), then I can afford to get off the train once in a while. This summer, now that I have the time, I am cooking all the time and really loving food. I have made so many new dishes and learning that I will actually feel full and better about myself when I put things in my body that belong there. I have also found that I have less cravings for sweet things and can exert more control when I eat them. So love food! Enjoy our life source! And appreciate everything the Earth gives you by consuming that, and not making it come from a processing manufacturing plant that needs to package and ship it from across the country.
Communities are my next topic of investigation
Let me start out by saying this post goes out to my very best friend Amanda, someone who has much more knowledge and experience on this topic and has graciously bestowed upon me a small fragment of her passion.
We have all been disapointed and felt the heartbreak when we were expecting our government or any large organization to come up with a solution to a problem, only to fail to do so. We think in our minds that our government or anyone with power is there and should be there to protect us and make our society right. To some degree I agree with this. A governemnt's primary purpose should be to ensure the well being of all its citizens and work diligently to help compromise with all the different wants and needs that will come about. Things like education, healthcare, fitness programs, transportation, safety, food; these are basic needs that every American has a right to no matter how successful an individual may become. However, beyond making all of these facets of society accesible and adequate, I personally believe it is then the job of the community to take it from there. I believe that communities are the places where the magic happens, where people form meaningful relationships and where significant changes can start. Yes, many communities in this country are not as fortunate or as equal as others. Although I think that a certain amount of inequality is bound to happen, and might even be neccessary, I also think that is where the state governemnt can step in to act as an equity builder and promoter of "sharing the wealth." Whether in the form of shifting around tax money or spending more money and having more projects in certain areas, the governemnt can aid in reducing gaps in our society. However, the communities themselves need to take a stand and put forward a voice, only by working together and caring for one another can any accomplishments be made.
Take a large and successful corporation for example. Pretend this corportation is an analogy of a typical small community. In order to be successful and make profit, there needs to be someone at the top with long-term goals who works with a smaller group of people who fine tune those goals and initiate short-term steps in order to reach them. Then, by providing structure and support to all employees, everyone is given a task based on their skills and by working together the corporation moves along. Communities are a lot like this. It takes structure, support, input from everyone involved, and a sense of togetherness. I think what I have seen some communities lack in the US is that sense of togetherness, a feeling of ownership and pride.
I really want to start getting more involved in the communities I live in and watching how people interact and maintain a strong bond within them. So far, I have seen some really really strong emotions and passion present and it makes me really believe in the power communities can have on individuals and on our society in general. Reading the book, "Deep Economy" has really pushed me on this adventure and I highly suggest it as food for thought for anyone interested in this topic. Hopefully I can create a school system built on this premise of working for and with your community!
We have all been disapointed and felt the heartbreak when we were expecting our government or any large organization to come up with a solution to a problem, only to fail to do so. We think in our minds that our government or anyone with power is there and should be there to protect us and make our society right. To some degree I agree with this. A governemnt's primary purpose should be to ensure the well being of all its citizens and work diligently to help compromise with all the different wants and needs that will come about. Things like education, healthcare, fitness programs, transportation, safety, food; these are basic needs that every American has a right to no matter how successful an individual may become. However, beyond making all of these facets of society accesible and adequate, I personally believe it is then the job of the community to take it from there. I believe that communities are the places where the magic happens, where people form meaningful relationships and where significant changes can start. Yes, many communities in this country are not as fortunate or as equal as others. Although I think that a certain amount of inequality is bound to happen, and might even be neccessary, I also think that is where the state governemnt can step in to act as an equity builder and promoter of "sharing the wealth." Whether in the form of shifting around tax money or spending more money and having more projects in certain areas, the governemnt can aid in reducing gaps in our society. However, the communities themselves need to take a stand and put forward a voice, only by working together and caring for one another can any accomplishments be made.
Take a large and successful corporation for example. Pretend this corportation is an analogy of a typical small community. In order to be successful and make profit, there needs to be someone at the top with long-term goals who works with a smaller group of people who fine tune those goals and initiate short-term steps in order to reach them. Then, by providing structure and support to all employees, everyone is given a task based on their skills and by working together the corporation moves along. Communities are a lot like this. It takes structure, support, input from everyone involved, and a sense of togetherness. I think what I have seen some communities lack in the US is that sense of togetherness, a feeling of ownership and pride.
I really want to start getting more involved in the communities I live in and watching how people interact and maintain a strong bond within them. So far, I have seen some really really strong emotions and passion present and it makes me really believe in the power communities can have on individuals and on our society in general. Reading the book, "Deep Economy" has really pushed me on this adventure and I highly suggest it as food for thought for anyone interested in this topic. Hopefully I can create a school system built on this premise of working for and with your community!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sniff sniff...I love my nose!
One of the greatest things about summertime in the Northeast is the multitude of scents you are hit with whenever you walk around outside. Flowers here, fields there, animals in the distance, herbs tucked away in the bushes, distinct trees hanging over your head, gas from the roads, and people EVERYWHERE!. I love just taking a stroll through the park or down the street at home (upstate NY, farm country) and taking it all in. So much to be mesmerized by and so many little things to notice that you would not catch just by speed walking and not trying to smell it all in. Every little thing has its own unique smell just waiting for you to enjoy. It is so easy to be entranced by it all when you are just in an amazing mood and everything smells so good. Except those white trees with the droopy branches that smell like something gone bad or like animal waste left in the barn too long, that is not an enjoyable scent. But even so, you can marvel at how distinct different things smell. Our simple nose can pick up on so many different scents, and humans have an awful sense of smell compared to other animals.
My favorite part about smell is the images and memories it can conjure up. Sometimes you catch a wif of someone's cologne and it takes you back to an old relationship you have not thought of in awhile or maybe just makes you really in the mood and excited. Sometimes you smell a hint of something that reminds you of trips to your Grandmother's house where you would go into her very old and musty garage. Walk past a restaurant and you can get a delightful reminder of mom's cooking, which you miss terribly because you cannot afford to cook anything besides soup and even if you could you are not nearly as amazing a chef as mom. And perhaps the best is when you get hit in the face with a brief breeze from the ocean and instantly are transported back to those summers spent on the Cape with your whole family. Smell is just outstanding! Taking the time to slow down and notice all the different scents can really make you enjoy where you are a whole lot more, and if you are lucky you will be able to remember it years from now when you catch a new familiar scent.
My favorite part about smell is the images and memories it can conjure up. Sometimes you catch a wif of someone's cologne and it takes you back to an old relationship you have not thought of in awhile or maybe just makes you really in the mood and excited. Sometimes you smell a hint of something that reminds you of trips to your Grandmother's house where you would go into her very old and musty garage. Walk past a restaurant and you can get a delightful reminder of mom's cooking, which you miss terribly because you cannot afford to cook anything besides soup and even if you could you are not nearly as amazing a chef as mom. And perhaps the best is when you get hit in the face with a brief breeze from the ocean and instantly are transported back to those summers spent on the Cape with your whole family. Smell is just outstanding! Taking the time to slow down and notice all the different scents can really make you enjoy where you are a whole lot more, and if you are lucky you will be able to remember it years from now when you catch a new familiar scent.
Institutionalized Poverty/Racism?
I just started my first graduate classes at BC for my masters in Moderate Disabilities and Special Needs Education, I know soooo awesome! One of my summer session classes looks at the social contexts attached to education, things like: race, immigration, economic status, gender, cultural environment, etc. The idea being that when you are a teacher, you don't just have Social Studies students sitting in your classroom; behind every desk is an individual coming to school with a heck of a lot of baggage, some even more than others. That being said, you can never assume anything about your students and you can't expect them to learn like the student sitting next to them because they have had many different experiences and an entirely different life other than school. It is so humbling to recognize this because it is very easy to go into education thinking that you can teach future students like you were taught as a child. I turned out well, right? Wrong. The students you teach, no matter the demographic, are of an entirely different generation than you and are coming to school with issues and opinions that are not the same as the ones you had.
So the first step was recognition that students are individuals and need to be treated as such. The next step is taking an active role in their lives by investigating what those differences are, how to best handle those differences in the classroom so that all your students are getting the same skills and knowledge and opportunities for success, and then going even further and asking why those differences exist in the first place. In my social context class we are going to be looking at the factors that may cause such disparities amongst children and trying to see if there is a link between those causes and current day effects like the achievement gap and social class issues.
There are so many questions to be raised in this investigation and I feel like not many of them are going to be answered easily. Do we have instituionalized racism in the United States or are we just filled with racist people? Can we change the system to be more equal or is our way of life so entrenched in greed and money that those changes will never come? Is this a racial issue or a power issue? What started white people to be the "superior race" in the first place? Can our country handle satisfying the intimidating amount of different cultural and community needs that exist or are we destined to always leave some group unhappy with feelings of oppression? Is it possible to have a equal, working, classless society? Is this an American issue or a human issue; will there always be people competing for power and then putting down and taking advantage of the weaker group? How much would our lives change, for better or for worse, if we illuminated class differences? Most of these are very theoretical questions and don't even get into the practical side of things, which is the cause of most concern. Why are black students suffering so much in school and dropping out only to end up in prison; is the the educational system's fault or our societies fault?
I look forward to discussing these questions all summer with my classmates, but I would love people to comment and raise questions of their own. This is an important and relevant issue for everyone as everyone can attest to some form of oppression in their lives for one reason or another.
So the first step was recognition that students are individuals and need to be treated as such. The next step is taking an active role in their lives by investigating what those differences are, how to best handle those differences in the classroom so that all your students are getting the same skills and knowledge and opportunities for success, and then going even further and asking why those differences exist in the first place. In my social context class we are going to be looking at the factors that may cause such disparities amongst children and trying to see if there is a link between those causes and current day effects like the achievement gap and social class issues.
There are so many questions to be raised in this investigation and I feel like not many of them are going to be answered easily. Do we have instituionalized racism in the United States or are we just filled with racist people? Can we change the system to be more equal or is our way of life so entrenched in greed and money that those changes will never come? Is this a racial issue or a power issue? What started white people to be the "superior race" in the first place? Can our country handle satisfying the intimidating amount of different cultural and community needs that exist or are we destined to always leave some group unhappy with feelings of oppression? Is it possible to have a equal, working, classless society? Is this an American issue or a human issue; will there always be people competing for power and then putting down and taking advantage of the weaker group? How much would our lives change, for better or for worse, if we illuminated class differences? Most of these are very theoretical questions and don't even get into the practical side of things, which is the cause of most concern. Why are black students suffering so much in school and dropping out only to end up in prison; is the the educational system's fault or our societies fault?
I look forward to discussing these questions all summer with my classmates, but I would love people to comment and raise questions of their own. This is an important and relevant issue for everyone as everyone can attest to some form of oppression in their lives for one reason or another.
Fruit
Fruit is something that I absolutely love! Biting into that perfectly crisp and sweet red apple, getting a pear at just the right ripeness, cutting up a fresh mango, or popping some delectable berries into your mouth are some of the most enjoyable experiences we can have as human beings. It just feels so natural to eat fruit. Think about it: trees that grow straight from mother nature produce these delicious eatables and we don't really have to do anything to make it happen. It is a gift from the Earth! We just pluck it off the tree or vine and eat away. And the process of eating it is even more natural. No utensils, no plates, and no cooking needed, just bare hands and teeth. Oranges are probably my favorite fruit to eat for this reason. Using my own resilient fingernails to peel off the outer skin, working for my nutrition so I can enjoy a delicious and immune system-boosting treat. MMMMMM.
Now some people may love fruit for its amazing ability to be turned into smoothies or outstanding desserts (oh man apple pie!), but as for me, give it to me raw and straight from the farm and I will be in heaven. My body thanks me for all the vitamins and nutrients I am ingesting and I thank my body for being able to eat these gifts so easily =)
Now some people may love fruit for its amazing ability to be turned into smoothies or outstanding desserts (oh man apple pie!), but as for me, give it to me raw and straight from the farm and I will be in heaven. My body thanks me for all the vitamins and nutrients I am ingesting and I thank my body for being able to eat these gifts so easily =)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Teaching
I think it makes the most sense to start with what has really truly inspired me and allowed me to appreciate everything that I do. Teaching! I did not always know that I was going to be a teacher, in fact there were a few times in college that I really doubted it was the right path for me. I went into Boston University School of Ed. because I loved history and figured it was a safe career and I could always change my mind later. At first, my classes taught me to appreciate education in a way I never had before, but they did not ignite any sort of a passion. I fooled around a little with other options; maybe the ritzy "sex and the city" life of PR, maybe some political science, or maybe I could marry rich and stay at home with the kids. However, I decided to stick with education for a little longer and took a class on International Education Policy. This was the first time I fell in love. I began learning about how different countries run education, all the problems that exist because of shitty education systems, and how much trouble the US was in. So you mean I don't just have to be a teacher, and teachers don't just teach kids their ABCs? Holy shit wake up call!!! I became so engrossed in this 2-credit extra class that all my other classes seemed sort of pointless. I found my passion and never looked back since.
Currently, I am teaching at Epiphany Middle School in Dorchester, MA. I found this little piece of heaven when the man who started the school came to speak at SED. I went on a visit and signed up to tutor. That is when I met a 6th grade boy with a fro-mohawk who needed help with reading and math. Coming to see him every Friday became the highlight of my week and I am 100% sure that he taught me way more than I taught him. I learned what it was like to be needed, I learned what it was like to be appreciated, and I learned what it was like to be wanted. This boy went through a lot and there were days when he just wanted to shut down and forget school. But we pushed through together and had so much fun doing it. I found out that pushing a child shows them that you care way more than bringing them candy, I realized that all kids really want is to feel like you care about them, and I had the amazing experience of making a new friend simply by coming and talking about Star Wars when the math homework got boring. I decided during this semester tutoring that I HAD to work at this school and be apart of what it does. This school put everything and more into caring about every single child that attends and never ever stops until each child is as safe and secure as possible. They take inner-city children who are not given any other chances and give them the world.
While teaching at this school I have learned more than I could have ever learned in school. I learned what it means to write a lesson that ensures students are learning and not forgetting. To design a class that engages students and gives them a sense of ownership over their knowledge. To talk to students as if they are people and not just children who are simply told what to do. More than that I learned about how the world works. When I see a student, they are so much more than the person that I see in class. They have such vibrant personalities and sadly often have a lot of baggage. The may be calling out or not participating in class because mom and dad are not around or maybe they can't get the right medical treatment. Sometimes you need to be more of a counselor or big brother then just a teacher. But more often I get to see them be kids, with interests. emotions, jokes, and fooling around.
Working at this school I realized that I love children and want nothing more in the world than to make sure that every child I meet has the opportunity to love life, learn, and be whatever they want to be. Children are beautiful and they can make you see the world in ways you forgot how to. It is their right to stay this way, continue to live, love, and play, and one day grow up and use their amazing talents to change the world. I am so proud to call myself an educator and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with children, preparing them for the world.
Currently, I am teaching at Epiphany Middle School in Dorchester, MA. I found this little piece of heaven when the man who started the school came to speak at SED. I went on a visit and signed up to tutor. That is when I met a 6th grade boy with a fro-mohawk who needed help with reading and math. Coming to see him every Friday became the highlight of my week and I am 100% sure that he taught me way more than I taught him. I learned what it was like to be needed, I learned what it was like to be appreciated, and I learned what it was like to be wanted. This boy went through a lot and there were days when he just wanted to shut down and forget school. But we pushed through together and had so much fun doing it. I found out that pushing a child shows them that you care way more than bringing them candy, I realized that all kids really want is to feel like you care about them, and I had the amazing experience of making a new friend simply by coming and talking about Star Wars when the math homework got boring. I decided during this semester tutoring that I HAD to work at this school and be apart of what it does. This school put everything and more into caring about every single child that attends and never ever stops until each child is as safe and secure as possible. They take inner-city children who are not given any other chances and give them the world.
While teaching at this school I have learned more than I could have ever learned in school. I learned what it means to write a lesson that ensures students are learning and not forgetting. To design a class that engages students and gives them a sense of ownership over their knowledge. To talk to students as if they are people and not just children who are simply told what to do. More than that I learned about how the world works. When I see a student, they are so much more than the person that I see in class. They have such vibrant personalities and sadly often have a lot of baggage. The may be calling out or not participating in class because mom and dad are not around or maybe they can't get the right medical treatment. Sometimes you need to be more of a counselor or big brother then just a teacher. But more often I get to see them be kids, with interests. emotions, jokes, and fooling around.
Working at this school I realized that I love children and want nothing more in the world than to make sure that every child I meet has the opportunity to love life, learn, and be whatever they want to be. Children are beautiful and they can make you see the world in ways you forgot how to. It is their right to stay this way, continue to live, love, and play, and one day grow up and use their amazing talents to change the world. I am so proud to call myself an educator and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with children, preparing them for the world.
Long overdue
I have been meaning to start this for a very long time, but seemed to keep forgetting or pushing it off till later. Now that it is summer and the sun is here to stay, I am finally ready to commit.
I wanted to start writing out everything that makes me smile, gets me to think, challenges me, worries me, motivates me, and makes me stop to go "Wow." In short...everything that I love about life (you are going to hear that word a lot because I tend to love many many things.) In a way this is a very selfish blog, what blog isn't I guess, but I also would love for anyone who happens to read any of it to maybe see something differently or start smiling more. In reality, this blog is my small attempt to illustrate what I find beautiful in the world. From little things like how delicious a pear can taste when it is perfectly ripened to major issues like loving the planet and taking care of it. I am just in love with life, every aspect of it, and really want to celebrate and show my appreciation for everything there is in the world. There are enough amazing things all around us that we can love and be happy with that happiness should never be something we hope to one day find, but a state that people always inhabit.
Some posts in this blog are going to simply be me raving about something that I fell in love with that day and some are going to be me questioning an issue or event that is going on in my community or the world. I hope that it stirs conversation and that people contribute their ideas and opinions so that I can keep on learning and growing.
I wanted to start writing out everything that makes me smile, gets me to think, challenges me, worries me, motivates me, and makes me stop to go "Wow." In short...everything that I love about life (you are going to hear that word a lot because I tend to love many many things.) In a way this is a very selfish blog, what blog isn't I guess, but I also would love for anyone who happens to read any of it to maybe see something differently or start smiling more. In reality, this blog is my small attempt to illustrate what I find beautiful in the world. From little things like how delicious a pear can taste when it is perfectly ripened to major issues like loving the planet and taking care of it. I am just in love with life, every aspect of it, and really want to celebrate and show my appreciation for everything there is in the world. There are enough amazing things all around us that we can love and be happy with that happiness should never be something we hope to one day find, but a state that people always inhabit.
Some posts in this blog are going to simply be me raving about something that I fell in love with that day and some are going to be me questioning an issue or event that is going on in my community or the world. I hope that it stirs conversation and that people contribute their ideas and opinions so that I can keep on learning and growing.
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