Category: Teacher

Can you imagine being without your cell phone for more than a day? Can you remember when you did not even have a cell phone? If you are over the age of 50, maybe you answered yes to the second question. Imagine a world without a cell phone to call, text, or check your favorite social media every few minutes. Wow! That could be a change you may not be able to imagine. Well, I lost my phone down in Mexico while on a cruise last week. They found it! But may take weeks to have in my hands again. What am I going to do? Just today, I spent hours trying to find phone numbers of people I needed to see because all my contacts are now on the missing phone. Guess what? I survived and realized it will all be ok. Changes are an inevitable fact of life. However, change is resisted by most of us. I have heard it said that success is on the fringes of fear. When we become too comfortable to make an important change, we can find ourselves stuck in a comfort zone never to see new opportunities. Some of us are forced into change due to events in our lives that are beyond our control. Some of us see fear as a new opportunity to grow out of our comfort zones to new adventures. The new adventure may not be as sweet a deal as we thought but at least we moved out of the comfort zone rut. As the lyrics from David Bowie’s song “Changes” say, “still don’t know what I was waiting for …. every time I thought I’d got it made it seemed the taste was not so sweet….pretty soon now you’re gonna get older time may change me but I can’t trace time.”

My wife and I were blessed to go on a small 5-day cruise to Cozumel and the Yucatan recently. I like to try to understand why things are as they are in different cultures. For example, the whole Mayan civilization was forced to change by their conquering Spanish visitors to their land. Why? Well, I guess it always come down to those who want against those who have. The Mayan’s had a new interesting land and the Spanish saw the opportunity to extend their control. Well before the Spanish take over, the Yucatan experienced an earth changing event about 66 million years ago. Geologists found clues in a crater called “Chicxulub” reported by NPR in May 2016 that they called a “Dinosaur Killing Asteroid”. The report went on to say the crater was about 125 miles across and epicenter in the Yucatan peninsula. The crater was about the size of Statin Island and estimated to have killed about 75% of all life on our planet earth. Now, that is a change we all would feel!

By the way, did you know what Yucatan really means in the Mayan translation? Read one of my earlier blogs in 2016 if you do not understand. Hint!

If you ever wished to kiss a girl or boy, you better be careful as the Mayan language has different meanings. The pronunciation is the same in Mayan. The word “kis” in Mayan sounds the same as kiss in English but totally takes on a different meaning in Mayan. It means to “pass gas”. Also, the word wish in English sounds the same in Mayan as the word “wiix” which means to urinate. So in Mayan would you ever pee or fart on a girl or boy? My point is in this world of different cultures, we need to be so careful not to be misinterpreted. Our trip to Progresso, Yucatan was very enlightening to how the ancient Mayan communicated using flat stones with writing (Dzibilchaltun) to mark time and celebrate life according to their beliefs.

Our trip to Cozumel on the Caribbean side of Mexico where Cruise Ships come and go daily bringing people looking for diving opportunities with great beaches is not much comparison to Progresso. However, I liked the historical significance of changes imposed on the Yucatan Peninsula. At Cozumel, try the good food at Woody’s in San Miguel or take a horse and buggy ride from San Miquel to Puerta Maya where many of the Cruise Ships dock. Very nice!

The meaning of change is “to make or become different … Change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another.” We are all faced with the inevitable march of time and the effects of aging. Some of us are blessed to have a long life to see the aging process whereas some of us are cut down in our prime of life. The fear of change should not prevent us from making the most of God’s given opportunity to become a living testimony of how change can lead to real life successes.

As I write, I am wondering what changes are coming my way soon. The loss of my cell phone down in Progresso seems very trivial. A cell phone can always be replaced so I will survive this small change. Stay tuned for how I adjust to this minor change and also recognize changes in your life good or bad for after all none of us can trace time.

T

I recently invested about 6 hours in an online Defensive Driving course sponsored by my car insurance company. It cost me time and money in return for a discount on my insurance premium. Good trade off! Now that I have finished the course, I strongly recommend taking the time to learn more about aggression, etc. Here are just a couple of things I learned I would like to share. When a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, the danger of one person’s action creating another person’s reaction is heighten by our state of mine. Anger is usually the result of disappointment, suspicion or pride. Actions by others can quickly turn into loss of personal control leading to an aggressive driving reaction. Classic example of this is one driver’s proper action traveling the speed limit being threatened by a second aggressive driver’s reaction. He has to slow down so tries to pass over the speed limit which could cause more evasive reactions by oncoming vehicles. Second driver’s loss of personal control of the situation became aggressive perhaps causing an accident. Please take the whole course to learn more but proves my purpose of this message. We all want control and when we have someone who acts beyond our control we can easily get angry which then can turn into a battle. The 3rd law of physics stated below applies not only to physics but to all aspects of life.

Newton’s third law of Physics states that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. 

Life is full of challenges that we can not control ourselves. we recently made a trip to Australia and visited relatives that have been full of challenges. Years earlier the family came together to search for a lost relative. The whole country reacted with compassion and an urgency to find the lost boy before it was too late. Sadly, the boy was found too late. I truly believe his Spirit lives on to continue strengthening the hurting family. Now, after our wonderful visit with our relatives, tragedy struck again this time with a disease that took the life of a dear man who I had come to love as if he were my brother. In fact, he is my brother in Christ. I know though his family is in deep grief now, they too know that he has now exchanged his earthy body with a Spiritual body. He will continue along with his father and his dear lost nephew to guide and strength those left behind to reach their ultimate purpose. In 1 Cor. 10:10, Paul encourages brothers and sisters to agree with each other and not be divided into rival groups but be of the same mind and same purpose.

For each action, there is a reaction. If the action of others are aggressive then we are in danger of retaliation. However, if the action is calming, then we have a better chance to react in a calm manner. All of us have control issues and none of us like change but change is inevitable in life. How we react to change makes all the difference to our own state of being and those of others.

T

 

 

Aloha is a great Hawaiian word meaning  both hello and goodbye. Appropriate for me as I journey beyond its shores.

Aloha from Oahu(biggest city is Honolulu), Maui(lots of winding roads up to dormant volcano), Kauai(home of Juassic Park and South Pacific), Big Island (Hawaii)(Hilo average rain per year over 200 inches, access to Kilauea Volcano and Kono dry side average 20 Inches.), Molokai(not visited), and Lanai(not visited). This is the Hawaiian islands. Great Britian called them the Sandwich Islands but gave them back to the local inhabitants ruled by the great king Kamehameha. My history may not be great so here is an excerpt from Google.

“In ancient Hawaii, legends told of a day when a great king would unite all the Hawaiian islands. The sign of his birth, kahuna (priests) claimed, would be a comet.
And so it goes that Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s Comet made an appearance over Hawaiian skies. Kamehameha was born in Paiea on the Big Island of Hawaii. Translated, Kamehameha means “the lonely one” (More history if want to research is available.) copy right 1997-2011 “Aloha from Hawaii”

Further research will possibly reveal that the good ole USA decided the islands were valuable enough to take over so they did. I guess the American Indians have a kindred connection. History is full of triumph over the weak. “Follow the money.”

As I travel from the Hawaiian islands to new adventures in Australia, I write this message. This is what I have learned about Hawaii from a tourist perspective.

First and last stop was Honolulu on Oahu. First day was not much as traveling but day 7 was all about the lives lost at Pearl Harbor. May we never forget. Later that night we walked along Waikiki beach with Diamond Head, extinct valcono in the background. Destruction of the past often leads to beauty in the present.

Our 2nd and 4th days took us to the island of Maui where we did a whole lot of driving up to another dormant volcano called Haleakala over 10,000 feet elevation. From there, we drove through a very nice town called Makawo and connected with the road to Hana. That road is very narrow and treacherous so we turned back after seeing a few water falls. It reminded us of the song lyrics, “don’t go chasing water falls”. We drove back along the coast to Paia and saw giant Green Hawaiian Turtles resting on the beach so all well worth the journey. The next day we just drove around to Lahaina for shopping.

On our 3rd day we went to the Big Island as they call it but is where they get the name Hawaii as I understand. We started at Hilo (rainy side) which is the gateway to vaconoes national park. Kilauea has erupted every day since 1983. Very large and spectacular! We traveled that night to see the eruption ending with the lava flow into the sea where fire is tamed by water. The 4th day we started at Kailua-Kona (dry side) where we stopped and played on the beach. Very relaxing day!

We then went to Kauai on the 5th and 6th days. That night we attended a Luau which tells the story of the Hawaiian heritage in song and dance while we ate. Very descriptive story picture with the Hula dancing! On the 6th day, the view of the island by helicopter is the only way to take in the full majestic beauty. I kept looking for dinasoars. Wander why!

That ended our magical Hawaiian adventure on day 7,
Now we are off to explore the land down under.
T

The worse two words in the English language in my opinion is “I assumed”. Let’s break it down. First, the word “I” implies that you had no input from anyone else before you made your statement. Second, the word “assumed” is a verb meaning “to accept something to be true without question or proof”.  Let me list a few examples and for fun, put a “G” for guilty or “I” for innocent to each statement below to grade yourself.

1. I assumed you were pregnant since you had gained so much weight.
2. I assumed you had moved since I have not seen you around.
3. I assumed Yucatan was a location in Mexico.
4. I assumed you were picking up the kids.
5. I assumed you were married.
6. I assumed you could read.
7. I assumed you believed in the same politics and the rest of us.
8. I assumed you loved me not material treasures.
9. I assumed you had gotten over that thing or that person.
10. I assumed you heard what I said.
11. (Bonus question) I assumed ………………………….(fill in the blanks)………………..

If you scored 90% or above guilty, I assume you are honest with yourself. If you scored under 50%, I assume you are either a Saint which is highly unlikely or not honest with yourself. No replies on the test please as only for self awareness.

The definition of assumption is “a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof….. example cited in Google is assumption you are a nerd if you wear glasses, even though that is not true or very nice.”

I believe more countries, families, religious or political opposing groups, etc. have battled based on assumptions with no true resolution. There are entire countries around the world that base their existence on conflicts from centuries old assumptions. Sad isn’t that we as humans make so many assumptions!

By the way if you assumed the Yucatan was a location in Mexico you get partial credit but do you know what it means? Early Spanish explorers made a fundamental assumption long ago as the story is told. If you do not understand what a person is saying do you just make an assumption or do you attempt to communicate differently to obtain a correct interpretation?

I know Memorial Day has already passed but did you assume those who were affected by the loss of a loved one to keep this country free was acknowledged for their sacrifices? Without assuming, it is never too late to do the right thing.

T

To all you teachers out there who questioned your own sanity when for the eleventh time your student finally got it, congrats. To all you parents who thought this day would never come, congrats. To all you students who did not give up on your dream, congrats. It is with great pride that being one of those teachers and today one of those parents, I say it was all worth it. To see your own child reach a level of academic achievement never before reached in my family history gives me a belief that we can accomplish whatever we set our goals to achieve. Thank you Dr E. for restoring my own confidence that with enough work, determination and faith we can move that mountain.

T