Michael Jordan To Abby Lee Miller

Something I really enjoy seeing is someone doing something they are passionate about.  I'm not talking about a hobby or even something they may be good at, but something they are passionate about.  Some examples for others may be a little different for me because again, just because someone is good or even great, does not make them passionate.  I still to this day question Michaeal Jordan's passion for basketball.  I won't go as far to say he was not passionate, but he was a great example of tragedy tampering with his passion.  That is what makes me question.  Typically, in my theory of passion, you always run to this passion, whether in good or bad times.  We all know that one drunk.  Everytime you see him/her, you ask yourself, really?  If he/she is celebrating, drunk.  If it was a bad day, drunk.  Just becasue it is Tuesday, drunk.  I think that counts as a passion.  Many would call it an addiction, and I would agree, but that passion can definitely lead you there.  Now, back to Mike.  Most would not question his passion for basketball, but I think about the stories like when he was cut, and it made him work harder.  So was it his passion for basketball or not wanting to be cut again?  The same with coming back to basketball from baseball.  And again, please don't allow me to upset you as I share because he was going through an extremely tough period.  Did he come back for the passion of the game, or because he was not as successful with baseball.  It was almost like that moment where you realize I am the best in the world at something even though I like something else more, and we all can agree he was never going to be as great at baseball as he was in basketball.  To switch it a bit, if you have ever watched Dance Mom's, which I love by the way, Abby is a great example of someone who is passionate about something.  You can clearly see she no longer can dance, but her passion for dance oozes out in each episode.  This is what I am specifically talking about when I say passion.  She is a great dance teacher but being a dance teacher is not her passion; dance is.  What makes it hard are the ones around her who do not share that same passion and cannot understand.  It is interesting to see the girls, who just enjoy the friendships they have created rather than what you assume was once their passion versus the other girls, who care about those friendships but care more about their passion.  I know we all see this dynamic all the time, but that is a completely other blog post.  As I have gotten older, I truly find myself drawn to watching passionate people.  I actually enjoy going to a good balet or opera and enjoy searching for the performers, who I feel share their passion with me.  On the other side of the coin, I generally want to yank performers off the stage when you can tell they are just doing it because maybe they are just good or even worse because it is their job.  Now that brings me to me.  Most that know me, know my passion is probably 1 of 2 things: education or basketball.  But again as I have gotten older, I think my passion truly has more to do with mentoring young people.  I am still narrowing down my specific passion but to see a young person learn something or realize something is like seeing a shooting star.  I also enjoy helping them with their passions even it means just supporting them rather than helping them because maybe I am unable to or do not possess the knowledge.  I encourage you to find that passion, and I pray that that passion is your job because if it is, you have truly special blessing.  Don't stray too far from your passion.  Find your happiness there.  Deal with you pain there.  And hopefully your passion is not something harmful but rather something that truly enhances others.  Feel free to share with me some of your passions or even examples of people who are passionate that you know.  Make it a passion-filled day.

Let's Dance

It is me - I am back.  Please forgive me for such the long lay off.  I had some really getting on me pretty hard.  It was a hectic last few days, but I want to do something different for today's blog.  This may come across "cheesy," but I do not care.  I also have to shout out my PR person for her promotion.  "VPs, VIPs, turning heads from Ohio to FL to the West Indies."  Those that knw me know I love to come up with corny raps.  I have to dedicate today's blog to all the Electric Ladies.  We all know why women are so important, but I want them and us to get down during this blog for no other reason than to celebrate them.  They are Q.U.E.E.N.S.  I know you all are thinking he must have messed up at home or is trying to brown nose.  NOPE.  But the women in my life are truly some awesome ladies.  I have one - I call her "Va Pe."  She is the hardest working female I know, hands down.  She is a true go-getter, and she inspires me like none other.  I have seen her go earn everything; she has been given very little, and I want her to know I know and get down for herself.  I know another, who is so strong, my mental picture of "strong" may be a lot different than others.  Sometimes, I do not know how she deals.  I know she does not get enough of the credit she deserves.  I just want her to know I truly try to do all I can to make things easy.  Another one is the epitome of a matriach.  I am sure she would rather not be, but for every woman out there that has to be, they could learn a lot from her.  She reminds me of what matriachal women should be to make things better in our society.  Being tough on kids does not mean you do not love them.  Giving them everything they ask for does not mean you are giving them all they need to succeed.  Love is often discipline.  Love is often drawing a line in the sand and daring a child to cross it and backing up decisions with consequences.  She has shown me these methods work far better than waiting until children are adults to then try them.  Another young lady I know is continuing to show so much resilience, it is scary.  Her thirst for knowledge is moving to an all-time high, and to see her embrace challenges and welcome hard things, truly has me as her biggest cheerleader.  She is overcoming, and one success after another is making her stronger than Superman.  I truly want to dance with them all and get down.  We hear all the time how women are strong, etc.  But it has become a cliche of sorts.  Let's bring it truly back, not just when something bad is happening bet even when all is going well.  We all know so many fabulous women; let's dance with them today.  It does not matter how but celebrate them.

Also, I want to send a special prayer and blessing to the daughter of one of my Godsons.  I take my responsibility of covering my spiritual sons very serious.

The Truest G Died And Actually Beat Death, So We Could Live

Please be sure to remember what was taking place on our behalf during this time.  A Father gave His Son for us.  The Easter bunny may be what is put in our faces, but don't allow the hand you see to deceive from what is really going on.  What do you celebrate on Resurrection Sunday?

Prisoners of Time

After yesterday, I challenged myself to do a more thorough caption of a report on education.  It also touches on things mentioned in my blog, Education and Church.
                  In reading “Prisoners of Time,” a report done back in 1994 on education, it confirmed a lot that is very evident – time is of the upmost importance and should not and cannot be wasted.  In my own life, I learned early on how important time is in life and education.  The expense of being better taught was weighed with the expenses of other needs and wants.  In the end, some made it, and some did not.   In Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, it expresses that some choose to put forth the time to be great, and their effort is met with circumstances that can potentially transform their lives.  We all see this all the time, and so do students and their parents.  Why is it that $1 dollar can win you a jackpot while 30 years with a company has changed from being a sure retiree to a person that will have to continue working after these years and may not even receive the gold watch.  These thoughts may seem a little weird, but the truth is everybody does not make it, and to those students and parents that see more failure than others, their life and time may be seen differently than myself, you, or even the authors of “Prisoners of Time.”

                With the information contained in “Prisoners of Time,” I believe digestion and understanding is important to apply its principles to students and parents.  I recall a student telling me his mom told him he had to get a job to bring in some money for the family.  Instinctively, I thought as a Senior, a job can wait.  But after talking to the young man’s mom, she had placed in him that getting a job to support the family was more important than receiving his diploma right now.  With thorough understanding of “POT,” I was able to be more understanding that it may not have been his time for education and put away my own convictions.  I am sure many read “POT” and naturally assume education is the key, but I do not believe it is.  Time is the key.  If this young man was told he would live as long as Methuselah, no one would question his family’s decision to work right now because he could go to school later, and that is what I think “POT” was alluding to.  What if schools did not set parameters on time as best as they can in order to accommodate as many students as possible?

                During this time of pre-celebration for graduation and the end of the natural school year, many parents are inquiring about “how much time does my student have to finish the class?”  It would enjoyable to say, “It is truly up to you all.  Education does not have a set time to be complete but to make it in time for your school graduation, it is important to complete so many assignments each week so that your paper work goes in on time.”  This deals with the accountability mentioned in “POT.”  As we have so clearly learned as adults, everyone is accountable to someone or for something.  But when we think back to our childhood, many of us enjoyed carefree living and what seemed like endless fun.  At what point did we become accountable?  What if multiple variables arose?  What if at age 5, we were not allowed to be a child but had some type of adult responsibility?  What if all these were reversed, and we were not allowed to be an adult even at age 18?  My long rambling point is that those parents that hold their children accountable for the 18 year old things; then the 19 year old things, seem to have a more natural progression.  It does not mean that everything is easy, but when their child was 5, this parent was allowing their child to be responsible for 5 year old things.   If all was equal, it would seem things would be easier, but the truth is, the only thing equal is time.  What happens inside of that time is what is different.

                As I continue applying the principle of “POT” to students and parents, I hope to  continue reforming not only their minds but also my own.  During conversations with educators, I remember the thing most stressed was time and dealing with it.  At the time, I did not quite understand, but after a few months thinking through their comments, I see why they kept discussing it.  Many are conditioned as Prisoners of Time.  We often do everything at a set time.  If we must be to work at 8am, we must wake at 6am every day.  Eat breakfast at 7am and leave the house by 7:15am.  While at work, we must eat lunch at 12pm and be back on duty at 1pm.  The day is not over until 5pm.  When we get back home, everything is scheduled.  Then we do it all again until the weekend.  This conditioning is tough to break.  This has nothing to do with whether we enjoy or don’t enjoy what is being done within the day but that we are time driven.  The more we remain within this conditioning, the tougher it is to break unless we dislike something more than the conditioning.  In listening to others around me and within education, it was easy to pick out those who were conditioned and those that were not.  As people shared and stated things like I was a stay at home parent or I ran my own business, their comments on time made more sense; myself included.  I have definitely had a mind shift that students and parents should be able to be educated from 3pm to 8pm, and work should be allowed to flow 24/7.  Ironically, in freeing the students from the imprisonment of time, educators will have to make a huge commitment in the dynamic of responsibility mentioned in “POT.”  This commitment is why I admire great teachers, and through the support of families, I know we can begin to make time work for us as we help the youth of tomorrow toward success.

Start - Punch Fear In The Face

It has been a super busy and hectic day.  I did not want to disappoint myself and not write something, but I would encourage or rather would recommend the book START - Punch Fear In The Face/Escape Average/Do Work That Matters.  It is by Jon Acuff, another person who inspired this blog.  If you have read it, feel free to chime in with your thoughts.  If you have not read it and enjoy reading, it is an awesome read.  Make it a great one.

Snow In April

I must take a moment to thank my PR person as she got on me about my spelling error.  Some may have noticed my blog title has changed from Read Me Please to Ream Me Please.  That is to match the url address.  I know I will make so many mistakes through this process, and it will take those that care to really help me continue to get better.  I want to thank her for being the best PR person in world, and while this is extremely small time for her, her portfolio in the field is unbelievable, and I am privileged and honored to have her help.
My grandmother is an awesome lady.  I point this out because I often see her in her rocking chair, often times about to go to sleep or sleeping.  She is famous for saying things, where you are like where did that come from.  One that always sticks with me is "I Love You A Bushel And A Peck & A Hug Around The Neck."  Until recently, I had no idea who Doris Day was, but I can only imagine she holds a special place in my grandmother's heart.  My grandmother would say that to me all the time growing up.  She always finds a way to push us further.  She reads the paper all the time and loves to go through the sales section.  She is always so different than what is around her, and that is extremely awesome to me.  I still remember her taking me for drives and going maybe a littler faster than you would think was safe, but that was my grandmother always pushing the envelope.  I would have loved to get her a Porsche or some other fast car as I know she would have loved it.  My uncle gave her a sporty Lexus, and I think she used to love that thing.  My grandfather was always a tank driver.  It had to be big and long (for my North Easteners - pause).  My grandmother has never lost her identity - she is who she is.  I can only imagine what she would say about it snowing today.  What's crazy is yesterday the Dogwoods were in full bloom, beuatiful yellow flowers were blooming, the grass was fertilizer green, and this morning - everything covered in white.  Unbelievable!  When my grandfather passed, I was still in high school.  I could not really see or understand what was going on.  Being several years older, I better understand the times we live.  I better understand all the memories.  I better understand the snow in the middle of April.  Reflection is necessary.  By the end of the day, I am sure the green and yellow will be back, and the snow will be gone.  Strength is something I see in her.  I actually have a framed picuture of the Day saying.  I still think Dallas is one of the greatest stories as I still remember watching it with her.  The Young and the Restless will always be in my thoughts as that is one of her favorites.  She always allowed me to grow and prove.  When I was 5, she would allow me to navigate her around the city, whether we got lost or not.  We always somehow ended up where we were trying to go.  I never wanted to make her mad or upset at me.  I still remember playing outside, and if she called and needed something, all sporting events stopped as I had to go check on my grandmother.  Often times, she just needed something quick, but it was always an example of how we should respond in life.  Grandmothers seem to be getting younger and younger, but I appreciate the wisdom of mine and all her experiences.  She had the classic granmother's house, where so many have lived there a time or two.  A 3 bedroom, stone block house about 15 blocks from the beach.  A place where it never snowed in April.  I hope she knows all she he has meant to me.  Better yet, I will end this here as I am going to call her.  I encourage you to do the same.  If it is not your grandmother, it may be someone else, but don't let this moment slip.

Education and Church

Education and Church.  I am going to try to do this.  I truly do not know how this will turn out as this one is straight stream of consciousness.  Thanks to all those English teachers that made me write in my journal and even to that professor in college that stole my journal.  I still believe she took some of my thoughts to include in a book.  These are two entities I just don't quite understand how we made it where we stand today.  There are always exceptions to the rule, but I strictly refer to overall.  If I step on toes, uh oh, maybe you are talking to yourself more than I am.  Technology is far better today than yesterday.  Generally, as we grow, we learn and get smarter, so what is happening in education?  I just don't get it.  It seems, we as people, just don't want to go further.  Where is the struggle, the perseverance?  It seems if we don't get it right the first time, we quit or just want the answer.  I can imagine educators drooled profusely when the computer was introduced.  All the possibilities and how now a student could go to a box to get so much information at the push of a button rather than having to wait for the library to open.  Who would have imagined that most young people use it more often than not for other things, let's just say less educational.  That brings me back to what has happened.  School is the same today as it once was yesterday, so why does it feel that less time is had.  Honestly, if you can't keep up, it may not be the system's fault but a form of weeding out.  Remedial courses within college are at an all-time high, and many believe that is the reason students are dropping out because they have to pay for classes that do not earn credit.  I am a firm beliver in the Ten Thousand Hour Rule, but that scares many away.  Greatness, Smart, Prodigy, ect is hard.  It is not easy.  Why has easy become an expectation?  With no rhyme or reason, that brings me to something my father-in-law mentioned to me once that I never forgot and often think about: what does it mean when older churches still owe a mortgage?  I don't know if I want to share too much into this as my PR person has warned me.  I will try to keep it top-surface.  The Church should model.  It should model whatever behavior is acceptable.  It does not matter the religion.  I am sure examples have popped into your head without going into them.  If certain things are continuously arising, there is an obvious problem.  And as we have seen in the history of church, things will be done in an effort to correct those things.  I am sure by now, I have touched some nerves, maybe even teetering on judging.  I challenge that I have called no one wrong or condemned anyone.  I simply pondered a question.  That brings me back to education.  Should something be done?  Will education get better?  Is education modeling the church, or is the church modeling education?  Is there even a problem?  I will say this, a lot of people in both entities are making a lot of money, usually top level.  Do you have something new or a new revolutionary program or test that will change the entire system?  If you do, know the right person, and you could get paid.  Now, there is accountability, hence the ending of programs, but what about the spent money.  Or even more important, those that were supposed to benefit, who maybe did not.  This analogy seems to fit well.  Bentleys are really nice cars and very expensive, but to hand the keys to a toddler and expect them to take care of this valued item would be very irresponsible and downright looney.  It is shown, a better method is to let that toddler grow, start with an old car, and gradually teach.  That system is pretty proven, so why reinvent the wheel?  Maybe education should get back to what was working rather than paying for the next new system.  Back to my churches, after 30 years, it is time to start the fire and get an eagle to fly high above.  If it is not close, it may be ok to ask why.  If it is really far away, you may need to jump in the passenger's seat with that toddler to scare yourself straight.  These two items are important to me as I believe they can answer a lot of other questions.  If this is the first time you have read my blog, I thank you, but more importantly, I challenge you to challenge you.  If you feel you may never read another of my blogs, I still thank you because we are now connected.  At least vent in a comment as I welcome all commentary.