In the past couple of days I have been unintentionally counselling students to "trust themselves" and their own thinking about their future, rather than just relying on their parents to "make decisions for them." I am talking about students, some extraordinarily talented some not, who silently abrogate their own control over their lives and let "Mommy and Daddy" think for them.
This may apply to career choice (money first), or college choice if they transfer (get the cheapest education possible), personal choice (marry the first guy that seems interested in you), or every other kind of choice! Why is it that so many of our 20 plus year old's are afraid to make decisions or to live their live on their own.
What are they afraid of? Is this an American problem because of "fear of failure" and "helicopter parents extended throughout our class system" (it used to extend just through the rich and privileged)?
What will be the final result of multitudes of young Americans following such weak and unsure advice? Stay tuned.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Exams
There are daily tests in people's lives: this report due, that payment needing to be made, that drop-off happening "by the end of the week." All kinds of little tests, and processes, and endpoints.
And we endure them all. Some of us make too much of them -- and don't allow ourselves to do well.
Others resist the pressure, don't really think about what needs to be done, and fail.
Which are you? Are you a success, a last-minute success (procrastinator), a partial success (I'll get that finished by next Tuesday), a failure, a partial failure (I just didn't have time)?
How do you cope with deadlines, endpoints, finishes, etc? How do you?
And we endure them all. Some of us make too much of them -- and don't allow ourselves to do well.
Others resist the pressure, don't really think about what needs to be done, and fail.
Which are you? Are you a success, a last-minute success (procrastinator), a partial success (I'll get that finished by next Tuesday), a failure, a partial failure (I just didn't have time)?
How do you cope with deadlines, endpoints, finishes, etc? How do you?
Monday, April 25, 2016
When the Doves Cry...
Prince was/is an amazing artist! No matter that he has died -- no matter that there will probably be "drugs" in his system (via the autopsy) -- no matter that he was a "good" person in spite of his lifestyle, his profession, his desire to be unique, his temperament!
His ideas live on; his music will live forever; his influence is undeniable to anyone who can see. Music soothes us all to different degrees. Prince brings out the "artist" in all of us. He is the Shakespeare of rock musicians.
His ideas live on; his music will live forever; his influence is undeniable to anyone who can see. Music soothes us all to different degrees. Prince brings out the "artist" in all of us. He is the Shakespeare of rock musicians.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Prince is Now Gone -- But Not the Music
When a celebrity passes -- the grief is public! Everyone remembers and cherishes their own link to the one passing -- the music, a song, an event, a memory.
Prince was the kind of iconoclastic icon that defied our sense of him. His special music mix involved many genres, styles, moments, and especially lyrics -- that will live on in our heads til we pass. That is what "art" does for all of us. It extends our joys. It consummates and completes our own small moments.
Rest in Peace --- Prince. We will play your music and live it -- for as long as we are alive.
Prince was the kind of iconoclastic icon that defied our sense of him. His special music mix involved many genres, styles, moments, and especially lyrics -- that will live on in our heads til we pass. That is what "art" does for all of us. It extends our joys. It consummates and completes our own small moments.
Rest in Peace --- Prince. We will play your music and live it -- for as long as we are alive.
Again?
It's that time of year! Please don't make me do my speech on Tuesday -- I promise I will be ready on Thursday, honest (not!). And there it is. Man's inability to stay focused, disciplined, complete the task, and move on to "bigger and better." Instead I will fight for my "right" to be a sluggard.
Why are students the way they are? Why are workers the way they are? Why are college students the way they are? Why, why, why?
As a student I was always eager to get it done; to get it over with; to complete the task -- succeed -- and move on! What has happened to American students, American education, America in general.
Don't ask Trump.
Why are students the way they are? Why are workers the way they are? Why are college students the way they are? Why, why, why?
As a student I was always eager to get it done; to get it over with; to complete the task -- succeed -- and move on! What has happened to American students, American education, America in general.
Don't ask Trump.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Crazytime
This Presidential Election: this time in America, this time in world history, this time in the twilight of the extinction of humankind (think "global warming"), this time is racist history, this time in chauvinism, this time in social media overload, this time in cybercrime, this time in cyberbullying, this time in religious zealotry, this time in religious pandering, this time in faith lapses, this time in blessed capitalism (facetious, of course), this time in human neglect, this time in world decay, this time in technological miracles (think "nano" and/or "genomic"), this time in human sadness (think "refugees," war, and human degradation of human life), this time in life, this time in despair, this time albeit too briefly of hope, this time in memories (think the "happy" ones only), this time in time ------ is Crazytime!!!
Donald Trump Should Not Be President
The Republicans are being "hoodwinked" by a second-rate celebrity salesman. They are "falling in line" with a racist, misogynist xenophobe who believes only in the drivel that spews out of his brain.
He has fooled all the disgruntled Americans who need to have someone to blame for current problems: economic, educational, job-oriented, family, drug-related, etc. and so they blame who HE blames: the Chinese, the Mexicans, the criminals, the immigrants, etc. Stupidity reigns; and Donald Trump is the King with no clothes. Take a look -- and vote elsewhere!
He has fooled all the disgruntled Americans who need to have someone to blame for current problems: economic, educational, job-oriented, family, drug-related, etc. and so they blame who HE blames: the Chinese, the Mexicans, the criminals, the immigrants, etc. Stupidity reigns; and Donald Trump is the King with no clothes. Take a look -- and vote elsewhere!
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