Err in the Direction of Optimism (aka Perseverence)

If you've been in my class before, you've already read the "Err in the Direction of Kindness" blog. And further, you've even written a blog about it.

You're free to read it again and write a NEW comment on that blog, but here's a second option.

Kindness to others is of the utmost importance.  The other characteristic that will be important to you in your life is PERSISTENCE.  So your second option is to watch (or read) something meaningful about persistence and write about it in your blog.

Persistence.  It goes hand in hand with optimism.  If you are optimistic, then you'll likely have greater persistence.

Calvin Coolidge spoke beautifully about persistence:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ~Calvin Coolidge

Hear Calvin Coolidge speak this paragraph HERE. 

Here's a couple Ted Talks that could be interesting for you -- choose one or find your own to write about. 

Ted Talk: Dennis E. Murphree: “The Importance of Persistence in Your Life.”

“Err on the side of Optimism; … optimism is so much more fun to live.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3TJCLWTgt8

Ted Talk: Derek Clark: “Power of Determination.”

“Every Child is Worthy”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trcYKxj48HA


Olympians, people who persevered. Stories of Olympians.
http://www.upworthy.com/when-life-hit-them-hard-these-4-olympians-persevered-and-hit-back-even-harder?c=sr1&sr_source=lift_facebook 

Err in the Direction of Kindness

The phrase, "Err in the direction of kindness," went viral the summer of 2013 with the convocation speech of George Saunders at Syracuse University. Here's the New York Times article where I first read the speech; I encourage you to read it. (Actually, I guess I'm not just encouraging you to read it, I'm asking you to read it. )  You can also hear it.

I'm sure you don't really wonder all that much why the phrase graces the wall of my classroom in so many different areas; perhaps you have also considered the depth of which I support this phrase and how sometimes that phrase challenges even the most gentle and compassionate people.

Dustin Hoffman, when he played, "Tootsie," in the movie of the same name, had a quite profound experience when he tried, briefly, to have the real-life experience of a woman looking like Tootsie. I encourage (actually not only encourage....)  you to watch the clip to see his reaction. "...I think I am an interesting woman .... and I know that if I met myself at a party then I would never talk to that character because she doesn't fulfill physically the the demands that we are brought up to think women have to have in order to ask them out ... There's too many interesting women I have ... not had the experience to know in this life because I have been brainwashed ...  That (movie) was never a comedy for me."

Boy Scouts have many, many fine attributes, one of which is re-evaluating its policies. I'm so impressed that, after years of being   unwelcoming towards atheists and members of the LGBTQ community, the BSA has decided to welcome people to their organization regardless of their sexual expression or orientation.  And even more recently, BSA has been welcoming of transgender boys.  But prior to these announcements, I found myself honoring the program and the great activities and lessons that boys learn, but yet being intolerant of their exclusion and social phobia of LGBTQ people. I'm uncomfortable with that intolerance yet wrestle with the hypocrisy of being intolerant of intolerance.  One year, I had a student invite me to his Eagle Scout ceremony.  His mothers (yes, plural; he came from a family with two moms and no dad) are friends of mine.  I called them up,  not knowing how to start the conversation.  "Um," I started, "I...ah... don't quite know what to say, but I'm wondering how you all can, you know,...." at which point one of the moms started laughing.  She said, "I know exactly what you are going to say.  Let me tell you that I am so accepting that I accept them for who they are even if they can't accept me." She schooled me on being kind and loving.

But let me be clear. I will honor and value each person, even if his/her opinions are radically different from mine. However, in my classroom, I will not allow anyone to take away the freedom, self esteem, strength and beauty of anyone else. I will not be unwelcoming to anyone and ask the same of you.  I will do all I can to teach and model tolerance and kindness. You are allowed to believe what you want to believe, but you are to be kind to everyone, recognizing that each person has something to offer, and understanding that each person is worthy of affection.

This year, and in all your endeavors for your whole life, please be kind. I found it especially revealing and telling and insightful that an older person -- George Saunders -- would identify his biggest regret as not being kind enough to a little girl while he was in elementary school.

Your blog assignment: 1. Read the transcript of the speech (or listen to it)  2. Watch Dustin Hoffman.  3. Then comment on what moves you about the messages I'm trying the share with you.   Be sure you write 150 or so words; make your words meaningful and insightful. Most of all, enjoy reading my post and writing your own.

Err in the Direction of Kindness

The phrase, "Err in the direction of kindness," went viral the summer of 2013 with the convocation speech of George Saunders at Syracuse University. Here's the New York Times article where I first read the speech; I encourage you to read it. (Actually, I guess I'm not just encouraging you to read it, I'm asking you to read it. )

I'm sure you don't really wonder all that much why the phrase graces the wall of my classroom in so many different areas; perhaps you have also considered the depth of which I support this phrase and how sometimes that phrase challenges even the most gentle and compassionate people.

Dustin Hoffman, when he played, "Tootsie," in the movie of the same name, had a quite profound experience when he tried, briefly, to have the real-life experience of a woman looking like Tootsie. I encourage (actually not only encourage....)  you to watch the clip to see his reaction. "...I think I am an interesting woman .... and I know that if I met myself at a party then I would never talk to that character because she doesn't fulfill physically the the demands that we are brought up to think women have to have in order to ask them out ... There's too many interesting women I have ... not had the experience to know in this life because I have been brainwashed ...  That (movie) was never a comedy for me."

Boy Scouts have many, many fine attributes, one of which is re-evaluating its policies. I'm so impressed that, after years of being   unwelcoming towards atheists and members of the LGBTQ community, the BSA has decided to welcome people to their organization regardless of their sexual expression or orientation.  But prior to this recent announcement, I found myself honoring the program and the great activities and lessons that boys learn, but yet being intolerant of their exclusion and social phobia of LGBTQ people. I'm uncomfortable with that intolerance yet wrestle with the hypocrisy of being intolerant of intolerance.  One year, I had a student invite me to his Eagle Scout ceremony.  His mothers (yes, plural; he came from a family with two moms and no dad) are friends of mine.  I called them up,  not knowing how to start the conversation.  "Um," I started, "I...ah... don't quite know what to say, but I'm wondering how you all can, you know,...." at which point one of the moms started laughing.  She said, "I know exactly what you are going to say.  Let me tell you that I am so accepting that I accept them for who they are even if they can't accept me." She schooled me on being kind and loving.

But let me be clear. I will honor and value each person, even if his/her opinions are radically different from mine. However, in my classroom, I will not allow anyone to take away the freedom, self esteem, strength and beauty of anyone else. I will not be unwelcoming to anyone and ask the same of you.  I will do all I can to teach and model tolerance and kindness. You are allowed to believe what you want to believe, but you are to be kind to everyone, recognizing that each person has something to offer, and understanding that each person is worthy of affection.

This year, and in all your endeavors for your whole life, please be kind. I found it especially revealing and telling and insightful that an older person -- George Saunders -- would identify his biggest regret as not being kind enough to a little girl while he was in elementary school.

Your blog assignment: 1. Read the transcript of the speech.  2. Watch Dustin Hoffman.  3. Then comment on what moves you about the messages I'm trying the share with you.   When you first set up your blog, use whatever works best for you (TUMBLR, blogspot.....)  You are more savvy than I, but I will do my best to answer questions you may have.  More likely, I will refer your questions back to your classmates. Be sure you write 150 or so words; make your words meaningful and insightful. Most of all, enjoy reading my post and writing your own.

JAMM'n Peaches.

In the late 20th century, we lived in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the juncture of the Grand and Colorado Rivers.  Just East of town is the town of Palisade; just west of town is Fruita. 

Our rental house, about 1500 square feet of damp stucco and thin pine floorboards from the 1920's, sported a flower garden.  When I moved in, I didn't pay much attention to plants; after all, I killed most of the houseplants that I had ever owned.  First bloomed the Peonies.  Each large lacy fluffy light pink billow was so fragrant that the scent of one in a simple spherical bowl would fill the house.  Different flowers bloomed in succession until the roses, the many roses, bloomed. The wirey and pokey stalks of plumes spread across the yard in wild wonder, blissfully taking over all the play area.  Our neighbor, Barbara, a proud nonagenarian, leaned over the fence; "I have some clippers you could borrow for those rose bushes," she said.  I smiled, knowing that if I did anything to these plants then surely they would die.

One morning, I found the clippers and some gloves on a table in our back yard.  I began using the clippers more like a sythe on the rose bushes so the size of our yard would be increased, allowing for more play space. Later that day, I returned the clippers to Barbara and thanked her. She smiled and gently said, "You know, if you cut the roses at an angle five leaves below the last bloom, then your roses would blossom again."  I smiled back, knowing that I could not have cared less about the roses.

It was only 2 weeks later when I found myself cutting the roses as she had recommended, and not even a month later when our world became filled with Elizabeth, Sunrise, Blood Orange, and Pink Beauty roses.

And so it went with peaches.  Bushels appeared on my porch from well-meaning friends.  "Surplus," they said, "From the orchards in Palisade and Fruita. Can them."  I smiled, knowing that I didn't like peaches and liked cooking even less. Clearly, the peaches would rot.  Barbara said canning was easy.  "Would you like to borrow my pot for a try?  I have some extra pectin and can show you an easy technique for removing the skin." 

It was barely 10 days before the lids of my first set of Jammin' Peaches began making friendly popping noises as the peaches cooled inside the pint glass jars.

Some people know me now as Ms Peach; some folks make annual deliveries of their surplus in the hopes that I'll prevent food waste.  Regardless, my life is richer and sweeter for finally listening to my neighbor Barbara.