I have outgrown my current environment.
There was a time when I craved small-town life. Indeed, I have flourished in this sleepy, sometimes slow-to-progress South Louisiana barely-a-city.
When I first moved here 12 years ago from Houston, the slower pace and less crowded streets were a welcome change. I found quickly that it was easy to immerse myself into the community. The people were welcoming and as curious about me as I was about them.
I became involved in the local theatre and was instrumental in reorganizing the local humane society and making it a productive and essential part of the parish again. Because of my passion for the latter, I found myself in front of the parish council pleading for improvements to the shelter and encouraging them to initiate new procedures.
Soon, strangers started recognizing me. Whether they had seen me in a play or at a humane society event or on the local tv station following a televised parish council meeting, I was slowly obtaining a certain local notoreity.
As an attention-hound, I loved it. I stayed busy, was proud of the non-profit work I was doing, had fun with the theatre and met a lot of really great people.
But, as Robert Frost once said, "nothing gold can stay." (sorry, I've watched "The Outsiders" a few too many times, I guess). Things change and so do people. I switched careers, my married life fell apart, changed partners and responsibilities, drifted away from the Humane Society due to differences of opinions and haven't had much time for the theatre.
I guess, more than anything, I'm tired of being a big fish in a small pond. I know I can make a difference here. It's easy drawing a small community together. It's satisfying, but no longer challenging.
Compare my growing pains, if you will, to moulting in a bird. It's time for me to shed a few feathers and replace them with something new; to pluck the used and broken plumage and grow stronger, better wings.
I'd like to see what kind of waves I could make in a bigger city. Plans are in the works to move on. Stay tuned...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Decline of Education
I am increasingly concerned about what they are not teaching our children these days.
I work with a lot of college-age students and have worked with high school students in the not-so-distant past. I see children of all ages in my store every day. For the most part, my employees are very intelligent, learn quickly and are wonderful people who will be very successful in whatever they choose to do.
However, there have been times when I have been concerned for their future.
We use a digital scale at Starbucks to weigh our coffee. On several occasions I've asked an employee to weigh out a half pound of coffee. They've looked at me and asked, "what's a half pound on the scale?" (meaning the decimal equivalent to half a pound).
I've had to bite my tongue, take a breath and say, "what's half of one?" They actually have to think about it for a minute, or I may have to probe them a little more before they can come up with the answer.
And, God forbid the register should freak out and not tell them how much change to give the customer. Nearly all of them will panic and call for me. "Their total was $6.71 and they gave me a $20, but the register flipped back to the order screen without telling me how much change to give them. What do I do?"
"Just count back up to $20," I say. However, this phrase must sound a lot like Chinese because they simply can't comprehend what I'm saying.
I don't blame them. I blame the school system. I remember in elementary school they had a specific class on how to open a bank account, fill out a check, make change, etc. These days, they take their test with calculators, do all their research on computers instead of setting foot in a library, and make their moms type their papers for them (or actually write them). It's no wonder they can't function without the aid of an electronic device.
Don't get me wrong, technology is wonderful. I use it myself every day to stay in touch, get more info. on things I'd like to know about, entertain my right brain, and get things off my mind. But you can never replace the hand to hand connection with people. Computers break, electricity goes out, cell phones don't work everywhere. It's important to keep up with the times, but first we have to teach our kids to master the basics.
And, please, parents tell your kids before they go to a job interview that ripped blue jeans and a dirty t-shirt is NOT appropriate attire. You would not believe the outfits people show up in for an interview: short-shorts and tank tops, baggy "drooper" jeans, flip flops, etc.
My favorite was the guy who gave a wonderful interview, but showed up in jeans and a t-shirt that said "Hard work won't kill me, but I don't want to take that chance." He didn't get the job.
I work with a lot of college-age students and have worked with high school students in the not-so-distant past. I see children of all ages in my store every day. For the most part, my employees are very intelligent, learn quickly and are wonderful people who will be very successful in whatever they choose to do.
However, there have been times when I have been concerned for their future.
We use a digital scale at Starbucks to weigh our coffee. On several occasions I've asked an employee to weigh out a half pound of coffee. They've looked at me and asked, "what's a half pound on the scale?" (meaning the decimal equivalent to half a pound).
I've had to bite my tongue, take a breath and say, "what's half of one?" They actually have to think about it for a minute, or I may have to probe them a little more before they can come up with the answer.
And, God forbid the register should freak out and not tell them how much change to give the customer. Nearly all of them will panic and call for me. "Their total was $6.71 and they gave me a $20, but the register flipped back to the order screen without telling me how much change to give them. What do I do?"
"Just count back up to $20," I say. However, this phrase must sound a lot like Chinese because they simply can't comprehend what I'm saying.
I don't blame them. I blame the school system. I remember in elementary school they had a specific class on how to open a bank account, fill out a check, make change, etc. These days, they take their test with calculators, do all their research on computers instead of setting foot in a library, and make their moms type their papers for them (or actually write them). It's no wonder they can't function without the aid of an electronic device.
Don't get me wrong, technology is wonderful. I use it myself every day to stay in touch, get more info. on things I'd like to know about, entertain my right brain, and get things off my mind. But you can never replace the hand to hand connection with people. Computers break, electricity goes out, cell phones don't work everywhere. It's important to keep up with the times, but first we have to teach our kids to master the basics.
And, please, parents tell your kids before they go to a job interview that ripped blue jeans and a dirty t-shirt is NOT appropriate attire. You would not believe the outfits people show up in for an interview: short-shorts and tank tops, baggy "drooper" jeans, flip flops, etc.
My favorite was the guy who gave a wonderful interview, but showed up in jeans and a t-shirt that said "Hard work won't kill me, but I don't want to take that chance." He didn't get the job.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
There is No Equality in Division
While watching an excellent documentary called "Meeting David Wilson" this afternoon (and more on that later), MSNBC aired several commercials sponsored by Proctor & Gamble titled "My black is beautiful".
I understand the motivation behind these commercials. I truly understand the need to uplift the self-esteem of a culture that has been discriminated against in the past.
However, the time has come to embrace equality rather than reinforce differences. Don't get me wrong. I think it is important for everyone to appreciate and emulate their culture and history. However, we should not let that completely define us as individuals.
There will never be equality if we continue to divide. There should be no black colleges or white colleges. There was a time that was necessary, but that time is long past and the more we encourage these divisions the wider the gap will become again. It's time to let go of the past and stand on the feet of the present and the future, not hide behind the sins and trials of our forefathers.
Now, back to David Wilson. This documentary is about a young black man in New York who discovered, through researching his family history, that there is a white man in North Carolina, with ironically the same name, whose family used to own young David Wilson's family.
Young David takes a journey to meet white David. First, he stops to talk to a 97-year-old woman who knew young David's great-grandfather. He tells her about white David and asks her, "do you think he owes me anything?"
"Noooo," she says. "He don't owe you nothing, but respect and that's what you should ask of him."
"But I feel like his family profitted from the free labor of my family."
"But that's none of your business," she says. "That's in the past and it doesn't have anything to do with you."
On his way to North Carolina, David's friend asks him what he thinks white David will be like. "I think he'll be a tobacco-chewin', straw-eatin', shot-gun carryin', rockin' chair sittin', lemonade drinkin' redneck."
When young David finally meets white David, he discovers just how prejudiced, possibly even racist, he has been. White David is down-to-earth, respectful, humble, and generally pleased to meet his acquaintance.
Young David asked some hard questions of white David (who grew up in the 1940s and 50s in a segregated community). "Did it ever bother you that the young black kids you played with on your farm were not able to go to the same school?"
White David struggled to answer this question, but he answered it honestly, "It's sad to say, but I can't honestly say I thought about it that much."
White David shows young David around the now-deserted plantation where their families used to live and work. Afterwards, white David invites young David to his restaurant.
"After spending several hours with David, something unanticipated started to happen. I began to see less and less of a descendant of my family's former slave owners and more and more of a decent and kind-hearted human being."
What ultimately happens is that white David and black David discover they are more alike than different, ultimately fulfilling a well-known prophecy of one of the great Civil Right's leaders of all times, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"I have a dream that one day...the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
This incredible communion of souls was not difficult, it merely required the willingness of two people from completely different backgrounds to open up a conversation. That conversation changed more than just the lives of two people, it affected the entire Wilson family - on both sides.
Think to yourself, what kind of change can you make with a conversation? Are you brave enough to take that first step? Can you forgive the past and embrace the future?
Can you start today?
I understand the motivation behind these commercials. I truly understand the need to uplift the self-esteem of a culture that has been discriminated against in the past.
However, the time has come to embrace equality rather than reinforce differences. Don't get me wrong. I think it is important for everyone to appreciate and emulate their culture and history. However, we should not let that completely define us as individuals.
There will never be equality if we continue to divide. There should be no black colleges or white colleges. There was a time that was necessary, but that time is long past and the more we encourage these divisions the wider the gap will become again. It's time to let go of the past and stand on the feet of the present and the future, not hide behind the sins and trials of our forefathers.
Now, back to David Wilson. This documentary is about a young black man in New York who discovered, through researching his family history, that there is a white man in North Carolina, with ironically the same name, whose family used to own young David Wilson's family.
Young David takes a journey to meet white David. First, he stops to talk to a 97-year-old woman who knew young David's great-grandfather. He tells her about white David and asks her, "do you think he owes me anything?"
"Noooo," she says. "He don't owe you nothing, but respect and that's what you should ask of him."
"But I feel like his family profitted from the free labor of my family."
"But that's none of your business," she says. "That's in the past and it doesn't have anything to do with you."
On his way to North Carolina, David's friend asks him what he thinks white David will be like. "I think he'll be a tobacco-chewin', straw-eatin', shot-gun carryin', rockin' chair sittin', lemonade drinkin' redneck."
When young David finally meets white David, he discovers just how prejudiced, possibly even racist, he has been. White David is down-to-earth, respectful, humble, and generally pleased to meet his acquaintance.
Young David asked some hard questions of white David (who grew up in the 1940s and 50s in a segregated community). "Did it ever bother you that the young black kids you played with on your farm were not able to go to the same school?"
White David struggled to answer this question, but he answered it honestly, "It's sad to say, but I can't honestly say I thought about it that much."
White David shows young David around the now-deserted plantation where their families used to live and work. Afterwards, white David invites young David to his restaurant.
"After spending several hours with David, something unanticipated started to happen. I began to see less and less of a descendant of my family's former slave owners and more and more of a decent and kind-hearted human being."
What ultimately happens is that white David and black David discover they are more alike than different, ultimately fulfilling a well-known prophecy of one of the great Civil Right's leaders of all times, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"I have a dream that one day...the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
This incredible communion of souls was not difficult, it merely required the willingness of two people from completely different backgrounds to open up a conversation. That conversation changed more than just the lives of two people, it affected the entire Wilson family - on both sides.
Think to yourself, what kind of change can you make with a conversation? Are you brave enough to take that first step? Can you forgive the past and embrace the future?
Can you start today?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Inspiration
"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action."
Frank Tibolt
How many of us sit around waiting for the "right time" to do something? It's easy to put off what needs to be done or what should be done, but before you know it the "right time" passes us by.
I'm not preaching, merely observing - mostly from behind my own picture window. OK, I don't have a picture window, but if I did you'd see I definitely don't take the bull by the proverbial horns in every area of my life.
Take my living room - well, take any room in my house right now, but let's focus on the living room. I have 4 dog beds and a half dozen stuffed dog toys on one couch with a casually strewn denim jacket. Next to the couch is a rubbermaid container of stuff that needs sorting, my sewing machine waiting to be used and a 2 foot pile of material waiting to be sewn into more dog beds for an upcoming fundraiser.
The rug needs to be vacuumed, the floor needs to be swept and mopped, there are 2 boxes of books that need to be taken to the used book store for credit, a basket of linen that has been waiting to be sorted and stashed for several weeks now, and I have a grand total of six pairs of shoes in this one room.
Now, don't even get me started on the kitchen...
I guess what I need to learn is that my inspiration to begin something should not be a result of my lack of prior motivation that has resulted in a situation of which I am ashamed. I use excuses to put off what needs to be done: I'm too tired, I worked hard today and don't have the energy, I want to spend time with Aaron, the dogs will just mess it up again anyway...
If I can't keep my life organized behind my picture window, can I really make a difference to anyone else on the outside? It's time to let my actions inspire me daily to better my environment, better my health, better my relationships and create change.
Is that hokey? Maybe, but I feel better...and inspired.
Frank Tibolt
How many of us sit around waiting for the "right time" to do something? It's easy to put off what needs to be done or what should be done, but before you know it the "right time" passes us by.
I'm not preaching, merely observing - mostly from behind my own picture window. OK, I don't have a picture window, but if I did you'd see I definitely don't take the bull by the proverbial horns in every area of my life.
Take my living room - well, take any room in my house right now, but let's focus on the living room. I have 4 dog beds and a half dozen stuffed dog toys on one couch with a casually strewn denim jacket. Next to the couch is a rubbermaid container of stuff that needs sorting, my sewing machine waiting to be used and a 2 foot pile of material waiting to be sewn into more dog beds for an upcoming fundraiser.
The rug needs to be vacuumed, the floor needs to be swept and mopped, there are 2 boxes of books that need to be taken to the used book store for credit, a basket of linen that has been waiting to be sorted and stashed for several weeks now, and I have a grand total of six pairs of shoes in this one room.
Now, don't even get me started on the kitchen...
I guess what I need to learn is that my inspiration to begin something should not be a result of my lack of prior motivation that has resulted in a situation of which I am ashamed. I use excuses to put off what needs to be done: I'm too tired, I worked hard today and don't have the energy, I want to spend time with Aaron, the dogs will just mess it up again anyway...
If I can't keep my life organized behind my picture window, can I really make a difference to anyone else on the outside? It's time to let my actions inspire me daily to better my environment, better my health, better my relationships and create change.
Is that hokey? Maybe, but I feel better...and inspired.
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