Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Beth

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Beth W

Have you ever met a writer? I have. Her name is Beth.

Today’s Wonder Women is an intelligent, creative soul with the ability to capture humaneness in all of its confusion and glory on the written page. Beth is a writer.  She has been published in many magazines. Her stories often revolve around underdogs who live in typical suburban settings. In addition to her literary work, Beth designs and sews quilts. She also sets and accomplishes goals.  Beth successfully gave up Diet Coke for a month. Anyone that can give up Diet Coke for a month deserves an award. One year, she set a goal to read more books, and she did it by reading 80 books that year. Her ability to set and reach goals is impressive.

Beth is a Wonder Women. Despite challenges, Beth cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

Challenge Eight: Food Diary · Musings

Sing your song

my13daychallenge

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Have you ever felt silenced?  I was at a meeting and I decided not to share a good idea. I was afraid people would think I was weird so I censored myself. I’ve been thinking about silence a lot the last few weeks. Why do we do it? What stops us from speaking up? What happens if no one speaks?

The first time I felt silenced I was six. I had seen the movie Annie. I really wanted the Annie action figure and I knew all the songs by listening to the tape. I was playing in the front yard when I suddenly got this idea to sing my Annie song to God. I looked up to heaven and said in a loud voice, “This one is for you, God”. Then I belted out The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow as loud as I could. My neighbor happened to be walking by and heard my little impromptu song. She told me I was weird. I felt weird and I didn’t sing in my front yard anymore.

After my experience with not speaking up in the meeting, I decided it was time not to be silenced any more. I stood in my front yard and looked up to heaven and said, “This one is for you, God”. Then I belted out The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.  My neighbor was out fixing his car and he gave me a funny look at first, but then he clapped for me. Of course, I had to tell him the whole story. I think the next time I get a good idea in a meeting I will speak up.

my13daychallenge

What I learned from not reaching the goal

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The motivational speakers are lying to you. We don’t always reach the goals we set. It is hard to keep going with some goals. And guess what? That is okay. Falling flat on your face is part of the journey. Sometimes reaching a goal half-way is still a reason to celebrate. Sometimes you even realize that you had the wrong goal.

What do you do when you try to accomplish a goal and fail? Here is what I do. I lay on my bed and I feel bad for a little bit. Yes, I know the motivational books say to get right back up, but sometimes the first step in getting up is laying in the mud for a bit. It hurts to set a goal and not reach it.

I didn’t reach the goal.

Flopped. Missed the mark.

Really messed up.

I guess I’ll have to try again

Tomorrow.

Uncategorized

Wonder Women: Meet Karilee

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Karilee S

Have you ever met someone who is a builder? I have. Her name is Karilee.

Karilee and I met in high school. She was an imaginative soul who loved to host parties at her home. She could also build things, loved science-fiction and ride motorcycles. As a kind person,Karilee went out of her way to ensure that everyone who entered her presence felt loved and welcomed. She continues her kind acts of love and creative projects today.  Karilee is a builder of a cool international project. She organized an effort to ship, share and deliver two LOST related teddy bears, George and Ginger, around the world in a year.  Her web sites to track the bears are very impressive. Check it out here and here. Karilee and her husband  dreamed about building their own home. I love the image of Karilee teaching her five active children  to use power tools as she and her husband Jason work together to build their own home. Karilee also builds others by donating blood to the Red Cross and donating her long hair to Locks of Love.

Karilee is a builder. Karilee is a Wonder Women.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

Musings

Angel Shots

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shot

Have you heard of  angel shots? They aren’t found on the typical vaccination schedule, but they are just as beneficial to your health and happiness. Angel shots are given when you need an extra boost of love from God. They must be given by angels, because you feel better after getting one. Human beings can give angel shots too when we are kind to others. Have you given anyone an angel shot today?

 

Uncategorized · Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Kim

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Kim S

Have you ever met someone who is brave? I have. Her name is Kim.

I met Kim when she started dating my brother Stephen. I was rooting for her the moment we met. I’m glad Stephen saw Kim’s goodness as well so she can be my sister-in-law. Kim is brave. She will send back  food in a restaurant that doesn’t meet her expectations. She asks for discounts at stores and gets it. Kim is a go-getter. She wanted to move up at work so she applied for a better position. In addition to her bravery, Kim is kind, intelligent and plays the guitar. She is a very busy person, but still has time to help my brother in making movies.

Kim is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of  working, attending graduate school and expecting a baby, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

 

Musings

Why I can’t stand teacher movies

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I have a confession to make. I can’t stand movies about teachers. This may come as a shock to some of you. After all, I’m a teacher. I have worked in schools for almost 15 years. I first realized my distaste for teacher movies after watching the movie Freedom Writers. For those that have not seen it, let me give you a quick synopsis. The young teacher enters a difficult school and through grit and love transforms her students to high achievers. The movie ends with all students being successful. I am 100% for helping students change the world. I love my students and I hold them to very high standards. The reason why teacher movies bother me has to do with how students, teachers, and administrators are portrayed–not the idea that all students can succeed.

First, let’s look at the students in the typical teacher movie. Students are often portrayed as unmotivated, rude and not on grade level until the teacher comes and transforms their life. Some students are unmotivated. Some students are rude, but the truth is most students aren’t like that at all. Most students want to learn, and will learn if in the right environment for them. It really is a discredit to students to paint them as needing a teacher to save them. I believe a good teacher can change lives. I also believe that a student has the ability to change his/her own life. What are we teaching a student if we believe that only a teacher can impact change?

Second, let’s look at the teachers. In Freedom Writers, the main character is holding two other part-time jobs to buy supplies for her classroom. I’m guilty of buying some extras for my class. I think most teachers have done that. Let’s be honest though. You can’t expect a professional to work three jobs just to pay the bills. We don’t expect doctors to work at Wal-mart on the weekend to buy bandages for their patients. Why is that self-sacrifice okay for teachers? I’m not a politician, and I’m not going to debate how to make education a priority. I just know that the underlying message of teacher movies is that teachers will sacrifice all for the success of their students. That isn’t sustainable. That isn’t a good example to set for our students.

Finally, I don’t like how administrators are portrayed. Teachers and administrators are often seen as fighting against each other. Does that happen? Yes, it does at times. Does it happen all the time? No, I’ve had some good experiences with great team work.

My yearly rant against teacher movies is now over. I’ve got a classroom to set up and students to love. It will be a great year!

Musings

On the Path

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Amee on the path

Have you ever wished you could see the future? It would be much easier to make decisions if you knew how it would all work out in the end. My incredible Aunt Marla captured this picture a few weeks ago when we took a trip to the Petrified Forest. It really illustrates the uncertainty that is sometimes life.  I know I am on the right path, but I can only see the first part of the journey. It takes courage to go forward when I can only see part of the road. I just have to trust that there is a nice path even if I can’t see it behind the mountain. I really like this picture. It made me think.

 

 

Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Sophea

my13daychallenge

Sophea

Have you ever met someone who has a heart of gold? I have. Her name is Sophea.

Sophea and I met at work. She loves bowling, teaching students and taking care of her dogs. When she isn’t working, Sophea enjoys spoiling her nieces and building new inventions for her amazing urban garden. Sophea’s garden could be in a magazine. She can grow anything and she can build anything!  You should check it out here.

Sophea's garden

Sophea lives her religion. As a Buddhist, Sophea believes in karma and the importance of helping others. She brought me dinner last year when I had my surgery. I always look forward to spending time with Sophea, because I know I will have fun and leave happy.

Sophea is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of coming to the US as a refugee and losing both her parents at an early age, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every woman’s success can be my success if I let it.