Peaceful Warrior: Here and Now

Quote:
Take out the trash.  The trash is anything that's keeping you from what matters - here, now.  And when you truly are in the here and now you'll be truly amazed at what you can do and how well you can do it.

Today's task:

In your period 7/8 class, or sometime over the weekend, be truly present in the here and now.

• What was the experience like?  
• What was different than how things normally are?  
• Was it difficult to keep "the trash" out of your mind?  
• Do you think it takes practice to be able to do this?  
• Is there anything else you'd like to share?  Did you make any other observations?

Reminders:

When you leave your comment, be sure to write using complete sentences and correct punctuation.  Be honest with your responses and share your experience based on the questions above.  I hope you will ask some questions of your own, or talk about other observations you've made.

For any visitors who are joining us on our journey, please refer to Dan Millman's Peaceful Warrior to understand the above quote.  Your questions and comments are welcome, but if you comment on the quote, please be sure to have read and contemplated the relative reading before doing so.  Thank you.

I'm looking forward to reading your comments!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Murphy

There is no stopping and starting... only DOing.

Another quote from Millman's "Peaceful Warrior".

Still on a high from the CUE conference and ready to push my students even farther, I walked into my classroom this morning energized and full of excitement.

As I began setting out materials for the day I noticed little pieces of crayons in odd places.  Looking more closely, I saw them nearly everywhere around the room.  Confused and a little dismayed, I gathered them up and took them to the supply shelf and to my great disappointment I realized that there were no "whole" crayons.  Every single crayon that I had brought to the room was broken.

I put the crayon bits away and continued to set things up for the morning.  When I got to the side of the room by the front door I stopped.  A beautiful green pot that holds one of our ponytail palms was in pieces.  Pebbles from the bottom of the planter were piled onto one of the cracked pieces.  Disappointment turned to anger.  Anger at the lack of respect for the environment that we have created in the room.  Anger at myself for spending money on things to make the room beautiful that will never be recovered, nor will the pottery be replaced by anyone other than me.  Anger at myself for not listening to all the other teachers who chastised me for bringing things into the room and trusting the kids to take care of them.

Why?  I keep asking myself.  What makes students, who are respectful and thoughtful and kind while I'm present, have a complete disregard for the very items that they thank me for on any other day?  What makes them misbehave and break things when I'm gone?  Why?  What's the point of it?

Yes, I understand they're children.  Yes, I understand they're middle school children.

What I don't understand is - I greet them at the door with a smile; I speak respectfully to them; I do not ridicule or speak with sarcasm in a demeaning way; I always use "please" and "thank you"; and yet, what I am given is rudeness, disrespect, meanness, defiance, disregard, profanity and this...  Certainly this does not apply to ALL of my students - but just a handful of students with these behaviors and demeanor can drain the goodness and energy from the rest so very quickly.

Students were on a field trip today.  I remained behind with those who were not invited to attend due to their behavior choices, as well as students who simply did not turn in a permission slip.

"Am I going to get my money back?" a student asks as I walk past him to my desk.

"Well," I begin, "when you pay for something, but then choose behaviors that prevent you from attending, it doesn't warrant the return of your money.  For example, if I purchase concert tickets and then get a traffic ticket and have to go to court on the day of the concert, TicketMaster is not going to refund my money.  Do you understand?"

"Then, I'll just smash in the windows on their car," the student laughs.

Truly, I don't understand this train of thought.  I know it's a result of his own experiences and the world that is uniquely his.  I am saddened that he has had no other examples of personal responsibility and accountability.

So, I breathe deeply and try to "take out the trash" in my own mind.  Be present in the here and now and tell myself, "I can be a model of respect now, here, in this moment."

Take Out the Trash

Watching Dan Millman's "Peaceful Warrior" and hearing, "take out the trash..."

"There's NEVER nothing going on.  Take out the trash that's keeping you from being in the here and now."

I wonder what "trash" my students bring into the room each day.  I wonder what trash I bring into the room.  What am I allowing to cloud my moments?  How do I explain this concept to the kids?  Should I explain it?  Would it make a difference?

"When you really are present in the HERE and NOW you'll be AMAZED at what you can do."


What are your thoughts?

Lunch @ Cafe FableVision!

Making my mark at CUE in Palm Springs with Peter is sparkly and brilliant with color and inspiration.

Lunch was yummy, dessert was delicious, and my "name tag" is glowing.  ;)  I'm eager to begin painting!

We were asked to paint "a tea cup"!  Here's my work in progress... ;)  It's a Green Tea cup.  (notice the green "t")  It's signed and framed now!

Thank you, Peter (and Team!) for a wonderful and inspirational afternoon!  I already treasure the experience!

Thornburg Center Validation

Enthralled, as I listen to Jim talk about how pervasive robotics and engineering are in our lives - in ways we don't even notice, I realize how connected my vision is to STEM.

No, I'm not a scientist.  I don't invent new technologies.  I'm not an engineer.  I'm not a mathematician.  And yet, I - and my students, my children, my parents, neighbors, you - are all consumers of these in nearly every moment of the day - and the night.  We carry robotics within our cell phones and utilize them in our cars.  The dryer, the fridge, my TiVo, this blog, the heart monitor watch Dad wears, and...  it's all robotics and engineering and computers and machines.

As I think about what Jim is sharing, I watch my own thoughts of redesigning education connect to the concept of TRANSdisciplinary education!

NEWSFLASH: Jim shares a picture of two middle school girls being TAUGHT by two high school girls who are HIRED to TEACH as MENTORS.

Lack of transference of wisdom and knowledge is a major crisis as we watch baby boomers retire without a surplus of incoming workers.  Sounds to me like we're missing the apprentice or mentor relationships in our general work force population.

Thoughts as Jim talks:

Rigor = old knowledge.  If we really want to increase rigor in our schools, perhaps we ought to be seriously considering the mentor relationship.  Hmmm.

Relevancy = application between the past, present and the future.

Relationships = systems.

Ahupua'a = Integrated holistic systems.  (Hawaiian culture of sustainability refers to systems as "Mother".  You have to build sustainable systems to build culture and connections.)

Ho'ohanalima = learning by doing.  Hmmm.  Action research based on a self-directed, mandated mission for social connection and sustainability of community.

TEAMS: Technology Engineering Arts Math Science


I AM on the right path.

Distance Education or Collaboration or both?

Popped in on the ADEC session to see my Distance Education/Collaboration mentor, Kitty Salinas.  Immediately, I see Cynthia Chandler, Jeannie Toshima, John Ittelson, and several others on my close-to-heart list!

I want to jump in on the conversation... Steve Hargadon introduced an idea during his presentation that fits beautifully into this conversation, as well as themes and ideas from my North Star-ish Learning Program!

Fred Saba... need to meet him!

Coincidence or Confirmation of Mandated Mission?

Two weeks ago I gave up.

I gave up worrying about how I make my dream work.  I gave up worrying about the money, the time, and finding the resources and people necessary to make it happen.

I embraced the crazy idea that if my dream was truly of value everything I needed - training, people, money to take classes

The kids fell asleep late that night, two Friday's ago, and at 9:30pm I started putting my thoughts, concerns, musings, and dreams in a note on my Facebook page.  The idea was not to edit, not to formally publish - just to write a note to myself and anyone else who might take the time to read it, errors and all.  I included my overall goals, ideas for what I want to model for my students, a brief overview of the process by which these might happen, my purpose for changing the way education works, and drafted a list of people that I felt would be excellent mentors for me and my students on our journey.

I posted the note at 5:30 on Saturday morning.  Emotionally high, I saw a few friends online and asked if they'd take some time and read my note.

The response I got was personally validating.  I didn't expect to hear that I had written anything profound or earth-shattering.  But the comments and email that I received made my heart sing.  I'm on to something. I get it.

Since then, I've been invited to attend The Heritage Institute's Earth, Justice and Spirit program and have connected with several of the people I listed as potential mentors. who are now confirmed.  Some even have nicknames for themselves based on my vision of work and how their own expertise relates.

Today, I sat at the corner of the Bloggers'Cafe and notice that two feet away from me is a very familiar looking man.  A lady begins talking to him and refers to him as Steve.  Ah!  Steve Hargadon!  Unabashedly I introduced myself and tell him that I'm waiting for him to agree to be one of my mentors!  We talk and share ideas and I know there's a connection.  We'll talk more.

Two minutes later, Robert Craven walks past and again, without reservation I introduce myself, explain why I'm so brazen and share my ideas with him, too.  He asks me to send the note to him and hands me his card.

I'm tingling and I know my "spirit is shimmering" - to quote my North Star Mentor, Peter H. Reynolds.

As I wrap up this post - just after Steve's brilliant sharing about social network and the future of education according to Students 2.0, I know I am fulfilling my personal mandated mission.  Not because I'm forcing anything - but because I listened to myself, to my dreams.

And I gave it up to those who would help me make it happen.

Blessings abundant.

Hmmm... In COLOR!

Peter, one of our mentors, doodled this while listening to Larry speak.  Ah, to think in such vibrance!  

Well, guess what kiddos... it's time for you to do the same!  Remember, this next trimester it's up to YOU to follow your North Star and be TRUE to yourself!

This doodle lives at: http://www.twitpic.com/167cj4