Dear "Offended" Reader

Webster defines blog as follows : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer ; also : the contents of such a site

So........my blog is made up of my personal thoughts, reflections, and comments. It is my online journal or diary. I INVITED my friends and loved ones to visit it. In fact, I didn't invite all of my friends or even all of my family as I knew that some of them would not be in agreement with my thoughts or opinions. And I was trying to be considerate. Which leads me to YOU, "offended reader". I did not invite you. In fact, you can't just "get to my blog". I tried it by typing in joyceshelton's blog today and guess what....it didn't come up. So you didn't "happen upon it" and you weren't invited. You accessed it through someone else's. Which is fine EXCEPT......you took offense at one of the entries and immediately set out to punish me for my thoughts. You printed it out and tried to harm me with it by submitting it to someone that you thought could be or would be the "blog police." Well guess what? There is no blog police. And I can't be punished for my thoughts or feelings. That is guaranteed me through a little document called the Constitution of the United States in a little amendment called "freedom of speech." I take it you are not familiar with that. Otherwise, surely, you would be contacting the Standard Times weekly about some of the horrible editorials that they print. But perhaps you realize that is all they are... editorials.......people's opinions. Sort of like a blog. One thing that you took issue with is an old time saying that I have heard my whole life from educators. In fact PART OF IT is a quote from scripture. God didn't mean it ugly and I didn't either. In fact, "offended reader", it feels less to me like you were offended and more like you were trying to "have me punished." Which makes me wonder why since I know who you are. Have we had a fight that I am not aware of? There is a place for comments on my blog and I find myself wondering why you didn't avail yourself of that option or contact me personally since we are at the same place every day. Did you perhaps see yourself in the blog? Were you just having a bad day? I was, and my blog was the outlet. I didn't lie, call names, or engage in libel or slander of any kind. In fact, I only use names with permission. So, while I feel a little bewildered and betrayed by your behavior ( I love alliteration), I am going to call "no harm no foul " as there were no repercussions to your search for punishment of me for my personal thoughts. But, I do wonder as to what you were trying to accomplish and why? So, "offended reader", let me give you a valuable lesson in blog reading. It is alot like finding something to watch on TV or something decent on the radio. If you don't like the program, change the channel. If you can't stand the song, tune to another station. And if you find me to be a moron or offensive, at the top of the computer screen on the right, there is a box with an X in it. If you don't like what you are reading.....click on it. I think this will help. As to my other faithful FRIENDLY followers.........let the journey continue.............

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Reader beware!!! The title today reflects the content of this blog and so mainly it is for my benefit. My occupation is as follows.........I cast pearls of wisdom before swine for very little money. No one wants to be here, students and teachers alike. Everyone has an excuse, again, students and teachers alike. We are NOT preparing students to be productive citizens. We are not equipping them with what they need to be successful in the "real" world. Instead, we are offering them every excuse imaginable and placing "blame" on everyone under the sun for their lack of drive and ambition. Are you kidding me? They are masters at working the system. If they spent as much time working as they do with coming up with excuses for why they CAN'T, we would be a campus of Einsteins. My kids, for the most part, are good. But there is always ONE, okay, maybe TWO and they are aided by the "well meaning" people in the office who think we should try to "understand" them. I had a student a few years ago whose mom was dying of cancer. His name was Sam. He was in class every day, did his work, made good grades, AND had a job. I never knew his mom was sick. One day he told me he was going to be out for the next "couple of days" and could he get his work. I told him we would worry about it when he got back. I asked where he was going and he said "family trip." I thought that was odd but let it go. The next day there was an article on the front page of the paper about Sam and his family. How his mom was dying and how they made this special trip to New Mexico every year during the summer and since she wasn't going to be alive in the summer....they were taking the trip early. He had never said a word. He had even ASKED FOR HIS WORK!!! When he came back I told him he owed me NOTHING. The day his mom died he came to school to GET HIS WORK because he needed to "be with his dad" and he wanted "something to occupy his mind." Are you kidding me? Today, I had a student who couldn't do this major benchmark exam we are giving because "he has problems". PUH-LEEZE!!!! I have had this kid. In fact, when I held him accountable for his actions, he was "schedule changed" out of my class. Did I say he has "problems"? His biggest problem is that he is a titty baby! His home life isn't perfect but whose is? He does have some drama but who doesn't? But the "powers that be" allowed him to SIT on a bench and "collect himself" for the ENTIRE MORNING. You want to know where education is failing..........right there on that bench with that student. Are you kidding me?

No Place Else On Earth

What a day this has been!!! I have been literally glued to the television since 6:30 this morning. I cancelled my classes exam they were scheduled to take today and instead we watched history unfold before our very eyes. I have tried my best all day to impart to the future generation the importance of today. Not just an African American elected to the presidency but the democratic transition of power. No where else on earth is power transferred as it is in the United States of America. The whole world is watching today. Along the Gaza strip there is no fighting (for today) in honor of what is taking place here in America. Nobody does it like us. That is why people all across the world are so interested. A peaceful transition of power. No bullets. No chaos. No coup d'etat. No bitterness from the power that is leaving. A coming together of people from different walks of life, different beliefs, different ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds and different politics. What a sight. Unity. Democracy. Freedom. Every time a new president takes office, the American people demonstrate the one thing that makes us so different from other countries..we lay aside our differences and our politics to embrace a new leader. We hope that he or she (someday) will be successful. What a testimony to our forefathers and the foundations upon which this country was built. There are many wrongs in our country but on this we get it right. And even with the troubles that plague us....I wouldn't live anywhere else. After all, there is no place else on earth like us. God Bless America and God Bless our new leader President Obama.

Keeping Up

As most of you know, I run with my niece in the park two maybe three times a week. We run a 5K which is fancy talk for about 3.2 miles. Our route is about 3.4. Lots of people of all ages run in the park. Most of them just run the "trail" which both ways equals to about 2.5. Not us, we are hard core! Anway, my niece is younger than me (by a lot) and in better shape (again, by a lot!). So, when we run, we start out together, but after about 10 steps she pulls away and remains ahead of me by 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile the entire time. I feel bad because she is always having to wait at the finish line... but I just can't keep up. Yesterday, I was tired, it had been 3 days since I had even walked any distance, it was cold and I told her that I might not even make the entire loop. Just a feeling I had. I had no motivation and knew as such, I would not be able to keep up. She told me to just try........that's all.......just do my best. I was a doubter but we hit our stride. And the journey began. I noticed that we stayed together and I was trying to match my stride to hers. Her legs are longer so I was basically running while she was jogging. But when I looked up we had traveled about a 1/2 mile and there we were still side by side. I began to focus on "keeping up" and before I knew it we had made the mile and a half mark. I began to think "I can do this" and with each step my confidence grew. As we neared the two mile mark, that euphoric feeling of accomplishment began to settle in and grow with each step. As we got ready to cross the Celebration Bridge to the END of our journey, she and I BOTH were grinning ear to ear. When we crossed the "finish line" together, she hugged me and we both were so excited. I did the "Rocky" dance at the top of the steps. What a feeling. And as we walked back to the car we decided that I had finally built up enough stamina to match her pace. Stamina. Keeping on and keeping up. It is the same with anything. If we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, take deep breaths, and don't quit....we can keep up with anything. Our lives, our children, our jobs, our hopes and dreams. It is easy and common to "get behind" but not if we focus on keeping up. Not if we are unwilling to be comfortable ( as I was ) with "falling behind." Not if we just condition ourselves to make it to the end. Whatever the journey. It takes time and practice but one day you look up and there is the finish line. It's not about winning, or losing. It is just about keeping up.

Haunting Question

We are going through The Truth Project in our Bible study groups for the next 10 weeks or so and it is part of the James Dobson "focus on the family" curriculum. Our first session was this week and it ended with this question "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?" Everyone immediately said yes. It was like a "duh" moment..............at first. Then as we all just kind of sat there.....the enormity of that question and the answer to it hit every one of us. You could almost see it. Because if we really believe that what we believe is really real then why don't we live like it? Why don't we share it with others? Why don't we SHOUT if from the rooftops. Why don't we raise our families and base our friendships on it? Why don't we use it as the measurement by which we do everything in our lives. Why? I don't know. In fact, I asked our group and no one knew. Why can't we be like Paul? I mean, seriously, he was just a man. He wasn't even the best or the brightest. What about all the "heroes" of the Bible? All just like you and me. Yet, when was the last time you felt like a hero for Christ? When was the last time you met someone and worried about their eternal condition? When was the last time that instead of judging someone's actions, you prayed for their soul? How long has it been since you just sat and "talked" with God? For me...........it has been TOO long. Let me ask you two questions. 1) Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? 2) Do people know that by the way you live? We need to live better, to be better, to behave in such a way that our beliefs are clear to all who see us all the time, including ourselves.

What Not to Wear

Do people not own/buy mirrors anymore? I read an article last week that showed the difference in portions in America from 20 years ago and then it compared portion sizes between America and other countries. WE ARE FAT!!! And I work in an environment where kids are so technologically advanced that they don't engage in physical activity of any kind. Well, there is one physical activity they are involved in but it only burns like 10 calories. And yet, they wear clothes two sizes too small for them, and pants that would fit a 5 year old and think they look good. What is that about? I changed clothes today THREE times because everything I put on my body made "pleats" in it. So, I am safely ensconced in a turtle neck with a sweatshirt over it. Not only am I safe but my students have made it through another day without being scarred for life. So, I am frustrated with the lack of self-control in CLOTHING!! I am not concerned about the self-discipline that comes from not eating because I myself have issues in that area. But for pete's sake COVER IT UP!!! And it is not just the young either. Women with shirts tucked into pants that already have way to much in there. Or pants that come up under your breasts? Where do you go to buy those? Here's a little advice...if you have had children, do not work out, have a "normal" body as a result and are over 40.......LEAVE the shirttail OUT!! Or the other extreme..........clothes so baggy that you could hide a small animal in them and no one would ever know. You are not homeless, buy clothes that FIT!! You don't need growing room unless you are 8! I don't get why people don't take more care with their appearance. Especially the young women of today and I am not just talking about teens. Am I vain? Probably, but I prefer to think of myself as considerate of the "eyes" of others. I was raised by a single mom with three brothers and I was the youngest and wore THEIR hand me downs and yet in photographs I always look well groomed. My mom always said "it's not what you wear but HOW you wear it. Be clean, make sure you match, don't wear things too big or too small, "paint your lips", NEVER go out without your face "on", and wear clean underwear." I don't know about you but sounds like words to live by. So, if it feels tight, IT IS!!! AND...if you can turn around in it, it is too big. If you aren't sure, LOOK IN THE MIRROR, it unfortunately won't lie to you. And while you are at it...............COMB YOUR HAIR!!! That is all!

Running Into the Wind

Yesterday I was jogging in the park and the first part of my "loop" (about a mile and a half) was head on into the wind. It was cold and the wind was pretty strong. I kept laboring, not only to run, but basically to breathe. I remember thinking....this is so hard. I can't wait until I make the turnaround. This will be so easy with the wind at my back. So I kept literally plodding along. When I made the turnaround the wind shifted and, as I expected, the run became much easier. BUT...I noticed that even though the run was easier..... the rush that I had from that cold wind in my face was gone. The sense of accomplishment that I had "made it" into the wind faded as I began "coasting" back to the start. Made me think. Much of life is spent running into the wind. It is a struggle to make the next step and we anxiously look for the "turn" in the road that will put the wind at our backs and let us coast for a while. But there is no sense of accomplishment in that. Aerobically, your heart gets a better workout when you are running into the wind. Perhaps, that is true with our lives. I have learned more through the struggles than I ever have through the coasting. I am more excited when I make it through a difficult time than I am when everything is going my way. I am comfortable with the wind at my back but I am thrilled when I have completed the course with the wind in my face. I am not saying that I want a life of struggles. I just want to remember the experience of running with the wind in my face and the gratitude that I feel when I complete the course. Anyone can coast. So, here's to running into the wind....feeling the pain....but ending the course with a sense of accomplishment and rush of exhilaration that the road has been traveled.