Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

Today's reading may be the most important thought of one's "fulfilling" life, from "The Journey: A Calendar Book" (Pictured above and available at www.lulu.com/spotlight/allenjames1961), we read for January 23rd, "Respect yourself".

Respect is defined as, "esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability" (dictionary.com). I began my work as a psychotherapist in private practice in January of 1992. Prior to that I had worked two years completing my clinical supervision. Since 1990 I have been struggling to assist those with whom I counsel the strength we have within ourselves if we can come to an understanding, and acceptance, of just what respecting self means.

Too often society jumps on "buzz" words and their commonality in our daily discourse diminishes their worthiness. Self-esteem in one such word. Come to a true comprehension of self-worth. Certainly with maturity our self-worth is realized more clearly, but how much more quickly personal success can be attained by taking the steps to give ourselves the respect we deserve, the respect we require, to be the person we desire to be. Dispel the cloak of insecurity. Take on the personage of strength.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

The thought for January 22nd from "The Journey: A Calendar Book" is, "Have a job in the summer".

Most of us have jobs which run year round, however; when we are young and in high school or college some choose to take summers off.  It just comes naturally from the days of being a teenager.  But from any standpoint, whether it be when you're in high school, college, or if you're an adult with a job which allows for summers off, such as teaching;  find employment during those summer months which will keep you active and alert.

Mamaw used to say, "Idle hands are the devil's playground".  Certainly a derivation of a quote from the Bible.  But oh so true.  When we have an abundance of "down time" we have the tendency to look for something to occupy our time, and too often the "something" turns out to be mischief.

How often have we heard someone else say, or even worse, we've heard it come from our own lips, "I'm bored".  As much as we think we want to not be working, after three days of summer break we're bored and ready to get busy again.  It's our nature.

Keeping ourselves active helps keep our brain active, releasing necessary serotonin which fights off depression.  Skills remain in tact and we're ready to get back to work with our regular careers in the fall.

Keep looking up. : )  AJ.​

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success"

Today, January 21st, we read from "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success",

"Spend time with the beginning teacher" (James, 2012).

Although this reading is found in "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success", it, like readings from each of Allen James' "Guide to Success" calendar books, is applicable to each of us, be we teachers, carpenters, sales clerks; you name it, it applies.  It's called mentoring.

A colleague of mine, said the following about spending time with the new teacher:

"After spending 22 years in education, I have earned the distinction of 'experienced teacher.'  The assumption is that I am 'wiser' and it is certainly poor manners to refer to me as 'older.'  Each year in August we bring in our new teachers and they look at me with admiration and hang on every word of wisdom I can impart upon them in three days of orientation.  I'm really proud of the warnings I give of things to avoid and the tips I can freely share to ostensibly make life easier and the classroom more efficient. Gosh, I am so smart.

"The reality of this ritual is that the advice I give to the new teachers is not the most important product of these exercises, but the eternal hope for the future of education I see in their eyes.  I am reminded of the feeling that I can and will change the world one student at a time.  Gone is the frustration with ever-changing learning standards, gone is the exhaustion of working way too many hours and gone is the sadness from the burdens some of my students had to carry that were much too heavy for their young minds and bodies.  My hope for these new teachers is that they will find the same excitement many years down the road in the eyes of new teachers that have yet to be born and the perpetuation of the dream of making our world better one child at a time remains in tact" (Dr. Linda Buerck, Director of Curriculum, Perry County #32 School District).

Spend time with the newbie....no matter your field....and always,  keep looking up.  :)   AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success"

For January 20th we read, "Those who know do. Those who understand teach" (Aristotle).

        Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was born circa 384 B.C. in Stagira, a small town on the northern coast of Greece that was once a seaport. Aristotle’s father, Nicomachus, was court physician to the Macedonian king Amyntas II. Although Nicomachus died when Aristotle was just a young boy, Aristotle remained closely affiliated with and influenced by the Macedonian court for the rest of his life. Little is known about his mother, Phaestis; she is also believed to have died when Aristotle was young.After Aristotle’s father died, Proxenus of Atarneus, who was married to Aristotle’s older sister, Arimneste, became Aristotle’s guardian until he came of age. When Aristotle turned 17, Proxenus sent him to Athens to pursue a higher education. At the time, Athens was considered the academic center of the universe. In Athens, Aristotle enrolled in Plato’s Academy, Greek’s premier learning institution, and proved an exemplary scholar. Aristotle maintained a relationship with Greek philosopher Plato, himself a student of Socrates, and his academy for two decades. Plato died in 347 B.C. Because Aristotle had disagreed with some of Plato’s philosophical treatises, Aristotle did not inherit the position of director of the academy, as many imagined he would (biography.com).

        Teachers in today's world are well aware of the idiom, "Those who can't, teach".  It's such a shame in a world where more and more is placed in the hands of teachers to be responsible for when it comes to our children there continue to be those who wish to discredit the very individuals we entrust so much to.  I often wonder where Aristotle's words first began being construed and why the individual who did so felt such a disdain for educators.

        Fortunately we can rely on those with common sense to look past those with such small minds and look at each separately and not judge all due to the actions of a few.

"Those who know, do.  Those who understand, teach" (Aristotle).

Keep looking up.  : )  AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

Our thought for January 17th comes from "The Journey: A Calendar Book" and reads, "Volunteer".

According to the "American Heritage Desk Dictionary", a volunteer is "someone who performs or gives services of his own free will" (1981).  From the time I was a little boy volunteering was a large part of my weekly activities, without my knowing it.  I was very active in church growing up and as such found myself standing alongside childhood friends in the junior choir every Wednesday after school from 3:00 - 4:00.  Our choir leader was a young woman who was known to all, and continues to be known to all, as Ms. Barbara.

Ms. Barbara taught by example to be sure.  Weekly we would haul in Ms. Juanita's 1965 white and black Mustang convertible as well as Ms. Barbara's 1965 burgundy convertible Ford Galaxy and traipse down to the "old folks home" as it was called then, and sing for the residents, volunteering our time and talents to brighten the day of the elderly.

Ms. Barbara was as well the church secretary, a job which she continues to this day. As time went on I and my best friend who lived only a block, began showing up at the church office and volunteering for any odd jobs Ms. Barbara saw needed to be completed;  sharpening the pencils kept in the pews for offering envelops, stripping the fellowship hall floors and re-waxing them, organizing can goods in the food pantry.

These "random acts of kindness" followed me throughout adolescence into adulthood.  How much positivity comes my way each year when I spend Christmas Day traveling to St. Louis and volunteering at the Salvation Army's soup kitchen.  What I gain in "awareness" is worth more than any monetary payment I could possibly be given.

Again, the readings in my "Daily Guide to Success" calendar books are not intended to tout me, but are tangible activities, events, thoughts and realities which I have found to bring positivity and peace in my life and have had a major impact on bringing about personal success in my life.  If you don't think you volunteer, look back at your weekly activities.  You may be surprised.  If you know you don't volunteer, find something you can work the time in your busy schedule to help with in your community.  Volunteer.  It's worth your time and energy.

Keep looking up.  :)  AJ

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Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Man's Daily Guide to Success"

The posting from our "Daily Guide to Success" series for January 16th takes me back many years...."Fly a kite in the springtime" (James, 2012).

When I was a child every year for my birthday from my "Mamaw" Williams I could count on getting a kite. My birthday is March 15th and the windy month of March was perfect for kite flying.

Whether Mamaw knew or not that her gift was much more to me than a boy's "funtime..." I know not, but the freedom I realized while flying my "warriors of the sky" was liberating.

Still today I often purchase a kite in the spring and find time to attempt to set it free. Our lives are analogous to this very act. How difficult it can be to get off the ground when we fall. How often do we find ourselves losing the strength we need to stay afloat when we are flying high. But with a positive attitude and persistance we can reach our goal of personal success.

Try flying a kite this spring. Set yourself free....and...

 keep looking up. :) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Graduate's Daily Guide to Success"

January 15th's daily reading supports yesterday's reading, "Read Tuesdays with Morrie" directly....

"Apply the principles of Tuesdays with Morrie to your life" (Allen James, 2012).

 

Tuesdays with Morrie, in my eyes, is an outstanding book about youth and wisdom, life and death, having and giving, holding on and letting go (www.bonnernetwork.pbworks.com).  The initial response I usually get from students when I present them with the question, "What is the main theme of Tuesdays with Morrie?", is "Death".  They then embark on a lengthy philosophical discussion about death and dying.  Not inappropriate for college freshmen and sophomores who expect the instructor is hoping to get their take on the topic of death and dying.

 

However;  I maintain the main theme to be found in Tuesdays with Morrie is just the opposite, LIFE and LIVING! 

 

Anyone who reads Tuesdays with Morrie is going to immediately identify a multitude of insights throughout the book.  Morrie’s story and the wonderful friendship the two men in the book developed is endearing.  Morrie speaks clearly, even as his body withers.  He gives voice to the viewpoint of a person who grapples with a confining, terminal condition. 

 

However; I have also found myself feeling guilty about how I have handled LIFE and LIVING/DEATH and DYING throughout my adult life after observing the way it is approached in this book.  When I was around 12 years old, I was helping my mother clean out the "root cellar", or in this case an old larger closet in the back of the house where she kept the jars of tomatoes, beets, green beans, and jellies canned during the summer for us to enjoy during the winter.  As we sat there in the floor of the "root cellar", I looked over at my mother, with whom I had a relationship of admiration, mutual respect, and true compassion, and said to her, "Mom, when I grow up don't worry about anything.  I'll be here to take care of you at the end of your life", or words to that effect anyway.  She just looked at me and smiled, straightening the flock of brown hair which always fell heavy upon my forehead due to my left part and the style which my military father always found suitable to me.  I truly always thought I would be there to take care of my parents, if and when the time came. 

 

Yet at the end of her life, as she lay at 62 years of age in a hospital bed weakened by and dying of lung cancer, I was starkly reminded of my LIFE and LIVING choices and how they directly affect our DEATH and DYING reality.  Now, 18 years later, here was Mom, unable to care for herself in the most basic sense of the word.  And because of my blindness, I had not able to help her as much as I wanted.  People told me many times my loving her was sufficient, it must have helped in some way. 

 

I visited my mother during my spring break from teaching that March, which also fell during my birthday.  I spent the entire time at her bedside taking care of her daily needs, allowing my guilt to be turned into some other emotion, anything but guilt.  One afternoon when it was just she and I in the room, I was overcome with the feeling of finality;  it finally hit me my mother would be leaving this dimension long before I or anyone else could have expected.  Out of my selfishness my mother opened her unconditional loving arms out to me, as if she was reading my mind.  I crawled up in the hospital bed next to her, sobbing as she held me tight, giving ME support and giving ME understanding when it should have been I supporting and giving to her.  But it was due to this moment I felt totally at peace with this finality.  I was given the chance to do what most do not get to do;  share with my mother what her LIFE and LIVING had meant to me and how much her LIFE and LIVING had determined who I was then and who I would become in the future.  I got to say my "goodbye" to my mother, thus quelling the expectation I had had for years of how I would NOT be able to handle my mother's death when it finally arrived.  Still her reminder came;  HER sharing with me just how much my LIFE and LIVING was etched into her own person, as she said, "You always said you were going to be here to take care of me when I got to the end of my life".  

 

Many tell me it was inadequate to just say I love you and hug her, but Morrie made me think differently.  He cherished all the love he received from the constant stream of family and friends who visited him throughout his ordeal. 

 

Maybe, just maybe, I did all I could. Beyond this, Morrie voices many wonderful ideas about living and Mitch’s responses are great as well.  The main message Morrie gives Mitch about LIFE is open up to love, give to your community, and find purpose in life.

 

Apply the principles of Tuesdays with Morrie to your life, and keep looking up.  :)   AJ