I'm trying to remember, I'm trying.

Most of the time, nothing is ever as big a deal as it seems right now. Death is a big deal, irreversible, and obviously life-altering, but other than that, it really isn't as big of a deal as you think it is.

We all have heard of people who through the truly most life-altering of times, full family deaths, loss of limbs, mobility, cancer, and other seemingly huge deals, come to find out that while the next breath is difficult, after many, the angst begins to fade and the perseverance and tenacity that is our life on Earth carries on.

So, don't sweat the small stuff, and really, dont sweat the seemingly big stuff. All fades and ebbs. Over time, our stories become triumphant, living, changing. That horrible experience with the boyfriend in high school becomes insight, the death of a loved one, a lesson in love. We tell ourselves there are reasons, and maybe there are. But, regardless, big stuff becomes small, small becomes big, and then small. The recursive spirit of hope, breath, and ultimately of life.

So, remember, dont sweat the small stuff and most is small. Keep calm and carry on for it is in the next breath that it becomes easier to breathe.

Going to the Zoo?

Those that know me know that I do not do zoos. I dont like animals caged, often in extreme heat, on display for sitckey, popcicled youg-ins. The animals even look miserable. I would be. Someday we will be the ones behind bars and weird aliens will be looking at us, "Look at the blonde one," and, "That one is fat," and, "Look, that one is brushing her teeth!" Anyways, last Saturday I went with a friend of mine to a "zoo" in Johnson City. I say its a zoo, but it more like a sanctuary as the animals they have were given to them. As such, they really dont have many exotics (A pair of lemurs, couple of zebra and a camel or two). But, the amazing thing about this place is that visitors get to ride on a trailer and feed the animals, pet them, and have them, well accost you. It was awesome. I pet a zebra and a camel, had goats and llamas bowl me over for my feed bucket, feed and pet a buffalo, a camel, and various other creatures.

Mentors

My thoughts after reading Ken Robinson's, The Element (2009):
Guidance from others is such an important part of knowing what you want to be, inhabiting the space between passion and aptitude wherein our full potential resides. Or, so I think. I believe that having someone to guide us, to give us aid when we need it most is vastly important for it is often that they see something in us that we ourselves do not see. Good mentors raise a person's self-esteem, make them feel that they are worthy and wanted, smart and able. Or, at least good mentors do that. They recognize what nurturing could do for a person, seeing a light inside that reminds them of someone successful, something more than is there now, can tell that with nurturing something spectacular would blossom. They fan the flames of interest into a genuine passion--I see it as exalted work.
So, according to Ken, there are four roles of mentors: 1) recognition-Mentors must recognize a spark and fan it to flame; 2) encouragement-Mentors believe we can do things that might seem impossible without them. They dont let someone succumb to self-doubt for too long and guide our hand, pushing and pulling as is needed; 3) facilitating-Mentors provide strategies and advice and even paving he way for us; 4) stretching-Effective mentors dont allow us to sit idle, to be less than we can be and are able to remind us that we are put on this Earth to push boundries, our own and others'.
Effective mentors are able to push and pull, nudge and remind, find power within us which helps to fuel their power as well. These people inspire us and lead us to marvel at what we have done. They share in our successes as if their own. They open our eyes to possibilities that inspire us. They drive us to follow their examples, moving us to take on roles and then supporting us in our pursuit of the goals. Mentors show us the next steps and help us to take them. While I imagine myself to be a mentor of others, most specifically the preservice teachers I work with , I wonder if I realize the power I have to inspire them or to deny them helpful signposts to success. Do I even know what it means to be successful? What does it mean to be successful anyway? Where is my mentor at this stage in my life? Do I have one?