Strength, Courage and Wisdom = Hope: The Sequel

I'm Back!  And better than ever...

I can't believe it has been more than two years since I published Strength, Courage and Wisdom = Hope.  I stated my goals to do more, impact more families, and become the leader that I knew I could be.

Today, I can say, that has happened.  I didn't know where the journey would lead me.  I didn't know then that I would work with an entire team of leaders who are driven by passion, commitment, and dedication.  I didn't even know at that time that you could find a team 100% on board and dedicated.  I'm here to say, those teams are there, they exist, and all of us should be fortunate enough to work with people for whom the time together energizes and excites you.  I wish that for everyone.

Of course, the journey wasn't simple or clear.  It did, after all, take 2 years.  But each day was worth it because I can appreciate the chance I have been given.  So, I'm settling in to my new role and ready to take up the pen (well, okay, its actually a keyboard). 

Thanks for waiting for me, and all the support so many of you have given to me each and every day.  I will be posting more often.  In fact, my next post will capture your heart as it contains an incredible video (yes, this is a teaser as that story deserves its own headline.)

Mrs. G Wiz

The Perfect Play

This video says it all:

You Tube video, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ejh_hb15Fc

Which Wolf Are You Feeding?

There is a Native American tale about two wolves that I think every person should know.  It will help guide you as a teacher, a student, a friend, a daughter/son, a mother/father/, a leader, a follower, and it moments by yourself.

A Native American Cherokee Story – Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

“One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

“The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

copied from: http://unbelievableyou.com/a-native-american-cherokee-story-two-wolves/

Pilgrims

pilgrim |ˈpilgrəm|

noun

a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

• (usu. Pilgrim )a member of a group of English Puritans fleeing religious persecution who sailed in the Mayflower and founded the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620.

• a person who travels on long journeys.

verb ( pilgrims, pilgriming, pilgrimed ) [ no obj. ] archaic

travel or wander like a pilgrim.

DERIVATIVES

pilgrimize |-ˌmīz|verb( archaic)

ORIGIN Middle English: from Provençal pelegrin, from Latin peregrinus ‘foreign’ (see peregrine) .

Aren't we all pilgrims?  We are all on a journey of some sort.  A journey towards love.  A journey toward acceptance.  A journey toward knowledge. Each of us can define our life by our journeys.  Some are full of goodness, success, and joy.  For others, they are pilgrim journeys of strife, struggle, and hardtimes.  For most of us, it is a blend of good and bad, easy and difficult.  But for each of us, the journey is the most important part, not the destination.  

Enya wrote a song, Pilgrim, that you may find a map, source of hope, or evidence of camaraderie in our journey.  Embrace the pilgrim in you!

Pilgrim, how you journey
On the road you chose
To find out why the winds die
And where the stories go.

All days come from one day
That much you must know,
You cannot change what's over
But only where you go.

One way leads to diamonds,
One way leads to gold,
Another leads you only
To everything you're told.

In your heart you wonder
Which of these is true;
The road that leads to nowhere,
The road that leads to you.

Will you find the answer
In all you say and do?
Will you find the answer
In you?

Each heart is a pilgrim,
Each one wants to know
The reason why the winds die
And where the stories go.

Pilgrim, in your journey
You may travel far,
For pilgrim it's a long way
To find out who you are...

Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...

Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...

The Reason I Jump, by Naoki Higashida

I recently was given a copy of the new release and bestseller: Reasons I Jump.

It is a quick but enlightening and thought provoking book that I highly recommend.  A young man with autism is the author and he answers questions about how his life has been as an individual with autism.  I realize that these are his opinions but they are a great starting pint for some discussions.

One fact I found fascinating is that the Japanese use three characters to write autism: "self", "shut", and "illness."

Please note, i in no way receive any benefit nor do the authors know I am writing about the book but I think everyone who has a student or child with autism should at least read this book.  It will only take you and afternoon but one afternoon of your time could build a bridge between you and someone you care about.

Making a Living

What do you do for a living?

This is an icebreaker, form of introduction, status determiner, sense of camaraderie, or a way to kill an awkward moment but is it a good question?

Here is one problem I see with this question; it only addresses a very small part of our lives.  Let me break it down in mathematical terms, there are 24 hours in a day and only 1/3, or 8 are spent at work for only 260/352 days for approximately 40 years of a life average of 80 years (I rounded up slightly to make it easier to compute).  Therefore, our working lives are:

1/3 of each day * 260 days * 40 years =

4699.2 days of a 28,480 day life time

or 16.5% of a lifetime

I was shocked by this math!  I thought the answer to that question was one to aspire towards.  IEPs are designed to answer this question at the age of 14 with the work prior and after focused on helping the student secure "a living"  All the hours the IEP teams I have been a part of should count for more of a person's life than 16.5%.  It is time that I ask a better question,

How do we design a life?

Brotherly Love

A child with a disability is a blessing, a challenge, a student, a child, a comedian, a source of stress, and often, a sibling.  This sibling shows us what true brotherly love looks like in his outward gift to his brother.

http://www.today.com/news/10-year-old-gives-gift-running-disabled-brother-8C11296803

10-year-old Gives Gift of Running to Brother