Literacy, definitely quote them!
I love a good quote, especially when it’s about reading.
“Elimination of illiteracy is as serious an issue to our history as the abolition of slavery.” – Maya Angelou
“Reading requires the brain to rearrange its original parts to learn something new.” – Maryanne Wolf
“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.” – Lisa See
“We read to know we are not alone.” – C.S. Lewis
“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.” – Kofi Annan
“Comics are a gateway drug to literacy.” – Art Spiegelman
Great gift, greatest responsibility
Sunday marks another Father’s Day… Happy Father’s Day to all!
I am the father to Zoë, 13 years old and a rising 8th grader (OMG), Ziggy who will be 8 on July 16th and will be entering 3rd grade, and soon to be stepfather to Benen, who is 16 years old and will be a junior next year.
Candidly, I never thought I’d be a father. Never thought I’d be called “Dad.”
But, then again, many things have happened in my life which I never could have expected.
And, like many things you don’t expect, they can be the greatest blessings, the greatest gifts.
Having the opportunity to be a father has been THE greatest gift of my life.
It’s a gift which never stops giving.
That said, it’s also the single greatest responsibility I’ve been given. I take it seriously.
I heard someone once say, “I’d never want to bring kids into this world the way it is.”
I respect the statement and viewpoint. However, I look at it a bit differently.
Because the world is the way it is, is exactly why I wanted to bring children into it.
It’s my hope & prayer my children will…
- be the light where there is darkness
- bring peace where there is strife
- find solutions where challenges overwhelm us
- model love where hate persists
- be givers where being takers seems to be rewarded
- be willing to do hard things where taking the easy road, well, is easy
- think of others where “ME” is what we think about most
- choose hope where despair appears to be everywhere
It’s all how you look at it, right?
401k & Legacy
This past Sunday, I was blessed to hear this, “Don’t let your 401k be your legacy.”
What does this mean to you?
Does it seem sometimes you’re living just to build your 401k, your retirement or what you will leave to your children?
There’s a good quote which says, “live your eulogy, not your resume.”
It’s easy, especially in America, to get sucked into our careers, our titles, our social status, our “success,” our balance sheets.
Are we living to work, or working to live?
Are we letting life happen to us or are we “creating” the life we live in?
Think about the last time you heard a eulogy.
Eulogies typically aren’t about the deceased’s successes, their accomplishments.
In fact, I’ve never heard one mention about the person’s 401k, how much was in their retirement account or how much money they are leaving to their children.
Typically, eulogies are about the deceased’s significance.
If you were to die today…
Would anyone have anything to say about you?
Would it be true?
And would it matter?
If you are reading this, no matter how old you are, and you don’t like your answers to the above questions, don’t fret.
You have a choice, right now, to start living differently. CHOOSE SIGNIFICANCE.
Word of the week
Oftentimes, we here about friction in the workplace, friction in board rooms, friction on athletic teams and even friction at home. Actually, anywhere there’s more than one person, there’s probably friction. Right?
My perception is most folks think friction is bad.
But what if there was no friction (specifically defined as traction), between the tires on your car and the surface of the road? Friction is necessary in order to stop, slow down, accelerate and change direction.
Friction is necessary. Friction is GOOD.
I’m no Siskel, or Ebert, but…
Are you looking for something different to watch?
Something which might make you think differently?
Something fascinating?
Something that will blow your mind?
Something super informative?
Look no further, watch, Fantastic Fungi
Thank me later!
GOOD NEWS, read all about it!
Wouldn’t know it by watching the news, but there’s good news all around us.
- Recently British 5-year old, Bella J. Dark, officially became the Guinness World Record holder for world’s youngest published author. Confirmed after selling over 2,000 copies.
- On June 1st, Florida launched their “Hometown Heroes Housing Program” which help critical professions like law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees and active military or veterans purchase their first home.
- Recently in Colorado, a 6th grader wrote a note to himself in his own yearbook, “Hope you make some more friends, Brody Ridder,” after almost no one would sign his yearbook. In learning about this, a group of seniors from the local high school came to Brody’s school specifically looking for him… so they could sign his yearbook.
- Meanwhile in Utah, an adopted son and his biological mother were reunited after discovering they both were currently working in the same hospital.
- In Massachusetts, twin sisters Alina and Anastasia Antropova, graduated from Holyoke Community College where they were BOTH named valedictorians.
- You have the ability to read this, that’s GOOD NEWS!
Don’t just read good news, go make it!