Literacy
Low-income parents are often disengaged from their children’s education, typically due to stress from financial and work insecurity, according to Literacy Partners. Source: Regis College
Could you imagine?
Now, I have a purposeful career & stable income, an adequate & comfortable home in a relatively “safe” neighborhood, a supportive spouse, lots of reliable & loving friends, a top-notch parenting partner in my ex-wife and an unbelievable extended family. You could say I am “insulated” to some degree, have a “safety net” and am never without a lifeline. I wouldn’t describe my life as “surviving” by any measure.
Even so, parenting is still challenging, not to mention the energy required to fully engage meaningfully in my children’s educational journey. It’s still hard.
But could you imagine?
Over the years, I’ve heard many versions of these types of phrases:
“well, if they just did this or that”
“they just need to pull themselves up by their boot-straps”
“don’t they care about their children?”
But, are any statements like this useful, helpful, fair or help change anything?
And I think lack any empathy whatsoever.
Until we’ve walked a mile in their shoes, right?
It’s not about they, it’s about US.
The “voices” of Women’s History
"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation." – Susan B. Anthony.
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." – Mae Jemison
"A woman is like a teabag – you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." – Eleanor Roosevelt.
"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult." – Melinda Gates
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
“I do know one thing about me: I don’t measure myself by others’ expectations or let others define my worth.” – Sonia Sotomayor
“Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” – Toni Morrison
Philanthropy, the truth hurts, straight facts, no comment
- The annualized inflation rate hit 7.9 percent in February, the highest since 1982.
- After falling 6 percent in January, the S&P 500 slid another 3 percent in February. The trend for March so far continues to be downward overall.
- The total endowment value of Ivy League colleges was more than $190 billion dollars during the past fiscal year. Investment returns on these endowments ranged from 34 percent to nearly 50 percent, the result of a strong stock market and investment strategies focused on private equity and venture capital.
- Despite this growing financial cushion, pledges and contributions to Ivy League schools last year were approximately $2 billion.
- The share of households donating to charity is at its lowest point in nearly 20 years. At the same time, those donating to charities are increasingly among the wealthiest Americans.
- In 2019, the latest year for which such data is available, 5 percent of taxpayers with incomes of less than $50,000 itemized deductions, compared with 90 percent of those with incomes of more than $1 million.
- Only 45 percent of Americans polled in November said they trust nonprofits, 5 percentage points lower than the previous year.
(Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Great way to die OR great way to live?
Recently I was watching Warren Miller’s, “Chasing Shadows”, with my family.
If you are a die-hard skier, you’re probably familiar with Warren Miller.
If not, he was a trailblazing ski and snowboard filmmaker, a legend.
His films are known for their incredible and breathtaking visuals of skiers and snowboarders, typically paired with dramatic and driving music. Much of the imagery is intense, keeping you on the edge of your seat, skiers and snowboarders pushing their skills to the limits, it’s both beautiful and sometimes scary.
At one point during “Chasing Shadows”, as a skier is shredding a super steep pitch, carving back and forth in between rock out-cropping’s, I hear my daughter exclaim, “well, that’s a good way to die”…silence… 20 seconds later, my son exclaims, “no, that’s a great way to LIVE”.
Those two statements seem very different however, they are more similar than you might perceive.
Knowing my children the way I do, I know though they said two different things, both statements come from a spirit and mindset of, “live like your dying”.
How are you living?
Word of the Week
I guess this week’s word is a little cliché, especially giving it’s the week of St. Patrick’s Day, but oh well… I’d rather be LUCKY than good. Right?
Lucky…Lucky…say it out loud a few times, now look at it.
It’s one of “those” words when you say it a few times then really study it, it’s just a weird word.
But one which we use a lot.
But what does it really mean? Lucky?
Is luck real? Is there such thing as luck?
They say, “skill creates luck”. But does it?
Well, to be honest, I’m not sure I believe in luck per se, but I do believe in getting good breaks, and I guess for that matter, bad breaks. I believe getting good breaks is necessary for success but they’re not to be relied upon.
I often listen to the podcast, “How I Built This with Guy Raz”.
To say it’s fascinating is an understatement.
I could listen to uber-successful entrepreneurs discuss their journeys ALL. DARN. DAY.
At the end of each session, he asks the question…
“What percentage of your success do you attribute to luck and what percentage to skill?”
The answers you hear are surprising and telling.
“How I Built This with Guy Raz”, take a listen, it’s worth the time.