The Chicken in the Truck: A Reflection

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Many years ago, my husband and I were driving on the freeway (highway), and we saw several chickens dead on the road. They obviously came out of a semi-truck that was probably on it’s way to the processing plant because they were pure white, (the kind used for eggs and meat).

The discussion of the question continues to this day: Would you rather be the chicken on the truck or the chicken that jumps from the truck? One choice, you surrender to your fate not knowing what will happen but maybe you will live, and the other choice, you try to change your course, not knowing if you will be killed instantly or survive and find freedom and your own choice of future.

I made a big decision last month, and am ready to begin my new path, (in a few weeks). I haven’t thought about this questions for a few years, and it seems everytime I make or am faced with making a big decision or have made a big decision, I think about this question.

Upon reflection I am identifying myself as the chicken who jumps from the truck.  Reflecting on the current path I am on, I don’t like where I am going, soI concluded that I needed to take that “leap of faith” and try for something different.  It maybe worse (in which I will jump again) or it may be better, (inwhich I will stay until it becomes worse then I will jump again). 

I may be viewed as someone who won’t settle….but why do we have to settle?  Why do we tell ourselves, “This is as good as I’m going to get, so what use is trying to change things?”  As long as I am trying to get out, to change my life for the better, to improve my situation, to make a better life for myself, then I know that I haven’t given up.  Some people have made this “leap of faith” in their mind, as did Viktor Frankle wrote about in “Man’s Search for Meaning” about his experiences in Nazi death camp, in Aschwitz, Germany. And others take a physically leap, as did the people escaping the burning buildings of 9/11.  Being the master of your future, regardless of the outcome, is what gives you hope, inspiration, motivation and focus of your life.

Who do you identify with?  The chicken on the truck, or the chicken who escaped?

Please feel free to leave a comment…

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Am I Making the Right Decision?

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Sometimes when faced with two clear paths (or more), a pause is most valuable. The roads are before you, and you cannot see where the roads lead, because further down each path, there may be more crossroads. When we are faced with a decision, we assume several things: 1. The decision is permenant, as if there will be no more alternatives down the line. 2. The future you are picturing (picking) will come true the way you think it will, (as if you can see the future). 3. The choice you pick is the right decision. But we wont know until we are able to look back and see more clearly where that decision put us.

To rephrase your directive, do not think “am I making the RIGHT decision”, think “am I making a good choice”.

To make a good choice, you need to consider 5 things:
1. Your gut (intuition)
2. Your mind (logical)
3. Your loved ones (affecting others)
4. Your alternatives (other choices)
5. Your time (no hasty decisions)

Do not consider your emotions. Making decisions when emotions are raw or fresh, regardless if they are happy emotions, (Oh he is so wonderful I will leave my whole life for him….popular in movies, because the movie ends, and your life doesn’t) or angry emotions, (my wife got me so mad, I am leaving, permenantly).

Listening to your gut, ask yourself: Does the new situation feel good, will I be comfortable and relaxed?
Listening to your mind, ask yourself: Does this make sense? Think about all the possible outcomes, and the obstacles you will face with both choices.
Thinking of your loved ones, ask yourself: What will they gain/lose from my decision? Am I willing to put them through the pain or will their joy overcome the pain.
Thinking of alternatives, ask yourself: Is this your only choice? Are their other options? Staying in your current situation is an alternative, is that a choice?
Thinking of time, ask yourself: Must I make the decision right now, or can I wait a week or a month? When MUST the decision need to be made?

Be aware of your pitfalls, that may stop you from making the right decision: Fear, uncertainty, lack of confidence, previous decisions that went wrong, or just not making a decision. As said by the great rock band RUSH, “you are making a decision, by not making a decision”.

My best friend (my husband) always says, when you are a pilot, and you are heading down the runway, at some point, it is up to you to take off, or abort. Once you made the decision to fly, you got to go, or you’ll crash.

So, take it slow down the runway, take your skill, plane and environment into account, make the decision to fly or abort. If you abort, there will be another day to fly. If you decide to fly, focus well, throttle up your engines and fly! Once you have made it, face it with all your energy and enthusiasm, you’ll be airborne. Enjoy the flight.

photo credit: Jake Fowler via photopin cc
photo credit: Daniel Pascoal via photopin cc

Those who can do, because….

It is amazing job, being a teacher…..

The other day, I was instructing my students how to go online, find a website, enter a passcode, to find more information about a concept we were learning. I suddenly realized I was teaching my students how to use a technology that didn’t exist when I was their age. What is amazing, I haven’t even made it to the 1/2 century mark yet. The technology has moved at lightning speeds, leaving behind those who blink.

Winston Churchill, arguable the one man who changed history. I’ve taken an interest in him lately because not only did he accomplish an incredible feat (for all of those of you who missed it, he challenged Hitler, and won) but he had such a timeless philosophy, it can be easily applied to today’s world.

Consider this quote: “Where my reason, imagination and interest where not engaged, I would not or I could not learn”.

How to catch the interest and imagination of our children or students is a daily challenge. I am teaching students to be ready for a (their) world that probably doesn’t exist today, by using today’s technology (that didn’t exist in my world), with yesterday’s (my grandfather’s) philosophy.

When we ignore today’s world, and teach them ours, we are missing an opportunity to use their interest and reason.

So what do we teach them from our world? Love, understanding, respect, compassion, trust, honesty, loyalty. To stand for what you believe in using a moral compass that guides them through a world of amazement and confusion. It is a challenge to teach. It is not for the weak hearted. People joke “that those who can, do, and those who can’t, teach….I have a different thought…Those who can do, because they can’t teach.

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Easy To Learn, If You Love It

Ever since my daughter was young, she loved horses. We put her on a pony at 2 1/2 years old, and she has never looked back. At 5 years old, we started formal training lessons, and now she is advancing quickly. We don’t have to beg her to get ready to go to lessons, it doesn’t matter how cold or hot the weather is, or even if she is sick (unless she is really sick), she is enthusiastic and eager to learn. When you really find something that you love doing, it is easy to learn about it because your interest is high. Many people love horses. Some just like to look at them, some would never climb up on top of an animal that is 1000 lbs and has it’s own mind and some like to watch them race like the wind. But when you enjoy something…anything, you will have the excitement, that will drive you to learn even more. Encourage your students to find what they love.