Iskrena Istina

I am one of those people that believes in the good in others and the world. That doing good brings good.

However, I would never tell someone that something bad has happened to that it happened because they are a bad person, then I would tell them, that bad things do happen to good people.

But, then there is the saying when something bad happens to someone 'bad', we say they got what they deserved.

And I know that we can all relate to the person that seems to always get it all, even though they are the worst person, especially to others.

So, what's the real truth?
If we do our best to be good people doing good as much as possible, do good things happen to us?

And if bad things happen to us, is it just bad luck or did we somehow deserve it?

What is good? What is bad?

Now to throw another variable into the mix, I totally believe in free will, that we make our own choices. We, alone decide how we behave and how we treat others and what decisions we make. Even when we follow someone else's advise or direction, it is our own choice to do so. And I also believe that all actions have consequences whether good or bad, seen or unseen.

I believe in some combination of destiny and making our own way. That while the universe or karma or gods or God might have some higher purpose or plan for us, we decide whether or not to follow it or to fulfill it or to live up to our potential.

But, do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try, you just don't get a break? That for every step forward that you think you are taking, someone or something comes along and pushes you 2 steps back. Or that you spend more time side-stepping road blocks or naysayers and thus you theoretically stay in the same place instead of getting closer to your dreams.

Are you ever confused about what your dreams really are? Do you doubt why you are doing what you are doing? Are the dreams you are chasing yours or the ones you have been told by others to follow? What if you have been following the dreams others told you were yours for so long that you have no dreams of your own? How do you create or discover your own dreams?

Then what? What if by luck you think that you figure out what your dream is, what do you do with it? How do you realize it? How do you make your dream the focus of your life? How do you have a good life reaching your dream in a world whose only focus seems to be money? Unless the dream is only to be rich; but, then again, how?

If you have read this far, then you may be asking yourself, so what is the honest truth that she is talking about?

The truth is, that if any of what I have said resonates with you, you are not alone! And if you do not have answers to any of the above dilemmas, again, you are not alone!

I have been trying to figure out a lot of the above questions and find the right answers to them and so far I do not feel like I have any of them. And while, I tend to be a very private person about my own struggles, and prefer to do what I can to help others, maybe I can try to share some of my struggles in hopes of helping out someone else with their own. If providing nothing more than a feeling of not being alone in this!

One, Two, Three

First there was One,

It was

Amazing,

New,

Magical.

Next came Two,

It was

Growing,

Doing,

Challenging.

That led to Three,

It was

Different,

Wow,

New Again.

Followed by Four,

It was

Bending,

Giving,

Stretching.

We stayed for Five,

It was

Listening,

Solid,

Strengthening.

Sailed with Six,

It was

Distance,

Life,

Familiarity.

Going for Seven,

I want

Growing,

You,

Adventuring.

You'll Never Know

You'll never know just what you mean to me,

I cannot put into words the way you make me feel,
Not even Shakespeare could!

I cannot paint on canvas the emotions you create,
Not even Van Gogh could!

I cannot write a formula to explain my reaction to your touch,
Not even Archimedes could!

I cannot compose a symphony to extol  being loved by you,
Not even Chopin could!

You'll never know just how you have changed my world,

I cannot put into words the difference you have made,
Not even Byron could!

I cannot paint on canvas the dream that is reality with you,
Not even Monet could!

I cannot invent a theorem to prove your magical impact,
Not even Riemann could!

I cannot compose a symphony with more emotion than your presence,
Not even Tchaikovsky could!

No, you'll never know!
But, know that you do.
You mean everything to me!

Book Review - Thinking Like a Geographer By Rebecca M. Burley

Well, this work was not at all what I was expecting or hoping for. What was I expecting/hoping for? More of a conceptual methodology of the thinking skills that are needed or are useful in the study of Geography that can be applied not just within lessons focused on geography, but also other areas to increase the students analysis skills and critical thinking. 

What this book is ... basically it is a complete package lesson plan for geography/social studies for the elementary level. While the book states Grade 2, I would say that it could be applied up to Grade 5 depending on the social and academic level of the students. I also feel that some of the exercises would not be emotionally and thus in turn not intellectually relevant to 7/8YOs and might be better suited for older students. 

As a complete lesson plan package, the book is sufficient to provide basically a whole geography component of the class curriculum for the year. The teacher is provided with the worksheets, project assignments and lecture content. Included are even examples of appropriate 'right answers' from the students to questions presented within the lectures.