As we age, we see things and react to situations differently. For those of you dreading the aging process, I can only tell you that with age truly comes wisdom of a magnitude that you can only imagine as a young adult! Many of the "practices" discussed in chapters 7-12, will come naturally after you pass the 50 year mark of your life. As I was blessed with the practices in chapters 1-6 through observation of my parents and their actions and reactions, I can only say that living life, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and discovering what is truly important in life, has helped me also achieve the following:
Chapter 7: The Way Things Are
Once again I must say that I was born a "glass half full" person. Even after being in a marriage for 20 years to a "glass half empty" person, I maintained my positive outlook on things. I truly believe that if you think negative thoughts, those things will eventually happen to you. Whether it is a subconscious sabotage or whether it is fate, I have no idea. In this chapter there were two poignant quotes that touched me. First, "This attitude is difficult to maintain in our competitive culture where so much attention is given to mistakes and criticism that the voice of the soul is literally interrupted" (Zander & Zander, 2000, p. 103). I listen to the voice of my soul more and more each day. That intuition is a source of strength and guidance to me in my daily existence. Second "The more attention you shine on a particular subject, the more evidence of it will grow" (Zander & Zander, 2000, p. 108). You speak what you want. If that is negative, you will get negative. If that is positive, then positive it is! Be careful what you wish for because you probably WILL get it!
Chapter 8: Giving Way to Passion
Let go and live! Find your passion; and do it (or feed it) NOW! Enough said!
Chapter 9: Lighting a Spark
Passion is the key to lighting a spark. If you have a passion for or about something, then you possess the "match" with which to light a spark in someone else. I will never forget about three years ago when my 8th graders were leaving me to go to high school. The last novel, Les Miserables, of the year had just been discussed. As we discussed them leaving and experiencing new things, tears came to my eyes and I said to them, "If you do nothing else, find something that you can feel passionate about, and I am not talking about a person (boyfriend/girlfriend). I am talking about something that you truly care about and what to share with other people! For in that passion, you will light fires that will live within you and others for the rest of your life." Those students teared up too and still return to me to let me hear about their passions! It is a blessing to see the light in their faces and the "shine" in their eyes when they proudly declare that they now see the importance and validity of feeling passion about something.
Chapter 10: Being the Board
This chapter sounds so much like the I'm Ok; You're Ok book by Thomas Harris (1969); you are in charge of your life and playing what I call "the blame game" gets you no where fast! It is what it is! Look at the situation from another point of view before you get down on yourself or someone else. It's all about changing your viewpoint of situations that happen to or around you and turning it into a situation that you can find possible solutions/actions/reactions to resolve the conflict/problem. Don't let assumptions run your life or form your beliefs, actions, or reactions! I was once told, "If you assume anything, you will probably be disappointed." It is so true and a suggestion I took to heart and live by.
Chapter 11: Creating Frameworks for Possibility
Educationally I practice this "practice" with my students. I let them know early on in the year that they can do anything they put their minds to. Throughout the year together we discover how we are "on track" and when we are "off track" we work together to get back to the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. It always amazes me that a couple of weeks before the state mandated tests occur, we discuss the possibility for everyone to pass it; after the results come in, the ones that in the beginning told me that they could and had never passed the test, did just that. They are so proud, and I only hope that they take with them the idea of creating their own framework for future possibilities in their lives.
Chapter 12: Telling the WE Story
This also sounds like a book I once read about relationships and how to get along by the way you word comments when "discussing" something with your spouse. That book - I cannot remember the title - stated that when you addressed your spouse and say, "You make me feel….", it automatically puts that person on the defensive. So instead you should say, "When this happens, I feel…." This is kind of the same principal except the WE story gives everyone ownership, input, and a "place" in the planning, preparation, and completion of whatever the task might be. Educationally, this chapter made be think of giving the students input in decisions made concerning lessons, assessments, and even rule making when they are in your class. When the "WE" feel like they are a part of the process, everyone works together to make anything imaginable a possibility!
For more inspirational reading, you should read It'll be Ok! by Rick Hagler, a extremely positive, inspirational man I have known personally for 40 years!
Hagler, R. (2007). It'll be ok! [image]. Retrieved with permission from Rick Hagler August 10, 2009, from http://www.itllbeok.com/Home_Page.html
Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility. NY: Penguin Group.
I'm glad that you love the inspiration of this book, but I'm not so sure that it's natural for folks over a certain age to attain this wisdom. I've known many an immature negative short-sighted individual to remain immature, negative and short-sighted their whole lives. Not to be the "Debbie downer" I think your good upbringing has influenced your good attitude and wisdom as time has gone on in your life. It's a gift that we can all have, but not all of us are open to that.
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