someone make me a bloody mary for breakfast
I had the most interesting dream last night. All I remember is that there was a foreign woman telling me a story, and the message she relayed to me was, "Life is too short to imagine doing only what you think of doing, isn't it? Do what you are destined to do." And then immediately following that statement, my alarm went off. It was like a movie or something. So, this whole life as "destiny" thing completely contradicts the big western ideal of "free will." I personally don't have a firm belief in either. It makes you feel so helpless when you think of your life being absoltely predetermined, with every little thing you do not really your choice at all. But at the same time, don't you think that there's got to be some bigger design than the chocies you make every day, big and small? I would like to think so, at least ... to have some purpose for existence. When I woke up, I was profoundly moved, which is odd since I don't normally remember my dreams, but that statement just stuck out for some reason. What does that mean that life is too short to do only what you think of doing? It's basically saying to follow your destiny. But for a person who isn't really sure what that even is, it might be kind of hard. So what if I'm completely off track with my life here? What if teaching isn't my "destiny"? Then what do I do? And how will I know? Maybe all this craziness is coming from only getting 3 hours of sleep last night. I kinda like it though.
Anyway, on my drive back home, I was stuck in morning traffic and noticed a bumper sticker that said, "If it's not fun, why do it?" Well that's a great idea in theory. In theory, it's a wonderful idea! As a teacher, I try to make things I teach fun for the students. But I have one fundamental problem with that statement. If everything is fun in life, how will you know to appreciate fun when you have it? Don't you need banality and unpleasantries to balance out the fun? It's like the concept of needing darkness to have light. I think that the embrace of this notion is part of the problem with kids today. Kids are being overstimulated, which is why everything needs to be bigger and better in order to get their attention. Did you know that you're not really supposed to let a child under 2 watch tv because something-or-other physical happens to a baby as a result of tv. Something happens to the synapses and I'm not sure what because I'm not a science person, but ok. Basically, the kid becomes overstimulated and needs increased stimulation as he gets older. Which is why they say that television for young babies and kids may contribute to ADD/ADHD. But who knows. I agree with the general concept though. Think of the movie watching experience in the last 10 years. Things have gotten bigger, badder, more explosive. We have digital tv's, surround sound, etc. for a more "enriching" experience. I am convinced that someday, they're going to have an interactive movie theater where you go in and the chairs move and smells waft through the theater and things jump out at you. It's the logical next step. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with progression, but that's just the way it works. Anyway, getting back to the whole bumper sticker and school thing. I just think that kids should have to sit down and learn patience, instead of constantly being stimulated into learning. I guess I just think that either extreme would be bad. Students need to learn the payoff of hard work and dedication to a task. But in moderation. When I think of how I should teach a lesson, I think of how I would want to learn it. And ALWAYS, that involves making the concept fun, and interesting. Kids aren't going to want to remember some boring crap that they had to copy down 50 times in a textbook. I'm not talking about that kind of patience. But anyway, I'm losing my drift. That really had no purpose. Well.
I guess I'm going to take a nap or something. Then I'm going to go get my hair cut by my awesome gay hairdresser! I love him! Ok well pointless rambling is now over.
Anyway, on my drive back home, I was stuck in morning traffic and noticed a bumper sticker that said, "If it's not fun, why do it?" Well that's a great idea in theory. In theory, it's a wonderful idea! As a teacher, I try to make things I teach fun for the students. But I have one fundamental problem with that statement. If everything is fun in life, how will you know to appreciate fun when you have it? Don't you need banality and unpleasantries to balance out the fun? It's like the concept of needing darkness to have light. I think that the embrace of this notion is part of the problem with kids today. Kids are being overstimulated, which is why everything needs to be bigger and better in order to get their attention. Did you know that you're not really supposed to let a child under 2 watch tv because something-or-other physical happens to a baby as a result of tv. Something happens to the synapses and I'm not sure what because I'm not a science person, but ok. Basically, the kid becomes overstimulated and needs increased stimulation as he gets older. Which is why they say that television for young babies and kids may contribute to ADD/ADHD. But who knows. I agree with the general concept though. Think of the movie watching experience in the last 10 years. Things have gotten bigger, badder, more explosive. We have digital tv's, surround sound, etc. for a more "enriching" experience. I am convinced that someday, they're going to have an interactive movie theater where you go in and the chairs move and smells waft through the theater and things jump out at you. It's the logical next step. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with progression, but that's just the way it works. Anyway, getting back to the whole bumper sticker and school thing. I just think that kids should have to sit down and learn patience, instead of constantly being stimulated into learning. I guess I just think that either extreme would be bad. Students need to learn the payoff of hard work and dedication to a task. But in moderation. When I think of how I should teach a lesson, I think of how I would want to learn it. And ALWAYS, that involves making the concept fun, and interesting. Kids aren't going to want to remember some boring crap that they had to copy down 50 times in a textbook. I'm not talking about that kind of patience. But anyway, I'm losing my drift. That really had no purpose. Well.
I guess I'm going to take a nap or something. Then I'm going to go get my hair cut by my awesome gay hairdresser! I love him! Ok well pointless rambling is now over.