7 Years Ago Today...

Where were you?

What were you doing?

What were you upset about BEFORE it happened?

Did that matter AFTER it happened?

How has your life changed since?

9/11 changed everything. It changed what we believed, who we felt we were. It bumped us into a whole new direction as a country, community and as individuals. It was felt throughout the world that day and for generations to come.

This day will be filled with media coverage and remembrances of that day and the days following. There will be reminders of those we lost (as if we need to be reminded). It will be a day of reflection, of personal soul-searching. Of thinking about what was important before that day, and what we learned that truly mattered afterward.

This post could go on and on. But I shall leave that to you.

Write what you will about this day. About 9/11 then, now and the future.

God bless all who we lost, all who were affected and all who remember. Lest we forget.

Short Weeks Bring Plenty To Do Stuff

What was it about this week that made it so busy? Three meetings, one restructuring continuation, new duties, a new boss, a walk-through of our space which has lead to more possible questions (in a good way), 25 or so posters to print, and a pizza party for our student worker who's last day was today.

In the previous 5 weeks we have been over in our new location, we have not been anywhere near this busy if we combined the past 5 weeks and compare those with the past 4 days. WOW!

In a sense, being busy is a good thing. Great thing should it mean that what we do matters to people. Now sure. I like doing my fair share of not too much from time to time, but it just means that we are going through the motions that way. We really are not accomplishing too much.

Sure, it works as a much needed break or rest, but over all, it really doesn't push anything forward.

This week, with the changes announced, the projects added, and the stuff to do had changed my feelings about the situation. It's made things better in a way. And with whatever is to come in the near future, it can be even better than we think it is at the moment.

So for your Assignment...

When you become busy (seemingly out of nowhere), what are your first thoughts about it? Do you complain wondering if you will ever get a break? Do you think about it a bit and see that - yeah, you have time and can do it. Or do you jump right in seeing the possible benefits down the road for taking part in this?

Write about it and share your thoughts here.

--David

Why The Rain In Our Lives Matters

This past weekend, I had the chance to just sit and think about things. How I got here. What has happened in life that has lead me to this moment, this place, this computer, this pair of Velcro laced shoes.

I wondered why Pepsi and not Coke? Why can I write fairly well, yet really didn't care about it back in grade school? Why did I want to be a teacher despite hating getting up in front of people? How do I know enough about computers to be dangerous when I really don't see myself as that techy or mechanically inclined?

Then today comes around, I as a bit of a continuation, I started thinking about what had taken place in the past. Things which when wrong. You know, those embarrassing moments like choosing Mediterranean Sea when it wasn't even one of the 4 choises. Or that time when I got poison ivy for what seemed forever. Or when I sprained my ankle playing soccer with a few 7 year old kids across the street.

These things are just small glitches along the way in life. There have certainly been bigger ones such as when my father passed away without warning, auto accidents, layoffs and the list goes on and on.

In the process of thinking back to these things, I was reminded of thoughts from philosophy class. You need to have the bad to know there is good. How do you know if you are doing well at something, if you don't look back at how you once sucked at it?

What if everything was perfect? Nothing ever went wrong. Bad things didn't take place. How would we know we had it pretty good?

There is an old Arabian proverb."All sunshine makes a desert."

Wow! Looking at it that way, that would kinda suck as well.

So yes. things do happen, but it is for the better. Those that don't destroy me, only make me stronger. (5 points for coming up with who said that).

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Just think.

It's sort of a day off of homework here, but yet, it's not. Think about where you were, where you are and how you got here. How did you end up becoming CEO of Microsoft instead of the King of Suede? (Weird Al song- not the CEO part). What have you had to endure? What just worked out? What might you be going through now? How will this rainstorm make you better down the road?

--David