|
Random archive letters from other years part 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Reservoir of Goodwill Thursday, November 30, 2006
Good day, Sequoyah Cougars! Some of the things my Dad built with his earth moving business when I was a kid were water reservoirs. In California, water is pumped out of the ground and saved in reservoirs about the size of our gymnasium for farming. I use to love to watch him build one because he was so accurate and precise with the dimensions. A few years ago, my family and I went to the Hoover Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border. Most of you know that it is a huge dam that took six years to build in the 1930’s and now holds back the water of the Colorado River to create a beautiful body of water called Lake Meade. Standing on the Hoover Dam, a person gets a clear idea about how large a project the construction was over 70 years ago. Seeing Lake Meade from a scenic viewpoint or from the window of an airliner is an impressive sight. The reservoir of water behind the dam is used by five states and a large portion of it is used in Southern California. Even as large as the Hoover Dam is, it is no longer the largest dam in the world. In fact, in the next year, the Three Gorges Dam in China will be complete. It will back up the waters of the Yangtze River. The reservoir it creates will be the size of Lake Superior. It will be the largest man-made body of water ever on this planet. Building reservoirs of water have been important to the improvement of the life of people on most of the continents. There are other types of reservoirs that people build. When a person saves or reserves money in a bank, it is considered an economic reservoir. It is considered their liquid assets if they can get to the money easily. People can have emotional reservoirs as well. Listen to this anonymous quote.
Build a reservoir of goodwill by placing the interests of your friends above your own.
The construction of that kind of reservoir requires no concrete or metal frames or earth movement. All it really requires of a person is the choice to put your friends ahead of yourself. It could be as simple as if your friend wanted to see a movie different from your choice. If you allow your friend’s choice to be priority more often than not, then you are building a reservoir of goodwill. Your friends will recognize what you are choosing to do and appreciate it. If a person is not appreciative or is willing to take advantage of your sacrifice, then they probably aren’t friends. A friend won’t always want to have his or her way. A friend will share the decision-making and be willing to listen to the interests of others as well. I encourage you to build a huge reservoir of goodwill with your friends now and the friends that you will have someday somewhere in your future. Create a reservoir of goodwill as large as the one behind the Three Gorges Dam. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. Constant Kindness Friday, December 1, 2006
Good day, Sequoyah Kind Ones! Yesterday in talking about building reservoirs of goodwill, I should have mentioned that providing kindness to your friendships, repeatedly, would help create the huge reservoirs. How effective is kindness to a relationship? Well, listen to this quote from Mr. Rogers, and if you haven’t guessed yet, a kind teacher did give me a book of Mrs. Rogers’ thoughts and words.
Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate.
How effective is kindness to a relationship? Well, according to Mr. Rogers, it can accomplish much. He gave us a great word picture. It is a word picture that we may actually see in the next few weeks. Even if we have the worse ice storm in Oklahoma’s history, the sun will come out and make ice melt. It may take awhile, but it will cause the water to evaporate. That is what kindness does in a relationship, but instead of water melting, what we have disappear is misunderstanding, and mistrust, and even hostility. I have seen it happen so many times that I don’t even count any more. Genuine kindness overwhelms misunderstanding, permitting people to have a clear comprehension of friendships and interactions with other individuals. Genuine kindness removes mistrust in relationships and replaces it with a firm belief that a person can be relied upon to keep their word, and to be faithful to their friendship. Kindness given freely will reinforce and make stronger the trust, even to the point that the trust won’t ever be broken. Sincere kindness does a magic act on hostility. Applied consistently, kindness simply makes hostility vanish. I often wonder what a school that provided constant kindness would be like in a person’s life. I know a couple of things to be true. Everyone would want to attend that school every day. Everyone would feel safe at that school every minute and every single person would feel they were a part of that school always, even after they moved on to the next grade or into adult life. I encourage you to help me make Sequoyah a school of constant kindness. Let’s see what we can accomplish together with constant kindness. And as always, you can hold me accountable as well for the kindness. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely.
________________________________________ Thanksgiving Monday, November 20, 2006 Good day, Sequoyah Thanksgivers! This week is special to citizens of the United States of America. Thursday will be recognized by millions of people as a Thanksgiving Day. It happens to my favorite holiday. It began as an event that just couldn’t catch on as a National Holiday. The date of the first Thanksgiving is not known, but most historians believe it happened in the fall of 1621, after the Pilgrims first harvest was poor. The Native Americans came to the rescue with food. They didn’t celebrate another one for a few years. In the next 170 years it was celebrated on and off for the thanks of a good harvest each fall. President George Washington issued the First National Thanksgiving Proclamation, setting Thursday, November 26, 1789 as the day. Listen to part of it:
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all that good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then unite in rendering Him kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation. . . –
You know that even after his proclamation, Thanksgiving failed to be seen as a national holiday. There were a few state governors that made it a state holiday and it stayed that way for another 74 years. During that time more and more people wanted it to become a national holiday. One woman in particular pushed it hard. Her name was Sarah Josepha Hale. She was an author and editor. She wrote hundreds of letters and just when it looked like a possibility, the Civil War broke out. Then in 1963, President Abraham Lincoln saw that the war was nearing a critical moment and maybe coming to an end. Mrs. Hale visited with the President in person to plead her case for Thanksgiving becoming a National Holiday. President Lincoln made a proclamation in which he reminded the war-torn country they still had much to be thankful for. It is important to understand that this proclamation was extended to every American—even in those states that were fighting the Union. Listen carefully to a few of Mr. Lincoln’s words:
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they (all that Americans are blessed with) should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people, I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and praise.
That Thanksgiving Day in 1863 was our first National Holiday for giving thanks, and we will recognize our 144th Thanksgiving this Thursday. Use part of this upcoming, long weekend as a time to remember what things you are thankful for in life. I will and I will share some of those things in tomorrow’s letter from the principal. And always remember:
You have been invited to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise.
With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. My Thanksgiving Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Good day, Sequoyah Great Ones! What are you thankful for in your life? I am sure that we don’t spend enough time thinking about the things we are thankful for in life; I know I don’t. But I am trying to change that. Do you know what your principal is thankful for in his life? Let me share some things with you. I am thankful for my freedoms. I am thankful for my freedom to express my words and my opinions as long as it does no harm to someone else. I am thankful for my freedom of religion and beliefs. That freedom allows me to worship, and yet it does not force me to do so. I am thankful for my freedom of movement. If I wanted to move to another part of the country tomorrow, I could do it without any one else’s permission. We all share these freedoms and can be thankful that we live in a country that offers them to us. We live in a country where freedom is so available that sometimes we take it for granted and don’t stop to be grateful. What else am I thankful for in my life? I am thankful that I have a wife who is also my best friend. She wants to be around me and I want to be with her. She will put up with my behavior, which is not always the greatest, and she still loves me for who I am. She forgives me my faults and weaknesses. I am thankful for my son and his wife. I am thankful for my wonderful daughter. They have made my life a rich life. They are part of two decades of fond, fun memories. All four of these people have impacted each day of my life in a positive way. They have made my workdays better, my holidays better, my vacations better, and even the few bad days I have had, they have helped me through them. So they have even made my bad days better. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my work here at Sequoyah. I have the good fortune to work with wonderful friends every day. I like being around my colleagues and friends here. When they leave each May it saddens me initially, but it is great when they return in August because I missed them. I am thankful that I have almost 1,000 kids I get to see each day. You all have so much energy and enthusiasm. You seem to love life so much. It still amazes me that I have the opportunity and blessing to be around young energetic people 11to 15 years old every day. What a great gift that is! I am thankful that you have a life of wonderful possibilities ahead of you; and keep in mind, you are just getting started. I am thankful to witness the enthusiasm from the Sequoyah students to enjoy life no matter what the weather. It rubs off on all of the adults. You are why the teachers and I are here. I am always talking about choice, right? Well, remember this, students. . . , the teachers and I choose to be here with you. We are all thankful for life, health and love. Demonstrate your thankfulness this weekend through words and actions, or through actions and words. Take some alone time to be quiet and to be thankful and to appreciate life. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. ________________________________________ Integrity for Life Monday, November 13, 2006 Good day, Sequoyah Students! Billy Graham is one of the most quoted men in America today. Listen to the wise words that he shares with us.
Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together.
He says that integrity is the glue that keeps our country’s ideas and practices together as one. What is integrity? The word is derived from a Latin word that means completeness and purity. We also get the word integrate from that old Latin word as well. It means to make into a whole by bringing all parts together. Integrity is wholeness, soundness, and honesty. Saturday was Veteran’s Day in the United States. It was an opportunity for all citizens to be mindful and thankful for the devotion and dedication of the men and women who have fought for the integrity of our country. The Billy Graham quote reminded me of our nation’s integrity. I have a wonderful example of someone supporting and protecting the integrity of our country. When Hurricane Isabel was bearing down on Washington, D. C. on September 24th, 2003, Washington did what it often does –panicked! The federal government was closed quickly as were the area’s schools –even though up until 7:00 p.m. the day was only rainy and had brief gusts of wind. But while everyone else was running for cover, there was a different character on display at the Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery is “home” and the final place of rest to 260,000 veterans. It is also the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was built in 1921 to honor those who died for our country, but whose remains have never been identified. It is symbolic of all unknown, unidentified, and unreturned remains of our service men. The 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard”, watches the Tomb 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year. Cemetery officials were in a dilemma. The Old Guard has never abandoned its post guarding the Tomb. But as Isabel slammed into the area during the night of September 24th, 2003, the winds hit 75 miles an hour and the rain was torrential. The cemetery officials, no doubt thinking possible danger, gave the Old Guard permission to leave their posts for safety sake. Guess what? The soldiers refused to leave! Staff Sergeant Alfred Lanier said the Tomb was something “we cherish.” Sgt. Christopher Holmes said leaving the Tomb is “never an option for us” and added he was prepared to die while guarding it. As General Dwight D. Eisenhower asked when he surveyed the bravery on the beaches of Normandy, “Where do we get such men?” That kind of integrity and steadfastness is what holds our way of life together. It really is the glue. It is what makes the principles and truths that our country holds dear, complete and pure. As a citizen of the United States of America, we each, as individuals, can choose that kind of integrity for life. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. Why Be Educated? Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Good day Sequoyah Educated Ones! As long as there has been history there has been some kind of education. Century after century people have been taught. Education has been mostly informal, but recently, in the last one hundred years, it has become formal for most of the people on the planet. Regardless of what subjects are taught in formal education settings, the main two goals are the same as they have been for centuries. Listen to this quote.
Education has had two great goals: to help people become smart and to help them become good.
If we accept this quote as true, then what do those two important words mean? What is meant by the word “smart” and what is the desired meaning of the word “good?” In the dictionary we find these definitions: “smart” is considered a sharp, quick thought, or bright idea. It is also considered to be clever or witty. In other words when education helps a person become smart, it helps him to be clever with quick thought and sharp ideas. Education creates an opportunity to think clearly and have enough information to process wit and wisdom. The dictionary defines “good” as having positive or desirable qualities, not poor or bad. It can also be something in excellent condition or whole or sound. If education is to help people become good, then what students should strive for is to have those qualities that are positive and desirable. It should also be important to consider that without an education, you cannot be whole. Why be educated? Being educated will cause most people to value and affirm our human dignity and promote the “good” of the individual and our shared society. Being educated improves our chances to do what is right for all of us. Why be educated? Because our daily lives will be productive and we will understand better how we each fit into a very complicated world. We will also be able to see clearly how others impact us and we will appreciate the interactions with friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers. Why be educated? Because our world now and the world in the future will be benefited and be a better place. And though we don’t consciously consider it, that’s what we really want. We definitely do want the world to become a better place today and tomorrow. I challenge you to pursue your own education with energy and enthusiasm. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. Expect Personal Punctuality Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Good day, Sequoyah Cougars! The other evening I watched the local evening news that was suppose to start at 6:00 p.m. I expected the station to start right at 6:00 p.m. like it does every night. And guess what? It did start on time. I expect everyday for students to be released at the end of the school day at 2:30 p.m. to go home or to go to a sport’s practice session. And except for a couple of days of snowy weather over the last 16 years and the afternoon of 9/11, it has happened like I expected. My guess is that most of you have the same expectation about the end of your school day as well. If I chose to ask the teachers to keep you in class until I notified them differently, we would have bus drivers and parents wondering where everyone was. They might even think that their watches were wrong. They would definitely wonder what was happening. We release students on time out of respect for others that expect it. The news starts on time out of respect for me and the other viewers. There is an old American proverb that makes a great point.
Punctuality is the first rung on the ladder of success.
How successful would a television station be that did not follow its own schedule, but instead just started shows late and real late? Most people would stop watching. How successful would a minister be if he started worship services 20 minutes late one Sunday, and 30 minutes late on another? Most people would stop coming. How long would a kid be allowed to be on a team if she showed up after a competition began on a regular basis? Most teammates would want her dismissed from the team. What about a department store or restaurant that failed to open their doors on time? They would go out of business. If my bank did not have its doors open on time and when it was supposed to, I would take my money and go find one that does keep time right. Would your parents find another doctor if she failed to keep an appointment with you repeatedly? Probably in a New York minute! Being punctual is important in a world driven by clocks. It doesn’t mean being at some destination at a specific time. It means being in place and ready to go on time. That place may be in a desk or at your parent’s car or on an athletic field. Almost every day I watch adults and students arrive at school on time, but there is always a few that arrive late. It’s not a clock’s problem or a traffic situation’s difficulty or even the train tracks by the cemetery’s fault. That issue of not being prompt is a personal issue; it is a personal problem of punctuality. Here’s my challenge to you today. Focus on keeping time commitments. Be in class on time. Don’t make your parents wait for you. Get to your practices early. Be on time at your parents’ dinner table. I encourage you to start climbing the ladder of success as a young adult by learning to be a punctual person. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely. Serving Others Thursday, November 16, 2006
Good day, Sequoyah Servants! I wonder how many of you know what a humanitarian is. It is very different from a humanist. A humanitarian is an individual who concerns himself with the human race. He or she cares about what happens to his fellow human beings and takes whatever actions are needed to improve the condition of humans. A humanitarian is a person whose priority focus is in making life better for everyone. And get this, he or she is willing to help people in a self-sacrificial manner. Our world has had famous humanitarians like Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many, many more. We have actually had more humanitarians that are anonymous or at least aren’t famous, like the teenage girl that sews and makes baby blankets for unwed mothers, or the young man that works at a church three mornings a week serving breakfast to hungry people. They both provide these services and still are in school preparing to make a life of their own. One famous person that I have quoted many times over the last few years was considered a great humanitarian. His name is Albert Schweitzer, and he was a physician and philosopher. Listen with a focused attention to these words he left us.
Because I have confidence in the power of truth and of spirit, I believe in the future of human kind.
Albert Schweitzer was a man who believed that the human spirit has the potential to shape a new and improved, better tomorrow. I personally agree with him. The students in our school show me what human spirit can do many times each year. You all show me when we have others who have been in need. I am sure that there will be more examples of your humanitarianism again in the next few weeks during the coming holidays. I know the answers to the questions I am about to ask all of you, but I want to give you the opportunity to respond to them in reflection and to yourself. Ask yourself these questions: Am I concerned about the lives of other human beings? Do I have a charitable spirit? What actions do I take to help others? Then remember this: Whether we are middle school students or elderly retired citizens, there are ways we can create a better future together. All we have to do is share a common goal, and find ways to serve others. With words that I would like you to consider and reflect upon, make yours an exceptional life – or not. The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. Please choose wisely.
-Melodic Time- · Mon Jun 16, 2008 @ 04:57am · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|