Ruby

There's a saying that has made someone a lot of money in those kinds of shops you pop into on vacation...while filling up with gas or just cruising through a touristy little shop..."Be the person your dog thinks you are." Forget that! I AM the person my dog thinks I am. No living thing on earth knows all my secrets like my dog does. And she loves me anyway! I want to be my dog! I want to be able to give my friends and family members all the things my dog gives to me...trust, unconditional love...I want her gift of first impression. She never gets that wrong. I want her ability to forgive, forget, forge on...I want her stoicism when hurt - emotionally or physically - her willingness to run forever - her disposition. She's always happy, smiling, ready for whatever I suggest. I just want to be my dog!

Thinking about Thinking

I just read an interesting article in Phi Delta Kappan yesterday about teaching kids to think. Maybe it wasn't so much about "teaching" them to think as it was about encouraging them to do so. But it got me wondering about how much adults actually think...consciously think. It concerned me that the whole concept sort of rolled around in my mind like a tumbleweed...like there was nothing much in there for it to attach to! Yikes! I don't think I've been thinking much lately.

Sure, I do the day to day stuff so I can earn my pay, but what am I doing to continue to learn and improve my performance and be creative with problem solving? Not much. This really upset me. I was pondering all of this during my morning run...okay, it's a jog. I was thinking (not in any deep way) that I certainly was never as good a runner as I might have been but there's a chance I might be better than I think I could be. Pretty convoluted but if I don't put any limitations on my endeavor, and always do the thing I think I cannot do, then I might just surprise myself.

Likewise with my career. I realize I've donned blinders in a way...I do things pretty much the same way everyday. I don't reflect very often about my performance - who has time to reflect? But in failing to do so, I am missing an opportunity to deepen my understanding just by thinking. I have been inspired by Will Richardson to explore all the ways I might improve my learning and thinking by using internet tools...mind-boggling, yes...but woohoo! The mind certainly needs some boggling.

So, I'm making a concerted effort to think for a change...to push my limits...see what I can make of myself! Wish me luck!