The Eternal Student
Ruth Ann is always learning, or at least trying to, usually without benefit of classroom.
A college dropout, she thinks trying to educate today’s digital kids in last century’s school systems is nuts.
She enjoys adding to her databases, both wetware and software.
Her current education comes from the dozens of print and online publications to which she subscribes, TED talks, the occasional class or seminar, fellow humans, and other living and dead things.
Ruth Ann’s educational philosophy, like so much of her thinking, is based on something she saw on television back in the last century. In an episode of All In The Family, a developmentally disabled character portrayed by Richard Masur shows the bigot Archie Bunker a framed quotation: “Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him.”
Think about every person you encounter as your superior in some way, and see what you can learn. (Even if the lesson is “behavior to avoid.”)
Telling Myself A Different Story
Day 70
My houseguest asked yesterday, “What is the difference between what you do on your sabbatical and what you do when you are working? Because last year, when you are working, you are on the computer. When you are on sabbatical, you are also on the computer.”
That’s easy. What I’m doing on the computer now is [...]
It’s Simple
Day 69
You might not know it by looking at my life, but I really love minimalism. If you do too, you’ll appreciate the “Becoming Minimalist“ blog. (Credit where it’s due: I read about it on the Zen Habits blog.)
Next week I’ll share a new e-book with you compiled by Jean Russell. It’s on Thrivability, a concept [...]
The Art of the Well-Lived Life
Day 68
That little gasp you heard was the sound I made when I signed on to Caring Bridge a few minutes ago.
It’s the second time today I got a message saying that one of my friends had posted a new update. The first one was such good news that I was going to base today’s [...]
And The Winner Is….
Day 67
I like the Red Carpet spectacle, the gorgeous people and the state of costume art – it’s the most sparkly and glamorous tribal ritual in the United States.
Last night, during one of the manymanymany commercial breaks in the Oscar telecast, I took out the garbage.
I looked up…and there were the real stars.
Nothing humans invent or create can rival that show. [...]
The Plan For Today
Day 65
Someone close to me is in an unfamiliar situation today: there’s no plan for the day because of a travel snafu.
This is creating discomfort, because the person always has a full schedule. The surprise shutdown of the customary flurry of activity brought this person to a revelation. It’s the same one I had when I started this [...]
What If…..?
Day 63
What can change if you take a sabbatical?
Just your whole life, that’s all.
Filmmaker Nic Askew created a five-minute portrait of a woman who changed careers twice. (She went from “nun” to “academic” to “coach.”)
The second change came about after she stepped away from her work for a year , just as I’m doing now.
I’m tempted to feel [...]
Not Getting More Done
Day 62
A few minutes ago I was feeling a tad oppressed by the volume of my Inbox. Then I opened this message:
___________________________________________________________________________
Of all the things that matter, Ruth, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done is not among them.Chill,
The Universe
So I am chilling.
The Universe is always sending messages. Sometimes they [...]
Full StoryThe Recipe For Happiness In One Link
Day 60
If I could remind myself of the contents of this list when I feel complainy or unhappy, I could manifest an instant cure.
I’m So Important I Prob’ly Think This Post Is About Me
Day 58
Back on Day 14, I mentioned that my coach, Renee Freedman, does not promise to get back to people immediately. She lets her correspondents and callers know that she will respond within two business days.
I have been known for Instant Response, but I gave that up during sabbatical year. And maybe forever.
Thanks to Renee, I [...]
Hugs and Flowers
Day 56
If you enjoyed “patting yourself on the back” and “giving yourself a kiss” yesterday, here’s another do-it-yourself gesture via my sister Carol. “Put your right hand on your left shoulder. Put your left hand on your right shoulder. Now give yourself a big hug!” She actually said “give yourself a big hug from me,” [...]
