Get some help navigating life and the world of work.
Great ships do not enter harbors until a local pilot is onboard to guide and advise of local rules, policies, practices, and dangers. It is a way of life; thus, it should be for you with a guide … a role model … a mentor.
Beware of those who claim to know everything; they are fools.
Some people use a mnemonic device as a guide like WWJD — What Would Jesus Do.
Some use a parent.
Some utilize a teacher.
Just as people know you by your actions, you may know your guide … role model … mentor by theirs.
Use your reasoned judgment and decide wisely. Your mentor will aid you.
I’m glad that the domestic COVID-19 scare is over.
Papa gets tested twice a week for COVID-19. It’s part of his job. Last Thursday, he got a positive report. We all went into the isolation mode.
Today his second test came back negative. Hurray! The world can return to what constitutes normal in these times of COVID-19.
Tomorrow you’re back at school and Papa is back to work!
I’m excited to hear about the debate in your Social Studies class among the British, the French, and the Indians. You’re an Indian, right? What are you going to say about joining either the British or the French in the upcoming war on this continent?
Incidentally, you’re doing much better in math. Keep trying. It isn’t cheating to look at diagrams and problems on other papers of your homework. Sometimes looking at other problems is easier than trying to divide a circle into nine or twelve equal parts.
Today I was reviewing Michael J. Gelb’s How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.
As I scanned through the Seven da Vincian principles
Curiosita
Dimonstrazione
Sensazione
Sfumato
Arte/Scienza
Corporalita
Connessione
it struck me. (Gelb, 1998, p. 9).
I had always pictured Leonardo da Vinci as an old man. Gelb provides a different image. In the chapter on Corporalita, Gelb writes of da Vinci’s poise, grace, athleticism, and equestrian skill. I have difficulty imagining da Vinci bending horseshoes. According to Gelb, he did. Apparently, da Vinci’s favorite exercises included walking, riding, swimming, and fencing.
Why do I write to you about this?
Seek balance. Life is neither all work nor all play.
You only get one body. Even though parts can be replaced — I have two new knees and two new hips — your body must be cared for. Get some exercise. Get fit. Take care of yourself. Begin now. Find a program that works the entire body instead of concentrating on parts.
Some people want a book of rules to follow. They would like explicit rules. Therefore, when situation “x” arises they will consult the list of rules and implement the rule for situation “x.”
This thinking reminds me of the 1967 movie Doctor Dolittle.
While searching for the Giant Pink Sea Snail, Doctor Dolittle and his companions become shipwrecked and a floating island. The people living on the island have a book of rules — and punishments — covering every conceivable situation. I recall the character William Shakespeare X reading from the book of rules when the animals become ill. The prescribed consequences seemed most Draconian. Furthermore, this environment strikes me as being terribly rigid. There are, however, some people who desire this type of a society.
Just imagine what would happen if you didn’t conform.
Look at your ancestors — the Mennonites — who were evicted from Switzerland, sought refuge in the German Palatines, and eventually immigrated to the New World.
Be aware of how people who are different are treated.
Race
Religion
Belief
Ability
Orientation
Education
Life Style
Attire
Nationality
Political Philosophy
Employment
Color
Skill
Creed
Momma told me that you had some concerns about how people were treated after watching the 2016 movie Hidden Figures.
You should be concerned.
Blindly following a set of rules is not the best course.
Many people glean information from a single source. They get their news from ABC or NBC or CBS or CNN or Fox or PBS and never from anywhere else. (A friend readily admits her pride at only getting information from Fox.) They listen to radio, broadcasts, or podcasts that espouse a particular point of view. They read newspapers that mimic their view of the world. The follow pundits who tout a particular philosophy. They read authors who think the same. They subscribe to social media that supports their beliefs.
By adhering to these practices these people are slowly yielding their reasoned choice. They are gradually giving up their most precious right — the ability to think.
Question. Challenge. Test. Investigate. Be suspicious. Be critical. Nothing should be sacrosanct.
During Jesus’s trial, Pontius Pilate asks, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
As a lawyer, I learned that truth is never found in the courtroom or elsewhere. The parties and the witnesses tell their stories. They share their perspective of the events. The truth lies somewhere in the overlap of these stories like in a Venn diagram.
It’s only by testing, challenging, researching, listening, and reading different points of view that the truth may be discovered. This applies to everything.
Be critical. Think. Question. Challenge. Test. It’s the only way to keep your reasoned choice.
Friday you got upset that the puppy had crewed on some project you were working on in the backyard. Were you making spears from sticks? I couldn’t understand that the project was, but your anger was most evident.
Momma told me that today you got upset at Walmart because they didn’t have a LEGO toy you wanted to buy. I heard there was quite a tantrum at Walmart.
Grandma is upset that the former president has made Mar-a-Lago in Florida his home after vacating the White House. Apparently some agreement existed that specified a term of residence at Mar-a-Lago for the former president which has already been greatly exceeded. Grandma does not reside in Mar-a-Lago nor does she have any interest in Florida.
Each of these instances reflects that people get concerned, worried, and upset about events beyond their control.
Puppies crew on sticks.
You have no control over Walmart’s inventory.
The former president’s move to Mar-a-Lago has no impact on Grandma nor can she do anything about it.
Why do we allow events beyond our control to consume us? We can’t change them.
Focus instead on what’s within your control. You’ll have a better life.
Such much garbage fills social media. I’ve started asking where this came from. I receive silence as an answer. This leads me to believe that whatever was posted was simply a figment of someone’s imagination.
This shares the same credibility as unnamed sources relied upon by journalists. How do I know if what is reported came from a legitimate source or some misfit that occupies a corner desk in the newsroom who is typically under the influence of some licit or illicit drug.
Question yourself. This is a good starting point.
Ask yourself the following first thing in the morning:
What am I lacking in attaining freedom from passion?
What for tranquility?
What am I? A mere body, estate-holder, or reputation? None of these things
What, then? A rational being.
What then is demanded of me? Meditate on your actions.
How did I steer away from serenity?
What did I do that was unfriendly, unsocial, or uncaring?
What did I fail to do in all these things?
Epictetus, Discourses, 4.6, 34-35
Don’t become complacent. Continue to grow, evolve, develop.
I suspect many stop. They become content with where they are. They want the world to stay there. It won’t. Sadly, in their senior years, they’ll lament that life has passed them by.
Always push the envelope. Your life will be richer and more complete if you do.
It’s Inauguration Day. A new president takes office. This will be the 14th president during my lifetime.
We’ve had all types.
Some were efficient while others inept.
Some were imperial while others democratic.
Some built while others tore down.
Some led with a vision of what’s best for the nation while others sought what’s best for their party, their cronies, and for themselves.
Some managed the job while others were managed by the job because the position was beyond their ability.
Some acted regally while others were oafs.
All of these people have been The President. It’s never my president or their president.
Our government rests with each of us. Vote. Don’t vote as a sheep and follow the flock. Use your reasoned choice. Hold up every candidate to the cardinal virtues whether the person is running for president or for dog catcher. Do their actions, not their words, call for your support? Where are you values?
If you vote for a liar, what does that say about you?
If you vote for a candidate opposed to equality, what does that say about you?
If you vote for an extremist, what does that say about you?
If you vote for someone who changes his or her position depending upon the audience, the day of the week, or the direction the wind is blowing, what does that say about you?
If you vote for someone who is dishonest, what does that say about you?
Our government is in your hands.
Do you want term limits? Stop voting for the incumbent!
Want to limit the power of the party? Encourage independents to run so that the matter is decided in the general election instead of a closed primary. Let the people decide.
Voters have the power. Voters can hold government responsible. Voters cannot simply accept business as usual and continue returning incumbents to office. I’ve always believed that being elected to public office was a public service and not a lifetime vocation.
Voters have many choices to make. There’s the federal level which some believe is the most important but really isn’t.
There’s the state level.
There are judicial races.
There’s the county level. These offices have an immediate and direct impact on your day-to-day life — roads, bridges, flood control, law enforcement, real property taxes, local health concerns, etc.
There’s the city level which shares importance with the county.
There’s the township level.
There are elected officials involved with education. What’s more important than the education of our children? I can’t think of anything.
It is disappointing that in our county, in our city, in our townships, for the local judgeships, and for the local school board many candidates run unopposed. Yet, these are the most important elected officials.
There are even party elections. These govern the direction of the party. Don’t let them blindly follow a personality but rather adhere to values and ideals.
This country that I love is in your hands. Care for it.
Math was fun today. For someone who began the day with the “I don’t understand,” you seemed pretty sharp by the time we finished.
Tell me. Is “I don’t understand” code for I’m not ready to do math?
You really got into the puzzle that required doing math problems to solve. Good job! You were a step ahead of me throughout the entire process.
I wish your math problems had normal size pizzas. I’m not very skilled at drawing pizzas with 9 or 16 slices.
I noticed that addition, subtraction, and multiplication all begin with the ones digit. While division begins with the highest placed digit. I’m challenged setting up problems the old-fashioned way. It’s no wonder your confused when everything is horizontal and you work left to right. They ought to demonstrate different options to solving the problems.
Love,
Grandfather
P.S. Sister certainly enjoyed being pushed on her airplane and the puppy liked your time running in the yard.
jcfunk 