Life: A continuum of learning, teaching

The average American child spends 25,920 hours in school, 18,396 hours watching TV, and 41,326 hours participating in an organized function whether it be sports practice/games, music, art, chorus. These are significant numbers, majority of one's life is spent in school, watching TV, or participating in an organized activity all because we have a fantastic thirst for knowledge. A lot of people, especially kids, say to me that they hate school or that they hate learning yet you ask them why they like to watch TV and they say it is fun and exciting. It is at this time that I watch them control the remote, flipping anxiously, disappointed at some channels and excited about others, these kids have no time for commercials--often saving several channels on their remote to promote optimal timing and to ensure only little distraction of commercials. I have to ask, why? Why not that channel kid? I've seen that one before! AH HA....case closed you do like to learn, you avoid watching shows that you have already seen because it is boring, predictable, and not exciting...same with school. The kids are now lost and I am about to win the world's worst babysitter award but I found this fascinating and exciting to me. Everyday I learn something new and I teach something to someone...it's a balance between learning and teaching. This blog is composed of things that I have learned in my life that I feel are worth teaching.....They are in no particular order of importance.

1) Grilled cheese should always be made with 1.25-1.5 pieces of cheese (depending on how large the piece of bread is) but never should it be insulted with only one piece of cheese.

2) You can assume with 100% confidence that a mean person is an unhappy person.

3) Spend less money than you make, always.

4) The only way to achieve a maximum life is to be challenged to do so.

5) Own all of your decisions that you make, whether they are good or bad, own them without making excuses for them. An honest and real person is always easier to understand and forgive than one who makes a career out of making excuses.

6) Work hard to find a balance between logic and dreams.

7) Spend time with yourself, learn about yourself, learn why you make the decisions you do.

8) Remember that your reputation can kill you whereas your identity can save you so keep a close eye on both and be prepared to make frequent adjustments and changes.

9) Recognize where you are in everything you do...know where you fit between novice and expert.

10) Going from novice to expert is much easier than expert to novice...be aware of that and the challenges that can trip you.

11) Study something that isn't part of the curriculum.

12) When facing a hard decision to make, stop!, sit down for 5-8 minutes and think about what YOUR goals are for the decision you are about to make..that will usually help you make an agreeable decision happen.

13) Never go more than 6 months without seeing your family. More than a month without talking to them or more than a day without thinking about them.

14) Write out 100 goals for your life. They can range from simple, short-term, and probable, to long-term and not so probable. I did this and one of my goals was to own a yellow submarine=not probable but it is still fun to know that you think enough of yourself to have goals for your life.

15) If you don't make a decision because you feel that someone in particular will judge you for it....go up to that person and ask them what they think about on a daily basis....I guarantee you they will not include you.

16) Find 10 things that you enjoy that are under $5 and treat yourself to one of them every week, 2 of them on a stressful week, 3 of them on busy week, 4 of them during break up week, 5 of them during finals week and all 10 of them on pay day :-)

17) If you are a gum chewer, always buy it in 3-packs.

18) Clean your car out at least every 2 weeks. I mean vacuum, armor-oil, windex, the works!

19) Make it an expectation to be punctual. Don't conform into the "fashionably late" class.

20) Finally remember this very real phenomena: You already survived the most traumatic experience one can go through, birth! So be proud of that and live without waiting for something to live for.

ak is out.....It be a perfect weathered Sunday in downtown Durham. I am enjoying 2 of my favorite under $5 dollar treats...a blueberry scone and a black coffee. I walk up and down 9th street without a single expectation. I wear recycled shoes, blue jeans, t-shirt and cardigan and accessorize myself with a scarf and sunglasses. I rock my Duke backpack per usual as it is a vital part of my survival right after airway, breathing, and circulation comes Duke backpack. Enjoy this day and perhaps entertain me when things that you have learned in your life that are worth teaching! Good day ya'l.

AK