I appreciate this reminder.
Posted by John on November 15, 2002 at 10:50:32:

In Reply to: What's important posted by Student John on November 13, 2002 at 11:08:44:

Yes, Student John, your posting here spells "strength" to me from beginning to end. I appreciate this reminder that I still have more work to do
around here, and that you are there doing your work.

It is like we are sitting around a campfire sharing our knowledge and experiences, and dealing with the world as it is.

Posting that Sixth Grade Teaching Plan is a great move. It is perfect timing for shining a light on this list, as an evaluative tool. It invites any of us who
wish to to reflect on what we have gotten of this so far, during 2002.

It makes me realize that my work is not done yet, and there is much on all of those topics that I would still enthusiastically like to share here. Perhaps
there will be opportunities that open for that in 2003. I'm only expecting my new working schedule at my other job to be lasting through the end of
this year.

The effect of this on my life as a challenge has been all I supposed it might be. Heh-heh. I haven't gotten to the "makes me stronger" phase of Mr.
Nietzche's famous magic formula, yet. But I still believe in it. (You won't see me using that word a lot.) And, my mood is upbeat. I've been digging
my life. Encountered a Coatamundi (sp?) in the wild the other day, first time ever for me—seemed almost tame, wasn't afraid of me. I didn't even
know they traveled this far, and didn't know what it was when I was seeing it. Strange experience! I got up to only twenty feet away. Long brown
tail, ran the ground like a monkey, eyes like a cat. Ha! Look! I'm cheerful now!

The other day, before sunrise, I was the only car on the road approaching an intersection, except for one car in the crossing street to my right, waiting
at the intersection for the light to change from red to green. I saw the light change from green to yellow as I entered the intersection, traveling at a
good clip, a little over the speed limit. Unaccountably, the car to my right must have jumped the gun. He suddenly pulled right out in front of me, and
then seeing me bearing down on him, stalled his car. There was no time to swerve; I hit the brakes. And I stopped just a few feet short of colliding
with him broadside. I saw the frightened faces of the driver, several women, and several small children all packed in the car, looking up at me at the
forefront of my van. This was the closest I have ever come in my life to a collision. I was awake in it. Lives could have been lost. My own. Fate.

Good! I wished to remember to tell this story when I was back here in class.

Thanks for posting that practical eye-opener, John. My job here is not done. I appreciiate your competence here in reminding me of that.

And I appreciate the ongoing work on your Self that you describe. I'm not ready yet to attempt to do justice to those two areas you brought up—i.e.
kids, and sports.

I appreciate your frankly high-lighting the fact that you hadn't asked. I guess you know that in my usual approach to this job, I attempt to address
what is asked.

The Kid seems to be carrying on some of the genetic tendancies of his recent ancestor, Ompa with his interest in "fun." There is so much that most
adults could learn about fun that they've forgotten, from children. Of course, we could ask them: "What's fun?"

As for golf, that *wonderful* game: the more that you've got the game of golf, the more fun it can be for you. The more that the game of golf has got
you, the less and less fun it becomes. Observe specific observeable aspects of your relationship with golf, and ask "Is this aspect of it fun?" Start
putting more and more of your emphasis and energy into the aspects that are fun.

One final idea occurs to me here—and then I've got to run to a late shift today. Remembering that you happened to have recently expressed warnings
about the dangers of praising too much, l'm wondering if you *might be* "going too far," and leaving praising out of your game as Ompa too much.
Could that be? One way to address praising can be by sharing what you experience that you appreciate. Where the Kid got in trouble again recently,
and handled it himself, provided such an opportunity. For instance: "I appreciate that you handled that situation so well on your own."

Well . . . gotta run. Warm hello to any of you that are tuning in here any more these days. I'm still kickin'. That which doesn't kill me will make me
stronger. And I'm being cheerful these days. I shall return.

Coach

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