Food for thought

[Noble_Ma]

A friend just sent this to me.  It might be a little sappy for some of you.  Maybe even very sappy but I think it says a lot about the world as we know it now.

Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize

Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
 
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.

They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia."

[Tom]

That's what "Leaving a Mark" is really all about.  Remembering who has affected my life teaches me how how I should affect other's.  Youth is the future and where we should leave our first "Mark".

[Frank_Pender]

Yes, Tom, it shows in many ways.   :P A week ago today I had the 21 Munchkins up here for the mill tour.  When we began I asked if they would mind if I called them "critters". Everyone thought that is was "cool".  As two of the addults attested to the fact that I had called all of my students "critters"; they were two of the 3,000 or so I had rund through my classes.  Anyway, after the tour and pictures with my cedar carving of Smokey Bear, one little girl came up to me with tears in her eyes.  I asked what the problem was.   Her response was, "I just wanted you to know that my mommy was one of your "critters", too.  I then had tears splashing down my face.    Yes Noble, you second half list the the most valuable.  The first half is here today, gone tomorrow.   Thanks for the awakening.  It was appreciated. ;D

[Noble_Ma]

I should add that it's not my list.  I think it was a quote from Charles Shultz, the peanut comic guy?  I know it made me think of my Dad, Uncle John, a few teachers and others.  I think the first one I think of in the first list is OJ Simpson!  As parents we need to watch out who our kids role models are and what they stand for.  Don't tell them who they should be, just maybe point out a different way to look at them.

[smwwoody]

raising kids now adays is one tough job we have 3 kids 15 13 and 12 boy boy girl.  some days you want to pull your hair out and some days you walk around with your chest puffed out proud as can be.  

they are great kids  I hope they remember about a tenth of what we tell them

a few years ago I looked at my dad and told him he wasnt that dumb after all ;)

[Frank_Pender]

smwwoody, Please do that same thing when you see one of your favorite and memeoral teachers that had an impact on your learning curve, even if it occured years later.   For the age you are now would have been my 12th year of teaching.  That year like all of the rest was worth my time.   8)

[smwwoody]

I'll do that tomarrow night I'm going to a parrent teacher conferance

PsI am 34 now and I still call my old high school physics teacher about once a year when I just can't find that formula anywhere