The Monster they call "Media"

TV has come a long way since the good ol' days of Sesame Street.

I despise the media. Here are just a few reasons.

#1. I turn on the news and I can't ever hear a happy story anymore. All about murders, people getting killed, and the human race doing things that I just don't understand. Where is Anchorman when you need him? I watched the news every single night with my family in my youth. I don't actually remember so many negative stories, but I do remember the story little puppies being saved (ok.....not really, but I do remember good stories too).

#2. Our children have no sense of reality, largely due in part to the idolization of celebrities with facades that fool pretty much everyone. Also, there's only so long you can hide them from a Nikki Minaj, Iggly Azalea, or Kim Kardashian. I mean, I get suckered in too, however, I'm not a kid anymore. It's ok for me to understand that this was the year of the "butt". Or is it?

 #3 The local media (Oregonian) hasn't helped at all with improving our schools. Yes, there are things that need to be fixed or changed. However, how about focusing on the positive accomplishments of teachers and successes of students instead of publishing negative stories that destroy any pride that has been established?  Reporters claim they are unbiased. Whatever. Articles that have been written over the last year have been anything but unbiased. Write something that will help keep our schools intact.

#4 I'm done with Ferguson. Does the media frenzy help or make things worse?......we have our own opinions. Regardless of what side you fall on I think you can agree that the media hasn't made things any better.

There are too many other examples to list.

The point is.........there are a lot of bad things happening in the world right now that the media has a frenzy on. I'm not discounting all of these "real" stories and knowing that in many areas of the world people are barely staying alive because of many reasons. I'm so lucky to be as privileged as I am. I don't have to worry about food, shelter or a loving family. However, we do have to worry about the "disease" of media. In this upcoming year I'm hoping the media coverage uses its power to do "good" instead of focusing on the "bad". Sometimes I envy those who live a simple life without all of the "static" of the human race. I will continue to pay it forward by just being a good human being. I will continue to use the "power" of teaching to teach our youth what is right and how to treat one another. All it takes is just reaching a few for them to pay it forward too. Eventually, we will get there.......eventually. However, it will take a lot more than just one person.

Thanks all for listening to my rant......I feel better now. ;)

Take care everyone!

I love rejection

I love rejection........ok, not really. However, when I look at everything in my life as it currently stands, I should.

Rejection.....something we always fear and dread.The question is....should we?

I look back at the times in my life that I have felt or seen that awful feeling of rejection...heartbreak, disappointment, and a mixture of all feelings that leave you feeling sick. However, have you ever really reflected on what came from it? Sometimes bad, but usually it leads down a better path.

I wanted to share with you some of the top "rejection" moments in my life and what came from it.

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1. I was born, because my parents went through series of rejections and doing the "rejecting" in order to get me.I believe this probably happens with all of us. We are lucky to be alive. Ok....cheesy, but true.

2. My parents divorced when I was making the transition through middle school. At first, this was extremely difficult. In the end I have two parents who are happily remarried to wonderful human beings. My parents also changed for the better and molded me into a stronger person.

3. "I like you just a friend".....a common line I heard in middle school and some of high. Yes, I was also a foot shorter than most of the girls I went to school with from middle through high so that may have had something to do with it. I really looked like a little boy even through the beginning of my teaching career. During this time I learned a lot about relationships and was the guy who attained the nickname "Doc" in middle school, because I would counsel others who were feeling rejected. I used to want to be a marriage counselor, go figure. Luckily, later in high school, my "luck" started changing.

4. A few high school breakups (one being the more serious one) along with another "rejection" of girl I know of 19 years (from some guy I have known for even longer) changed my life forever. Now, I'm happily married with two beautiful daughters.....really a storybook ending (ok....you can stop gagging now). Really though, it's amazing how it all unfolded.

5. The first time I applied to the education program at Western I was denied. Forget about my high grade point average, a student government position, working in the education office along with countless other connections. I still remember my roommate reading me the letter of rejection over the phone when I was away for a nice weekend. I actually though he was joking. Obviously, this was a huge smack in the face. This meant more thousands of dollars for tuition having to go for another quarter along with not being with the people I planned on being with. However, from that came being in a program with even more awesome people, doing my student teaching in a 4 day/week school schedule (thank you Perrydale), and acquiring my first teaching job.

6. I went through 3-4 interviews (this is still pretty good) and was passed around until I landed a teaching gig at my first stop of my education career. I love you "Nutters"! This led to my current gig where I have met some lifelong friends, being able to teach with my spouse along with seeing my kids at school on an everyday basis. 

7. Having kids for some people is easy. They just look at each other and have babies. Our journey was a little more difficult. We made the decision on at least one occasion not to do certain procedures where we could have had twins (or more!). These decisions (or rejections of particular plans) gave us our two daughters. I couldn't imagine life without them.

There are many more. These were some of those life changers though.

Why did I write about this? The primary reason is to show you how good can come from rejection even knowing that those sick moments will come. Life's walls can come crashing in really fast. Just know that eventually someone's rejection (or yours) can change everything in the future. That "everything" will be worth waiting for.