Compassion has become a lost art

Each and every day I look at Facebook,  Twitter and other social platforms.   I read some of the comments.  I look at the discourse and anger that is being given.  I see the comments that are often left on a post that, to me, did not seem to warrant such an attack or anger and I ponder.

I ask my self the same question......where has our compassion gone.  Where has our kindness gone?  What happen to understanding?  And most often I ask myself, would you say to a person's face what you just put in that post?

I am afraid that tweeting, liking, posting, and following have allowed us to become "arm chair quarterbacks" rather than humans.  Things are said behind the veil of the text.  Anger is given (or felt) behind the few characters of a tweet and we are all left hurting and asking why?

So, here is my challenge.  I for one am committing to pick up the phone.  When someone has a great post celebrating a wonderful happening in their life rather than hitting a like button I am going to pick up the phone and let them hear my compassion and joy.

When I read a post that is sharing some pain, I am going to pick up the phone and offer a shoulder or an ear...whatever is needed.  I am going to commit connecting, to listening, to BEING there for my friends.

Who is with me?  Can you image a world where we just TALKED to each other, listened to each other, and shared with each other.

Let's create it.  Compassion will only be a lost art if we allow it to be lost.  And for me.....I am going to find it every day.  Won't you come join me?

A call to action regarding our educational system

It is time to CHANGE education.

We live in a society where everyone TALKS about change.  We all have "opinions" and we are all the best "arm chair quarterbacks" that ever have been.  What often does not happen is to take a leap and stand out there when we do not know what the feedback will be or what the change will look like.  But sometimes in life you cannot wonder what would have been or what could have been and you have to be the change agent that says, I WILL START THE CONVERSATION.

That "conversation" is the reason that I wrote this book, "The Educational System is Broken, Strategies to Rebuilding Hope, Lives and Futures."  It is a conversation that MUST be had.  (http://www.amazon.com/Education-System-Broken-Strategies-Rebuilding/dp/1475827393/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456611985&sr=8-1&keywords=the+educational+system+is+broken%3A++Strategies+to+Rebuilding+Hope%2C+Lives+and+Futures

Very few people either in or out of education would argue that there are some major problems in our educational system here in America.  Graduation rates are dropping, students are not graduating prepared for the next step of life, students are being left behind/discarded,  and even worse schools are scrambling to fix the problem.

Then we have the issues for the educators.  Educators are fleeing the profession faster than we can graduate them to enter.  Testing has become out of control, ridiculous and a political game (at EVERYONE'S expense)  Discipline, or the lack there of it has gotten flat out dangerous for ALL involved  (watch the newest media story for the most recent attack)  Frustration at ALL levels are at an all time high and for what?

For our students?  For the children?  For our educators?  Who, who is benefiting right now?

We must begin to function our school differently!!!  We must value education again and respect those who are giving it their all every day!!  And, we MUST demand more TOGETHER of our schools and each other.

Who is ready to begin the conversations with me?

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to my new blog.  I am so thrilled to open this forum to discuss, share, participate and inspire.

I am a proud educator.  I have spent the past thirty years in the halls of one public high school or another.  I spent twenty years teaching high school Spanish and the past ten years in administration as an assistant principal then a high school principal.

Throughout my time in education I loved so many things about it and found other things very tough to watch.  I have seen outstanding educator and I have unfortunately seen others that were not in the right fit.  I have witnessed the good, the great, the bad and the ugly of public education.  I have since gone on to write my own book and am working with a publisher to get it published.  More on that later.

I started my own company in November, Tools for Success.  I am now doing motivational speaking, educational workshops, keynote addresses and a myriad of other speaking opportunities.  I am thrilled to take my background in education and now use that passion on a larger platform.

I love to discuss and share and look forward to this blog becoming an opportunity to share and learn form each other in a positive and enlightening way.  I do not and will not promote negativity as there are better more positive ways to get your point across other than that.

I wanted to thank you for joining me on this adventure and please comment, post and share some of the topics you would like to see addressed here.

Have a wonderful day and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.