I googled natural resources, and this is what I found . . . materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain, or for your own personal advantage.
​
I’ve never thought of people having natural resources, but I do, and you do too. As a teacher I used to talk to kids about the things they were good at, their gifts. Their talents. You could also call them natural resources. Here are some of mine. 
​

​1.  My Background as a Reader and a Teacher:  I’ve been reading books since I was a toddler. It was one of the things that helped me start writing. But now I read differently as a writer. I look at books for their characters, their plots, for the way they use words. I’ve always learned new ideas from books, and now they’re my writing mentors. 

I’m also a retired teacher. I taught reading, second grade, and inclusion. Those 33 years helped me begin writing. They’ve helped me find ideas that I think kids will like. They also taught me how to teach, and how to learn.

I’ve applied those skills as a writer. I learn from the children’s books I read, from my critique partners, and from listening to my own words. Listening slows my brain down. It lets me hear my mistakes, then correct them. I always listen again – sometimes changes work. Sometimes they don’t. I keep working until I’m happy with the words. Then I move on.
​
Now I’m working on something that I’m not allowed to revise. It’s a middle grade novel, with lots  of chapters. I can’t go back because it’s a black hole that I can’t escape. I know – because I was in one with my ant book, for ten years. The only way forward is to write, run it by my critique partners, make notes on the manuscript, then move on to the next chapter. It’s working! I’m on chapter 5. Woohoo! And, I’m getting better at plotting those chapters!

2.  Time: When I was teaching time was my most valuable resource. I never had enough, ever . . . for my classroom, or my family. I always felt torn between them. Then I started writing . . .

I went to Germany to chaperone my high school son and his friends. I found a story I had to write, so I wrote on weekends and snow days, when I had time. Now I’m retired, and I can write all day, seven days a week. Would you believe I discovered there’s still not enough time? That there will never be enough? I try to use it effectively, but I learned again, my best is enough.
 
Now I have five stories that are agent ready. I also have two I’m working on this year. Another two are sitting in my computer, waiting for me to return. When? When I feel ready to write them. I need to learn more about their plots and characters, and that’s sometime . . . in the future.
​

 
​3.  Organization: This is my key to everything, and teaching helped me embrace it. A friend wanted to plan out the units we’d teach from the first week until the last. I wasn’t sure, but I trusted her, and it worked! The best part – you can see connections across subjects, across disciplines, and, it keeps you moving, especially when you get stuck on a unit.

When you’re a teacher, you also do lesson plans. That means this week, you’re thinking about next week . . . what you want to teach . . . what resources you need to gather. Organization made my classroom go round.

This week you’re also following those plans you made last week, but if you know anything about plans, they never come out the way you imagine. Your class moves faster/slower than your plans. An experiment fails to work, even though you followed directions. One of the skills I learned as a teacher . . . roll with it. Somehow, everything works out in the long run.

I’m glad I found ways to get organized when I was teaching. I use different systems now as a writer. Some take care of my blog/website. Others make sure I move forward with my WIP’s (Work in Progress). I have another to take care of submissions. I may never get that agent . . .  that’s out of my control . . . but I’m going to give it a 100% Rinda Beach try, and that’s good enough for me. Your best is all you have to give. (It took me years to learn that.)
​

​4. Revisions skills: Usually when I think of revision, I think of words and sentences, pages and paragraphs. I got a different kind of revision lesson today, and I almost forgot to write tonight’s blog.

Remember that book I’m working on? That I’m not allowed to go back and revise? I just discovered a big boo-boo! I’d forgotten a character. Somehow in my timeline I didn’t see him. Guess what I did?! I went back to chapter 3 and made it chapter 4. The chapter I was working on became chapter 5, and now I have a new chapter 3, about Phillip Livingston. I’m so glad I found him!
 
And the best part – I get to add Henry Laurens. If you check out The Books I’m reading for Research on my blog, you’ll see Henry. He’s pretty famous . . . he’s the only American who was ever imprisoned in the Tower of London. Have you guessed this story is set during the American Revolution? And the other good thing . . . I have chapter 5 already outlined. When I finish the new chapter 3, I’ll be ready to write 5. The prep work’s already done. Wahoo!
​

​​
​5. Imagination: I didn’t think I was creative when I started teaching, but  I learned that I see the world differently. No one else sees it like me, and that effects how I put ideas together, as a teacher, and as a writer.
 
The idea for Neil Armstrong’s Wind Tunnel Dream came out of that clear tub. It has a few pieces from the wind tunnel Neil built when he was 16. Thousands of people have seen them at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, but I’m the only one who ever put them together, in a story.
 
I was fascinated with those old parts. Neil made them into a wind tunnel that looked like the Wright Brothers’. But that didn’t make me want to write about them. It was his mother – she never checked the wind tunnel, not until it was finished. Me, I would have watched as Neil put each part together. We’re polar opposites, Neil’s mother and I . That captured my attention. It made me want to write his story.
 
That’s what happens whenever I find a new idea to write about. Something catches my attention, and I have to check it out. I begin to weave characters and plot ideas together. Eventually a story takes shape, from my imagination, and from story magic.
​

​6. Faith: I believe anything is possible – if I work hard, if I’m persistent, and if it’s meant to be. Back when I was looking for my first job as a teacher, I got a lot of no’s. I didn’t quit. I believed each door that closed, would lead me to the right one. It did!

I believed it was possible to become a writer. I got a lot of  no’s, but I found the right door, with Neil. It wasn’t easy, but every time I hit a roadblock, I found a way around it. Best of all I published it in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

It’s been five years, and I have three books out in the world, but I’m not done yet. I have more ideas, more stories to tell. This time I’m looking at traditional publishing. That means finding an agent. Here’s to knocking on a few more doors, and waiting to find the right one. 
​

​Most people strive for perfection – the perfect wedding, the perfect vacation, the perfect you. Perfect, truly perfect is incredibly difficult to achieve. You could work your entire life, yet never reach it. I found three inspiring quotes about perfection to share with you. 
​

It was Tyra Banks. If you’ve never heard of her, she’s one of the world’s top models. If anyone wanted to be perfect, you’d think it’d be a model, but Tyra actually encourages young models to be themselves. To embrace what makes them special. What sets them apart, what makes them beautiful.

Tyra wasn’t always successful. In middle school kids teased her about her looks. They thought of her as the ugly duckling. You know the one who became a swan? So did Tyra.

Tyra started modeling at age 15. She failed repeatedly, but she didn’t quit. She was rejected by four agencies before LA Models signed her. Then she moved to Elite Model Management, one of the top agencies in the world. That would have been around 1989 when she turned 16.

Tyra got involved in lots of different businesses over the years, from movies to music, television to teaching, cosmetics to writing. She continued to reinvent herself. You need to be brave to do that, ready to own your own mistakes. It’s the only way to grow. I haven’t read any of her books, but I love the title of the one she wrote with her mother in 2018. Its title . . . Perfect is Boring. I totally agree!
​

   Sources:
- Quote:  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
​- Information:   Tyra Banks - Wikipedia
- Photo: By VOGUE Taiwan - 泰拉班克斯走秀摔倒才不怕：「多跌幾次」讓別人以為你是故意的！How Tyra Banks Would Handle Peter Kavinsky｜拆解經典電影｜Vogue Taiwan, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95508569
​
​

Whoever said this, might agree that these two babies show the opposite sides of perfect care. The first one is so happy. Clearly her parents love her dearly.

​The second baby looks like she’s in the middle of a meltdown, but that doesn’t mean she’s unloved. Her parents are probably struggling to figure out what she wants. When they do, she’ll be happy and content again. So, who said it?
​

It was Fred Rogers. You know, Mister Rogers, the one with the neighborhood? Fred didn’t have the perfect childhood, but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t loved. His parents probably struggled with how to help him.

Fred was shy, introverted, and overweight as a kid. He was also stuck at home because of asthma attacks. Would you believe he was bullied? Kids can be mean. How did Fred survive it? He created his own world in his bedroom. Later bits and pieces of that world became Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.

Fred focused on a child’s developing psyche. On their feelings and the way they reasoned their way through problems, especially moral and ethical ones. His show modeled civility, tolerance, sharing, and self-worth. It handled hard things like the death of a pet, sibling rivalry, new babies, moving, and divorce. These are the problems of childhood, and I’m speaking as a retired second-grade teacher. They’re also the things families struggle with. I’m glad Fred was there to give us a helping hand.

Another piece of Fred’s legacy showed up nine years after his death. It was a new show created from some of his characters . . . Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. It touches young children the same way Fred did. My grandchildren watch Daniel Tiger. They love him, and I love what he’s teaching them about feelings and reasoning. They’re the same things that Fred learned from his own experiences, then shared with his audience.
​

​Sources:
Quote:  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
Information:   Fred Rogers - Wikipedia


​
​

Whoever said this, might agree these photos fit their statements. The first one shows a beautiful river flowing through a city. It’s perfect now, but what if there’s too much rain, and it runs off into the river? It won’t stay perfect. Nothing does.

​
​I’d like to welcome guest blogger Dylan Foster to rindabeach.com. He has some great ideas to help your children learn, beyond the classroom. Learning is everywhere, if you know how to look for it. Get a head start with Dylan’s ideas and the links that go with them.

​ School is important, of course, but it’s not the only way for a child to learn. Whether you’re trying to help your child catch up in a subject where they are faltering or enriching their background for other reasons, there are plenty of fun ways to teach all kinds of things. Inviting neighborhood kids or letting them bring friends can set a fun tone, too. Here are some additional tips from Dylan Foster to help your children reach their full potential.

​ Idea #1: Go Outdoors – Many learning activities can be done outdoors and combined with a fun game in the backyard or a nature walk in the park. If your child enjoys being active more than anything, the outdoor lessons will be particularly appreciated.  It’s a good idea to do science experiments that are likely to make messes, such as making an erupting volcano, or studying soils, outside.  The backyard is a great place to learn about rocks, trees, insects, constellations, weather, solar power, and so many other things. Many science lessons can be combined with art, too, such as learning about leaves and plants while making leaf rubbings with paint or pastels.
​

​Idea #2: Incorporate Your Child’s Interests – Think about subjects your child is already fascinated by, such as dinosaurs, dance, astronomy, or sculpture. Find ways to build lessons related to their interests, such as getting library books about the constellations to read aloud, or for small children, connecting the numbered dots to create pictures of sharks. Give your child opportunities to try new things and develop new hobbies and interests without a commitment upfront. Take kids on field trips to expose them to new places, subjects, and ideas. Visiting historic sites, art museums, or a candy factory can open up new worlds for young minds. A child needs to become aware of something before they can develop an interest in it, so offer to include them in your activities, whether as observers, helpers, or participants. 
​

​Idea #3: Teach Leadership – Leadership is something that may not be on the curriculum at school, although children are always learning from observing the people around them. Whether an individual makes career choices that involve leadership or not, the skills involved can benefit people from all walks of life. Remember that your behavior probably teaches more lasting lessons than any structured learning plan, so think about modeling good communication, a positive attitude, problem-solving, and goal setting. Other ways you can teach leadership skills include games that require teamwork, negotiation, communication, and perseverance. The importance of integrity cannot be overstated.  While you can talk about this endlessly, your child will probably learn more from being included in decision-making processes, seeing you tell the truth even when it’s awkward or difficult, and observing you treat others fairly.

​Something else to consider: if you find that you have a special knack for teaching, or you’d like to gain additional knowledge to pass on to your children, you could always go back to school. These days, you can get a bachelor of education through online study, which allows you a great deal of flexibility and can open a lot of doors, since teachers are currently in high demand.
​

​Children are learning much of the time that they are awake, whether actively or passively. They may not realize this, but it’s important that you do, so you can be sure to offer them opportunities to learn things that will enhance their lives. If they are absorbing information from watching TV or videos, take the time to make sure some of these “lessons” are constructive. You can create games, experiments, contests, and family activities that teach facts and concepts as well as behaviors. Many of the tasks of daily life can be made into field trips, such as visiting a professional bakery, a plant nursery, or a shoe repair shop. Vacation trips can include museums, art galleries, state and national parks, as well as historic sites. With a little bit of planning, you can offer them opportunities to expand their minds in all directions.

Rinda Beach is an author, teacher, and speaker who’s here to help you live your dreams. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Have you heard of the song, Be True to Your School? Or the Beach Boys? No? You can click on this link, keep reading, or do both. I suggest both 😊          Link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com
​

​Be True to Your School is a song by the Beach Boys, and it came out in October of  1963. I was 4, but I still remember it. The Beach Boys were popular in the 60’s and later in the 70’s when I was in high school. They were known for their ‘California sound.’ It was all about surfing, cars, and girls. You know, teenage stuff. In the 60’s California was the place to be. My parents considered moving, but didn’t.

This song started playing in my head after the OSU/Michigan game. My team, The Ohio State University, lost, and the internet articles were awful. Everyone loves the thrill of victory, but no one wants anything to do with the agony of defeat. It’s not fun, but it’s important to know how to win, and how to lose. Maybe that’s why this song started circling through my head.

So where did it come from? From Brian Wilson and Mike Love, two of the original Beach Boys. I knew that, but I didn’t know the melody was the University of Wisconsin’s fight song, ‘On Wisconsin.’ But the Wilson brothers, Brian, Carl, and Dennis weren’t channeling Wisconsin. They were using their high school fight song. Hawthorne High School in California uses the same melody, different words. As for the Beach Boys, their lyrics were all about staying true to your school, to your girl, the important things in life. I love positive messages, the kind that make you want to be a better you. Loyalty is a good thing.

BTW – the cover photo (below) is for their single, not the album. If you’re younger than me, songs back then were played on record players. They were vinyl disks, 7 inches in diameter. The ‘A’ side had Be True to Your School, the hit side. On the ‘B’side was In My Room. It was actually a hit, but not as big.
​
Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty.
​

​                                             Sources:
Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597
​
Search link:  be true to your school - Search (bing.com)
​
Information Sources:
Be True to Your School - Wikipedia
The Beach Boys - Wikipedia


​

Part 2 – The School:  I’ve been true to my school since the 70’s. I’m a Buckeye first, last, and always. Win or lose, I’m a Buckeye. They’re words, but I’m a writer, and words are important to me.

I’m also loyal. If The Ohio State University is playing football, then I’m cheering them on. If we’re into Bowl Season, then I’m all about the Big 10. I’ll root for them, for their coach, and their players. Shucks, I’ll even root for Michigan, but only if it’s a Bowl Game.
​
There are 3 seasons at OSU – the first11 games, then Michigan, and last, a Bowl. Win at least 2 of them, and you’ll keep your job.
​
Here are the last two OSU coaches, Ryan Day and Urban Meyer. After OSU lost The Big Game on Saturday, people wanted Ryan fired, and Urban to be rehired. My guess – probably the same ones. The history of the two coaches is linked,

Here’s how . . . In 2018 when people were calling for Urban to be fired, he was placed on administrative leave for three games while the university investigated him. Urban was cleared, and he returned to finish the season. But those people, they were still calling for him to be fired. Not me. I’m loyal.
​
The coach during those 3 games – Ryan Day. He won all 3. I backed him then, and I backed Urban’s return. Some people didn’t, and they got their way. Urban retired after the 2019 Rose Bowl. I was glad because I thought Urban stepped away for health reasons. He looked like he was in pain during most of the season. 
​​

The next head coach – Ryan Day. I was glad to see him back. I thought he deserved the job. And his record since then . . .  In 2019 Ryan had a  12 – 0 regular season, the first one since 2013. His team won the Big 10 Championship. They made it to the National Playoff but lost to Clemson. Coach Day was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year, AND he beat Michigan.

2020 was a weird year. That’s when Covid almost stopped college football. The Buckeyes played 4 games and won them all. The 5th game, Coach Day missed . . . he had Covid . . . but his team still won. As for Michigan, they refused to play, they said because of Covid. We Buckeyes didn’t buy it. We thought Michigan choked and wanted to stop us from making the National Championships. But the Big 10 council said let OSU play. We won the Big 10, then beat Clemson in the National Playoffs. It was so satisfying after losing in 2019, but the year ended with a loss to Alabama. Disappointing, but being the #2 football team in the nation – not so bad!

2021 was interesting . . . Coach Day started freshman CJ Stroud at quarterback. I couldn’t believe it! I haven’t seen a freshman in that position since Art Schlichter when I was in college. I also couldn’t believe how Coach Day helped him grow. The Buckeyes lost 2 games that season, early in the year against Oregon, and that final awful game. I knew eventually Michigan had to win, but it was glorious, from 2011- 2020. And the good news – we beat Utah in the Rose Bowl. Michigan – lost BIG time in the National Championships to Georgia.

This year, 2022 was great, until Saturday. That’s the day Coach Day lost to Michigan, again, 2 years in a row. I didn’t know he bragged that he’d “hang 100 on them” in 2021 . It wasn’t wise, and it fired up those Wolverines, 2 years in a row. But looking at his record, even with 2 losses to Michigan, I’d keep Coach Day. Look at all those great regular seasons, plus 2 Bowl wins.

Photo Sources:
Ryan Day: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990115

Urban Meyer: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990179
​
Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia
​

Part 3 – The Team:  I’ve been true to my school and its team since the 70’s. No player wins in isolation, or loses that  way either. Great plays, and mistakes are part of the game. I believe in that old adage – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. 

​As for CJ Stroud, he took a lot of shots over the weekend for losing The Big Game, two years in a row. I didn’t blame CJ last year. He was a freshman and still learning. The only other freshman to win the starting quarterback position was Art Schlichter. It was unimaginable to start a freshman then, unless they’re super-talented. It still is.

CJ has grown a ton over the last 2 years, thanks to Coach Day and his staff. He is so good that this is probably his last season at OSU. He’s planning on going into the NFL draft.
​

​If you haven’t been in a school the last week of October for a while, you might not have heard of Red Ribbon Week. It’s been around since 1985. It started as a tribute to a DEA Agent, and now it’s the largest and longest running drug awareness and prevention program in the United States.

Part 1 – Its History:  This is Enrique or Kiki Camarena. He was born in Mexico, and his family immigrated to California. Kiki served as a Marine. Later he joined his local police department and did undercover narcotics work for them.

Kiki joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) when it opened in 1977, even though his mother told him not to. He said that he was only one person, but he wanted to make a difference. Kiki’s memory still matters, and I’m glad his story hasn’t been forgotten.

Kiki left work on February 7, 1985 to have lunch with his wife. He never made it. He was kidnapped by five men from one of the Mexican drug cartels. They tortured him for his DEA work. His body was found a month later. My heart hurt back then for Kiki and his family. It still does.

His friends and neighbors wanted to remember him. They wanted to join his fight against illegal drugs so they started wearing red ribbons. So did parents across the country. They wanted to stop the drugs and alcohol that hurt their children. They formed groups and took up the fight. They adopted the red ribbon as a symbol of Kiki’s sacrifice, and one by one they showed that one person can make a difference.

The National Family Partnership (NFP) was one of those groups, and they sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration in 1988. They’re doing it again this year. I remember Kiki’s story from the 1980’s. I remember taking part in Red Ribbon Week for most of my teaching career. I don’t remember when my school started, but I’m happy they’re celebrating it again this week.

​

​Part 2 – FAF Called Me:  FAF, or Families Against Fentanyl, has been calling me to write about them since the summer, but I never found the right time. This has to be it, and I think Kiki Camarena would agree. He believed that one person could make a difference, and this might be my chance.

All of my illustrations are screenshots from FAF’s website: Families Against Fentanyl. This one caught my eye. Fentanyl is the #1 cause of death for anyone aged 18 to 45. That’s my three kids. All three. I thought they were safe from drugs. Maybe not.
​

​Fentanyl is so sneaky. It’s sent over the Mexican border by the same cartels Kiki fought in 1985. It can be added to other pills, to other drugs. It’s so potent that a rookie policeman died three times in a drug bust, and he only caught its smell. He didn’t swallow. Thank goodness! He lived to tell.

Now those same cartels are disguising fentanyl to look like candy. My best advice with pills/candy is to buy them from the store, even if you have to pay more. Your life is priceless, and you only get one shot. That’s it.
​
When trick-or-treating this year, go to the houses of people you know. Don’t eat anything until you’re home, and your parents can look it over.  This feels like when my kids were growing up, and people were adding razors to Halloween candy. AWFUL! Back then we took our kids to places we knew, and we checked their candy, just to be sure. Some people even took it to the hospital for an x-ray. They wanted to be safe, not sorry. 
​

​I absolutely agree with FAF. We can, and we must stop this. One of the best ways you can help is by signing their petition. I thought if I’m going to write this post, I should sign. I’m #41,584. Their goal is 50,000 signatures. You’re welcome to sign up too, but the decision is yours to make.
​

When I was scanning through FAF’s homepage, I ran across this headline. It’s shocking, that a chemical added to a pill, or something that looks like candy, could be a weapon of mass destruction, but the data is there.
​
I paraphrased this sentence from FAF so I could wrap my brain around it. This year, either 2021, or so far in 2022, drug overdose deaths reached 100,000, and fentanyl accounted for 64% of those deaths. That means 64,000 people lost their lives because someone snuck fentanyl into their pill. My children are in that age range. It’s frightening . . . so I’m writing about it. 

​This screenshot and the next one, are from FAF’s button, ‘Take Action.’ There are four bills that are waiting for Congress to vote on. All four deal with fentanyl. After the November election, my guess is that nothing will happen until January, and then new bills will have to be proposed, again. 


The next screenshot (below) shows a sentence from each bill. I like H.R. 8030 best – it requires action from the Department of Homeland Security.

H.Res.1172 seems weak. It urges President Biden and the Department to do something. Require sounds stronger. I’m a writer. I love strong verbs!

                                       Part 3 – This Year’s Red Ribbon Week Theme:  
​                                                      Celebrate Life – Live Drug Free
My old school always found one way each day to celebrate the theme. Here are ten ways I found to have fun, to celebrate life, drug-free this week, and the rest of the year.

​                                1.  Play with toys.                                                             2.  Get outside to play. To have fun.
​

​                            3.  Have fun in the water.                                                                       4.  Find animal friends
​

​                           7.  Spend time with family.                                                                         8.  Read a book.

​I firmly believe that if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will. Self-care is more than eating nutritional foods. More than exercising. It’s believing in, and having confidence in yourself. It’s allowing yourself to make mistakes, and learn from them.

That’s what this post is all about . . . caring for your own self-concept, for your own belief in yourself. It’s still true . . . if you don’t do it, no one else will.

Quote #1 – As one goes through life,
one learns that if you don’t paddle your own canoe, you don’t move.
​
Who said it? ​

Katharine was an actress. She paddled her own canoe from the moment she stepped onstage in 1928 until she took her last curtain call for a TV movie in 1994. She was 87 years young.

Katharine was known for the roles she played – strong-willed and sophisticated women, and they matched who she was in real life – with her headstrong independence, spirited personality, and outspokenness. She was one of my childhood heroines. When I grew up, I wanted to be as strong and independent as she was.  

Katherine was part of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but she did it her way. She wore pants before other celebrities did, way before I was born in 1959. I remember wearing dresses to school, and that was in the 60’s. We weren’t even allowed to wear culotte’s (shorts with a skirt in front) until 4th grade. That’s the year we were finally allowed to wear pants. THAT was a HUGE deal. 
​​

​

Sources:
​1.  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
2.  Katharine Hepburn - Wikipedia

​

Quote #2 - You will either step forward into growth,
or you will step backward into safety. 

Who said it? ​

​Abraham Maslow
​

​Abraham was an American psychologist. He stepped forward into something new when he focused on the positives of his patients. He believed they were more than a bag of symptoms. Abraham could have stepped backwards by focusing on the abnormal, the ill. He refused.
 
Abraham taught psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research, and Columbia University. He is best known for creating a hierarchy of needs. When I went to college to become a teacher back in 1977, I learned about that hierarchy. It made a lot of sense then, and I think it still does.

​This looks like a chart I would have studied in the 70’s. What stayed with me, all these years later – the needs at the bottom must be met first. If you don’t have food, water, warmth, and rest, it’s hard to move up to your need to be safe. It’s like the foundation of a house, if you don’t have a good one, it’s hard to build the upper floors of Belonging, Esteem, and Self-actualization. 

​If you’re living in the suburbs and suddenly lose your job, esteem and self-actualization are a lot less important. You’ll be focused on getting food, water, utilities, and shelter, the things you really need to survive.

• Sources:
• 1.  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes

2.  Abraham Maslow - Wikipedia

​
Photo Sources: 
1.   Abraham Maslow By -  
http://www.celebriton.com/abraham_maslow/photo/a_photo_of_abraham_maslow,
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34062949

2.  Maslow's Hierarchy By - 
Androidmarsexpress - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93026655

​

Quote #3 - Try not to become a person of success,
but rather try to become a person of value. 


Who said it? ​

​Albert Einstein
​

Albert was a theoretical physicist born in Germany. He immigrated to the US during WWII and became a citizen. He’s one of the few physicists who’s known around the world, but he’s also known for his values.
 
Albert is famous for his theory of relativity. Have you heard of E = mc2? That’s his equation! He’s also known for his work in quantum mechanics. Together they form the heart of modern physics.
 
Albert won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, partly because of his work in theoretical physics, but mostly because he discovered the photoelectric effect. He noticed when light strikes and hits something, electrons bounce off and become photoelectrons. 

​Albert wasn’t afraid to be different. He believed nature worked systematically, not randomly, like throwing a dice. He also came up with the unified field theory, which I can’t even begin to understand, or explain. What I do get – he was willing to work outside the mainstream of physics.  
 
Albert could change his mind when the data changed. He joined several European scientists before the US joined WWII. They sent a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning him that the Germans were building nuclear weapons. They said the Americans should too. After the war, he said that letter was the great mistake of his life. He joined ten scientists, and they sent another letter. This time they warned the world about the danger of nuclear weapons.  

School’s out for the summer, and it’s lovely – more time for vacation and family – But it can also make it harder to get things done. If you need a little help, here are four tips from Justin Bennett. (@HealthyFit.info). I hope they’re just what you need.

​Having a baby or toddler makes life exciting and exhausting. However, working from home while managing your children presents an additional layer of challenges. If you are looking for ways to be successful when working remotely while taking care of your kids at the same time, follow these four tips.
​

​1. Rely on Others
Having a support system makes a huge difference when it comes to taking care of your kids while working. Your partner, family members, friends, and neighbors are all excellent resources when you need someone to watch your child.
 
Sit down with your husband or wife and make a weekly schedule; it should note who watches your children and when. Do your best to include some child-free work time for yourself.
 
Maybe there are a few days during the week it would be helpful for someone else to watch your child. Perhaps you need someone on standby for extra busy days. Talk to people in your support system, and see if any of them can tend to your kiddos on a regular basis or as needed.
​

​2. Reorganize Your Processes
If you are a company employee, over time you have probably gotten into the habit of doing things a certain way. Taking a step back and reevaluating your processes helps you realize there are faster options that save you time.
 
For example, maybe your inbox is a mess, and you have simply gotten used to it being that way. Making a few teaks can make it easier to manage and track emails. Search online for articles and videos with helpful recommendations for reorganizing your inbox.
 
If you are a freelancer, you have more flexibility with revamping your processes. Maybe you need help tracking your income. Instead of sending a generic email to customers as a bill, better track the amount and accuracy of payments using free tools. Check out this invoice maker. This allows you to create professional invoices that feature your logo and brand. Simply select from a variety of pre-built templates, and customize your invoice with your brand colors, business name, logo, and other important information. 
​

​3. Stock Up on Toys and Books
Whether your kiddo is stationary, sitting, crawling, or running, having items to play with helps him or her stay busy while you work. Set up a play area in or near your office so you can monitor your child.
 
Fill the area with kid toys, books, and games. Wash the toys on a regular basis to prevent germs from spreading. Stock up on toys without spending lots of money by shopping at thrift stores and garage sales.

4. Make To-Do Lists
Many people find their lives run smoother when utilizing checklists. According to one article, 96% of those surveyed felt their lives were better when they used to-do lists.
 
To prevent personal and professional tasks from slipping through the cracks, make a to-do list at the beginning of each day. Check items off as they are accomplished. Create other to-do lists throughout the month, such as bills or chores lists. As needed, add tasks from these indexes to your daily list. This ensures big-picture items are not overlooked and get tackled during the week. 

While working remotely gives you more freedom, you need to take intentional steps to make sure your job and your little ones are tended to. Following these four tips brings balance to your workday while still loving on your children. Visit Rinda Beach for more.

I spotted this on one of my Private Facebook Groups, and I saved it to share with you. It made sense to me because I’ve done all of these things, tried to quit, and found myself going back there again. Bad habits, they’re hard to break!

​​When I went back, my source had disappeared. I did a reverse picture search and found the original site on Tiny Buddha.com. I’m glad to give them credit.

1.  Trying to please everyone – Have you ever felt like this? Like everyone wants a piece of you, and you just can’t say no? You don’t have to be a doctor to feel this way. It happens to everyone, even kids.

I’m a retired teacher, and I used to feel that way all the time. I had kids at home and at school who needed me, and I tried to help everyone.
​

Fear needs to be handled like anything else. I look for opportunities in it. Sometimes what I fear actually makes my life easier. Look at elementary age kids – no diapers. No terrible twos. It was my favorite time with my three kids.
​
Losing a job/failing to find a new one – those are hard changes to make. When I’m in the middle of one, I look for silver linings. I wait for them. I know they’ll come, but I have to be patient and wait them out. You can too.

​

​3.  Living in the Past – You have no choice. You can’t stay in the past. It will quickly become the present, and eventually the future. Nothing stays the same forever. I’ve been a kid, an adult, a mom, and now a grandma. Each stage had things that were wonderful, and awful.
​

​That’s life. It’s interesting that #2 fearing change, and #3 living in the past can be the same. You have to change to move into the future. For me, the trick is to minimize what’s awful. Then I look for silver linings. There are opportunities out there. Sometimes you have to look for them. Sometimes you have to work, and make them happen.
​
​

​4.  Putting Yourself Down – Are you harder on yourself than you are on anyone else? Me too. It’s important to be honest with yourself, but you also need to give yourself a break, the kind you give other people.

​I’m a recovering perfectionist. I’ve learned to forgive myself when I fall short. It’s hard. It’s easier to forgive someone else.
​
My advice – Put yourself up. Recognize one thing you’re doing well. You have to believe in yourself to get things done. Put downs can stop your forward progress.

​

​5.  Overthinking – Do you examine every angle before you start something new? Thinking through consequences is a good thing . . . unless you freeze and can’t move forward.

​I overthink things, but I’ve learned to balance it by looking for problems, and then coming up with solutions. If they don’t work, I make a new plan. Life is about problem solving, not perfection. I want to enjoy both the journey, and the challenges.

​

​1.  Please yourself. If you’re not happy, no one else will be either.
2. Examine change. Look at it closely. Does it fit you and your style? Adjust as needed. You don’t have to change, for change sake alone.
3.  Live in the present. Learn from the past, and plan for the future, but enjoy the here and now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow.
4. Compliment yourself. Celebrate what you do well, and what mistakes can teach you.
5. Make a plan and test-drive it. Correct as needed. Remember detours can be a good thing. 
​​

Since Covid reared its head in 2020, we’ve all endured so much. Now that Covid’s waning, there’s something else to endure . . . the Ukraine. It hurts to watch the news. I endure by praying, by keeping the faith, and by doing what I can for the people around me. So here’s my newest post – 3 quotes from 3 people. They endured, and we can too.

When I look at this photo, I see endurance . . .  living in a wheelchair, the rehabilitation they’ve gone through, and the workouts to build strength. This is what endurance looks like.

                   Quote #1 – At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.
                                                                                Who said it? Frida Kahlo
​
Below are two images of Frida. The first was taken by her father in 1932. Frida was 25. The second is a self-portrait Frida painted in 1940 at age 33.
​
Frida endured more than most people can dream of. At age 6 she got polio. It changed her forever. Her right leg was shorter and thinner than her left one. She had to be isolated from her classmates for months, and kids can be mean.

Frida almost died in a bus accident when she was 18. An iron handrail sliced through her body. Her friends pulled it out. Can you imagine the pain she endured? Or your spine broken in 3 places, your leg in 11, and your foot crushed and dislocated? It took her 3 months to get back to work, but Frida was never the same again.
​
The accident took away her dreams to become a doctor, and later a mom. They gave her pain, illness, and surgeries for the rest of her life. A friend said she “lived dying,” but she endured. She found another dream in her art. When she couldn’t sit or stand, she rigged an easel over her bed so she could paint. You can find braces and hospital beds in her work. She not only endured. She used her pain to grow as an artist.

​

​Sources:
Frida’s Quote: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
​
Her Self-Portrait: By Frida Kahlo - Lloyd, Brigitte Gastel. "Portrait of the Artists". artroots.com., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3518151
​
Information: Frida Kahlo - Wikipedia



​

​

Quote #2 – Ruptures almost always lead to a stronger project.
Who said it? Anne Carson

This is Anne’s photograph from Amazon. She’s hard to find. Anne is a very private person. She’s also a college professor who’s been teaching the classics, comparative literature, and creative writing in the US and Canada since 1979.

Anne specializes in teaching and translating the classics from Ancient Greece and Rome. She also works with more modern writers like Emily Bronte and Virginia Woolf. They’re all part of her teaching and writing. 

​Anne loves to mix different kinds of writing together, from poetry to essay, from fiction to nonfiction. She likes to collaborate with singers, dancers, and visual artists. I’ve never read her work, but she must have a style all her own. 

Mixing and collaborating made Anne’s work unique, but it also led to problems. That’s when she switched gears and did something new. When she returned, the problem had worked itself out.

​Ruptures happen all the time – to balls and fingers and pipelines. Have you heard a bone heals back together stronger than it used to be? It’s true for me and my work, and for anyone who has endurance. 
​

​

​Sources:
​
Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
​
Anne Carson - Wikipedia



​

Quote #3 – What do you do when there's nowhere to turn? You drive straight ahead.
Who said it? Leslie Gordon

Meet Leslie Gordon, her husband Scott Berns, and their son Sam. They got the news he had progeria in the summer of 1998. Sam was 22 months old, but it meant he’d age rapidly and die by age 14.

​Leslie and Scott specialized in pediatric medicine, but they discovered little was known about progeria. That there was little support for their family. With nowhere to go, they started their own research foundation to fill in the gap.

The Progeria Foundation has learned a great deal since 1998. They discovered the gene that caused it. Produced medicines that give children an extra 2 ½ years of life. They’re working at the DNA level to edit the genes that cause progeria. Without Leslie, Scott, and Sam, none of this would have happened.

Sam Berns died in 2014. He lived three extra years thanks to the foundation. I listened to his 2013 TED Talk. It’s incredible! It’s about his philosophy to live a happy life. He found it in the important things, like band and good friends. 

​Here’s to the road ahead. There are problems out there, but we can face them, like Leslie, Scott, and Sam did. Who knows what we’ll discover? The possibilities are endless. For every problem we endure, something good can come out of it.
​

It depends! On whether I’m picking them out at the library, or buying them online. Some things are the same, but some things are different.
​
Part 1 – Picking Library Books: If you take a look at my newest picks, I bet you can figure out why they called me. They said take us home. Take a guess what they said . . . then check to see if you’re right!

When I go to the library, I wander through the shelves, but I only look at the new picture books. They’re displayed at each end of a row of shelves. I might pick a book or two on that first lap, but I might not.
​
What do I look at? The titles and the covers! They invite me to pick them up, or ignore them. Occasionally I look at the back, or the inside flap to see what they’re about, but mostly I use that front cover to make my decision.
​

I picked Don’t Hug Doug because I like Carrie Finison. I’ve read a couple of her books, and I like the way she thinks. I picked Bright Star because I’ve met the author Yuyi Morales on a zoom class or two. I’ve also read a few of her books, and I liked them.
​
I also loved their covers. Daniel Wiseman made the title big and bold. He added Doug beside his name. It’s nice and simple, and it tells me what it will be about. Yuyi’s cover intrigued me with its deer and cactus. I know it will focus on them, and I’m willing to pick it up to find out what’s at stake for them.
​

With my other two picks, the title and the cover made me pick them up and take them home. For Henry at Home, I liked the two kids on the cover, and I wondered what was going on between them. I must have been missing home because I picked another book about it. The title, A Home Again, and the tiny red house made me curious. Curiosity is a good thing when it comes to book covers.

PS – when I finish reading each book, I add the title and author to my reading journal. I record what I liked and what I didn’t. They may/may not appear on My Reads. The best way to get a review is by matching up with the subject of my blog posts. There are books I read years ago that I loved, but never got to put on My Reads. If I sort of like a book/didn’t like it, I will never ever put it up. A bad review is devastating to the ego, but, it can also destroy a book’s chance to succeed and find readers like you.
​
​

Part 2 – Picking Books Online:  I can’t look at real books online so I shop at Amazon. These came up when I clicked Kindle titles. They’re based on my browsing and purchasing history. 
​

These books popped up first. I’ve read all three authors, but the one that’s calling me is the third one, The Jane Seymour Conspiracy. I’ve already read the other 3 books in the series.

The second book is from Alison Weir. I have her series on the six wives of Henry the VIII, except for his last one, Catherine Parr. She’s calling me back. I’ll pass on Jeff Wheeler for now, but his Druid is tempting. I love historical fiction!
​

Here’s the next row from Amazon. It’s Young Adult fantasy. I’ve had Harry Potter, the ‘real’ books for years.

I don’t know K.M. Shea, but the cover isn’t calling me. I am curious about the books by Emily R. King. She has 2 series that came out after The Hundredth Queen. I’ll look at the titles, descriptions, and ratings to see if I want to check them out.
​

Shanna Swendson came up, big time on my search list! She has more titles on my kindle than any other author. I found 5 here, plus 2 more! Before I pick any of them, I’ll check the titles, descriptions, and ratings to decide. 

This also came up on my search. I’ve never heard of Gaslamp Fantasy before, but here’s the Wikipedia definition – it’s a subgenre of both fantasy and historical fiction. It’s usually set in Victorian or Edwardian England. It fits – I love fantasy and historical fiction.
​
If I don’t see what I’m looking for, I keep searching. I check my favorite categories, my favorite authors, but I only buy, if I like the description and ratings. I want to know what other readers think about that story.