Seriously, STOP 5

I remember back to a time of men opening doors, and needing a quarter for the pay phone; a time of shoelace hair ties, and scrunch socks; a time when I could go to a restaurant, bank, post office, park, and grocery store without hearing what was happening in someone else’s life. It was the time that I call the pre- cell phone era.

People… you need to SERIOUSLY, STOP with the cell phones!!

I realize the cell phone craze came fast and suddenly, and that people haven’t had a chance to check Emily Post’s rule on cell phone etiquette. But really people, you know you don’t want to hear someone’s conversation so why would you think they want to hear yours?

I think it has to do with our co-dependency issues as Americans. All of a sudden with the magical cell phone we can feel loved and wanted no matter where we are! We can talk to people near and far, and other people around us will know we are loved and wanted. When did we stop having the ability to be alone? When did we all of a sudden develop this complex that tells us we need human contact at all times?

The bluetooths are the worst though! The tiny device that goes in your ear that not only allows you to have your hands free, but also makes you look like you are talking to yourself. I mean really people, it was bad enough when we knew you were on the phone; now we look at you and think you could be talking to us, then we realize your not and we look stupid for thinking you were. All the while you are really the crazy one talking to thin air. IT HAS TO STOP!!

All I ask is think before you speak. Then only use that cell phone if necessary. It is rude to impose your life on someone you don’t know, and all we need is mercy. So when you are about to get on that cell phone think about Will Rogers advice to, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.” You may find you can make it with out the jabbering!

Seriously, STOP 4

Seriously, STOP 4...As a teacher there are some things you want to do to help your students succeed. However, we all need to sraw the line somewhere, and I have drawn the line at caring more than they do. Teenagers need to Seriously, STOP being so apathetic.The war against the teenager has gone on for centuries, and maybe I am just getting old enough to realize why people have been so frustrated all these years. It isn't because teens are stupid, it is because they are lazy. They want everything handed to them. And I proclaim right here that I quit perpetuating their problem!I recently gave a speech to my class of sophomore language arts students about the PSAT (which they get to take for free), the SAT and college requirements. My lower level classes all looked terrified as I spoke. They were realizing that their grades from last year counted and they probably were not getting in to UGA the way they planned. However, they were more concerned with that than how to fix what they had messed up. My "honors" students however were terrible. They seemed bothered that I would want to tell them about this test they should be taking in the next year or so. They seemed to look at me like I was crazy as I told them the entrance requirements. And then their was the straw that broke the camels back!! A girl looks me dead in the eye and says, "We are in honors, this is not something we need to worry about." I was speechless!It occured to me that these "honors" kids think that they are so smart the requirements don't matter. They don't care about studying for some stupid test. They are smart, they always get an A or a B, so how could they possibly do poorly on the SAT? This example of apathetic behavior is not in isolation. They need to seriously, STOP, and so do we!We as teachers need to stop catering to their every need and follow the old Chinese proverbial saying, "Give a man a fish he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." We need to stop giving up our fish, and they need to stop expecting us to!!

Seriously, STOP 3

Seriously, STOP...3I like being around people. I love to study them and see them for who they are. I like to figure people out, see what makes them tick, and experience life through their eyes. Because this is a part of me and my core values I wish that people would seriously, STOP... discriminating.We all have stereotypes that we think of when identifying people, and teaching in a high school I am reminded of these things everyday. In high school kids are very obvious about their discrimination as they fall into cliques. We have the poor kids, the middle class kids and the rich kids. They divide up by activities, musical preference, race, and grade. I can see the discrimination if I walk through the lunch room, and I am disheartened.I understand that there are people in this world that I will not click with, and will not like. I think it is ludicris to think we can all just get along. However, we need to stop deciding not to get along because of our differences. We need to stop staying away from others just because they are not the same.I thought that when I grew up these things wouldn't be an issue, but the real truth is that I think it is worse. I am exhausted by the negativity, so if everyone could seriously, stop discriminating life would be a whole lot easier.There was a man who once had a dream, and it wasn't just about being black or white, it was about all of us appreciating and respecting each other despite differences.

Seriously, STOP 2

Seriously, STOP 2...I think it is a natural goal for people to want to look good. We generally want to be attractive, and we want to feel good about ourselves. But come on, SERIOUSLY STOP... wearing clothes that don't fit!Ladies, skinny jeans are for skinny people, not everyone! They are called skinny jeans for a reason, but it is not because they make you look skinnny. In fact, if you have any body shape besides a waif or pseudo anorexic, those "skinny jeans" make you look like a big girl in some tiny pants. You are not doing yourselves any favors, please wear pants that are made for your body type.And fellas... you are not off the hook either. Your jeans are no better! First lets start with the "baggy bottoms". Boys, why would you want to make your bottom half look like a tent? And why would you want to hold on to your pants when you walk? You all look silly in those big pants, but the boys in the skinny jeans are just as guilty as the girls. If you are one of the boys pouring yourself into these super tiny pants, stop! We don't need to see the outline of your anatomy that closely.The lesson here is this, no one wants to see the following: muffin tops, pany lines, boxers over the belt, thongs, bottom cracks, smashed kankles, rippling thighs, or camel toe. Please do us all and yourself a favors and buy pants that are flattering. You will look better, feel better, and people will probably treat you better. Everyone while looks are not everything, it is nice to get a compliment. So I will close with the advice of a one Zoolander, "I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on finding out what that is."

Seriously, STOP 1

Everyone in the world has issues they have to deal with. For some of us it is money and piles of grad school debt, for others it is a cheating husband, and for others yet it is a screaming child. But everyone, SERIOUSLY, STOP… being negative and complaining all the time. By now all of us have heard Oprah and every other celebrity talk about “The Secret”. The power of positive thought, and how it can change our lives for the better is not a new concept. The use of idea boards all over the country have sparked a wave of positive energy that people hope to get back. With all this happening why are so many of us still complaining? Does it really make anyone feel better?We all have that co-worker who makes a special trip to tell us how bad her day is. She goes over every detail with elaborate descriptions that make Steinbeck look like he got straight to the point in his 600 page novels. She will stay there for 20 minutes to make sure that you feel the gravity of her situation, which could be as small as her boyfriend didn’t call last night, and then she leaves you there with all this negativity floating in the air. Now I ask, after this happens do you feel better? Do you feel like you can face the world with a smile? Are you excited about life? No… you feel emotionally drained from listening to her and you are probably going to tell someone about it. This is your chance to stop the merry go round and get undizzied from the ride. You just have to Seriously, stop complaining and being negative. It is for your you and the people around you!!So, everyone take a deep breath, clear your mind, and realize that the world will not stop spinning if something bad happens. Believe that everything will work out and it usually will. It is not a cliché for a reason. And if you don’t believe me take the advice of Frederick Douglas, “Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must certainly pay for all they get.”

Journals

I recently reorganized my posts so that each Seriously, STOP has its own post. Feel free to comment and add to everything!