Each batch of kids I teach is different and in order to effectively “reach” each of them I try to adapt my approach, so I can best help them. I’ve never taught the same from one year to the next because no two batches of students are exactly the same. The ultimate goal is to leave...

Sure there is always the draw of winning, as a teacher of the competitive arts I know this all too well. Winning feels great and is fun right? Sure Does! However, I’ve always totally believed that winning was only to be a bonus for my students, not the driving force behind their efforts. I know many...

While I was going through my feed reader last week I had a revelation (thanks to a post I’ll mention later) that could possibly warrant the changing of my tag line on this very blog. Anyone who has been blogging for a long time knows that when our lives change often times so does the focus...

Remember when I outlined all N’s job uncertainty in this post back on May 2008? Back then we still had no idea where his job search would take us and we were pretty worried that we would end up stuck with the status quo if no better offers came along. We were barely making end meet,...

To me the hardest thing is to watch a loved one go through trying times and to not be able to help them. My brother is dealing with some heavy stuff right now. He had a child with a girlfriend and they have just come to terms with the idea that they can’t be together...

I spend my days trying to teach kids that those fears we harbor inside ourselves can actually keep us from achieving, doing or becoming what we want most. They inhibit success and can trap us. Nothing is worse than not knowing what could have been, that is why you just need to reach for your...

Can i just share soemthing totally crazy with you? I spent yesterday sort of mass mailing band directors and schools trying to land a new colorguard “gig”… I already have one school interested in hiring me and I also got in touch with the local area’s colorguard organization to see if I could work as a...

Do you reflect on your life journey? Do you see how one thing leads you to another, does it help you to face the future and the present? Looking back and reflecting upon the journey is something I tend to do. It gives me perspective on the current events when I look back to see how...

Yep you read the title right, my garden educated me today. Yesterday we spent money on our garden, you see we love to grow and enjoy stuff and since we had just received some product rebates we had some “free money”. We couldn’t think of a better way to burn free money. So we bought some...

Do you notice feeling drained, trampled or just worn out after an encounter with an acquaintance or loved one? Maybe this person only wants to have interactions with you when they need support or maybe they tend to unload on you all the time. How do you distinguish between someone going through a “rough patch” in...