A Reflection on Garbage Bags and the Crap We Put in Them.

Garbage bags. Made of plastic.

Make less garbage, use less plastic.

Make less garbage. Make less waste.

Waste less by buying less.

It’s simple logic.

We may discover, upon reflection, that on a deeper level our minds will begin to consider this:

What is it, exactly, that we are throwing away? And what are we buying? And is it all really necessary?

It’s not a bad place to start if we want to make a difference.

Responsibility is not convenient — it’s necessary.

Reduce. Refuse. Reexamine. Realize. Rethink.

 

Teaching.

Teaching is not an easy profession. There are things to consider. Many things. I will make you a list:

Writing lists.

Learning how to write a list.

Why you should write lists.

Water.

Chairs and desks.

Meetings.

Scheduling meetings.

Agreeing to meetings, even when all you really want to do is have some time to yourself in your classroom so you can make lists.

Setting the alarm clock.

Double-checking that you set the alarm clock.

Wondering if “double-checking” should have a dash in it, and then taking the time to double-check that.

How to get someone else, who is only 11, to double-check.

Pencils.

Paper.

Clipboards.

What’s for lunch?

Management.

Creating.

Looking someone in the eye when you shake their hand.

Smiling. Definitely a lot of smiling.

Channeling energy.

Wondering how much to tell them, how much to show them, and hoping you get it right.

Living in the present, considering the past, and looking to the future.

Being calculatingly spontaneous.

Supplying the knowledge, so that it may be used.

Supplying it in such a way, that it must be used.

Learning.

Thinking.

Edit.

Revise.

Reread.

Edit.

Revise.

Reread.

Publish.

It’s important to know who you are, if you are going to try to help someone else learn who they are.

My last post from May, 2014: https://beyondplastic.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/one-from-the-archives-for-my-family/

And my first one from March, 2010: https://beyondplastic.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/think-about-it/

One more thing to add to the list:

Details. The life of an eleven-year old child is made up of details. So is mine. And yours.

Maybe the question is: Are you thinking about the details?

Responsibility is not convenient — it’s necessary.

Rethink. Refuse. Reduce. Reuse. Reimagine.

Love.