I Left a Piece of My Heart in Japan

I have written this blog many times in my head but I have not had the resolve to put it in writing until just recently. On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced their most catastrophic earthquake measuring 9.3 magnitude and experienced a resulting tsunami, which affected many parts of northeastern Japan. Left in the tsunami’s wake was a devastated landscape of splintered homes, decomposing bodies, twisted vehicles and a damaged nuclear power plant. Immediately following the large quake were several strong aftershocks. Everywhere buildings shook violently and everyone was on edge throughout the night and for many weeks to come.

For me, that day started out like any other ordinary Friday at work, but it quickly metamorphosed into an unforgettable day of tragedy and horror. The quake struck at approximately 2:45 pm at Camp Zama. Many of us were in our offices conducting business as usual when the walls started to shake. The walls were vibrating, the building was making sounds, and some of the employees were running out of the building screaming. Needless to say, I followed. I had never been through an earthquake so I really did not know what was happening at first but if the locals were concerned, I was going to do whatever they did. The earth kept moving for at least 3-5 minutes and we kept getting aftershocks in the 6-7 magnitude throughout the evening.

In the ensuing hours, many of you watched in horror the devastation as the story unfolded on all the news channels. To be honest, Camp Zama was insulated from any real damage but the reverberations of the aftermath caused many issues to arise. Immediately our management team and staff kicked into emergency mode to ensure 100% employee and family accountability across the country of Japan. This was initially difficult because all communication lines were down except for an occasional cell phone in which people communicated via Facebook or Twitter. I immediately called my husband to let him know I was well and that the images he was watching on TV were not what I was experiencing on Camp Zama.

The days that followed seemed to bleed into another and it all seemed like a bad dream as reports of the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant began to unfold. The dream seemed never ending because we were experiencing aftershocks daily and I even had to take Dramamine because I was experiencing motion sickness. I never turned the TV off and packed my suitcases in case I was required to evacuate at a moments notice. There was a growing concern from some that the Japanese government was not telling the truth about just how bad the damage was. To further complicate matters, the US government began “voluntary departure” orders for specialized groups of people and it caused some panic and hysteria for those that did not immediately qualify under those orders. Many things quickly ramped up that were “Neo” like and some US citizens were evacuated off the island. The rest of us left behind continued to focus on our mission and tried to conduct business as usual but this again was further complicated by conflicting reports of radiation contamination in the air, food, and water supply. My personal lowest point was on a morning that I learned the base well water supply had detected contamination and we were advised to only drink bottled water…I had just brushed my teeth! That same week all US citizens were issued potassium iodide (KI) pills. KI pills were intended to be a “just in case” measure and were issued to prevent the thyroid from absorbing radiation in the event our radiation exposure levels spiked. I had to report to the gym on base, hear a safety briefing from the medical command, sign for the 7-day supply and return to work. Thank goodness, we actually never had to ingest the KI pills but having them in my possession caused some distress if I thought about it too much. I personally performed better when I kept my mind and thoughts focused on the mission rather than the possible catastrophic events that could occur. Everyone reacts to situations differently and I discovered that I was a stronger person than I thought I was and I found that I could keep my cool in an emergency.

Here we are almost a year later and I still think about the unbelievable amount of concern, love and support shown from a network of friends, co-workers and family that kept in touch with me daily bolstering my morale during my stay in Japan. I bonded with many of my immediate co-workers on a level that I feel I will never experience again. My supervisory chain showed incredible leadership and calm during the crisis and their concern for our employees impressed me. Although news of Japan's tsunami and earthquake has faded on the news channels, my heart and fondness for the Japanese people is forever etched in my memory…it is a memory filled with love and compassion not just devastation.

The Pain and Pleasure of a Bathhouse Experience

For my first blog of the New Year, I decided to look back over my previous emails, blogs, and notes from 2011. I found this recollection on my bathhouse experience in Japan that I thought you would enjoy reading. The irony of the experience is too good to not share!

OMG, today was a very interesting experience at the bathhouse with my friend Patty. I was terrified initially to go to the bathhouse, but I am glad I went. I am such a germ phoebe and had many stereotypical ideas what it would be like…none of which were true. The bathhouse was segregated (men on one side of the building with a wall between and women on the other), but it was full on nudity throughout the visit. The Japanese people take their bathhouse experience very seriously. There were three soaking pools in the outdoor area, and four indoors. Each pool had a different temperature degree, jet speed, and water “flavor”. I would have been lost and made hundreds of social blunders without my friend Patty interpreting the whole process. There was an entire ritual of taking off my shoes, putting them in the locker, getting a bag of towels, paying for my services through a vending machine (people don’t touch money much), giving my ticket to the appointment taker, confirming my appointment for which service I wanted in addition to the soaking (i.e. scrub, massage, etc.), getting undressed, showering, and which towel to use. I chose the full body scrub, oil and massage for $6K Yen. OMG it was an experience!

I was told to soak for at least 30 minutes before my scrub so that my skin would be softer…which I did. Then I went into a small room and lay on a table (nude). There was a very small Korean woman that covered my face with a hot towel and wrapped my hair up in a towel. I am small in size, but this woman was half the size of me. She had on both of her hands what appeared to be “rough socks”. I really did not have a clue what the actual fabric was but it felt like sand paper. OMG it did hurt but I kept telling myself “no one ever died from this, so get through it!” The woman scrubbed EVERY inch of my entire body including every fold and crease except for the two areas with “hair” (head and you know where else). Now again, let me remind you….when I say scrub, she scrubbed very vigorously and it hurt but it oddly also felt pleasurable when she finally stopped and my skin was tingling. Later, she poured hot oily water all over my raw body, which again hurt, but not for long. Then she proceeded to oil me more and then gave a vigorous massage all over my body again. I have had massages before, but this one was the best by far. Somewhere during all of this, I finally forgot that I was a germ phoebe and just tried to “enjoy” the experience.

As an addendum to this email, I have to disclose that two days after the bathhouse experience, I had to go to sick call on base in Japan for an allergic reaction. I had always known I was allergic to sulfa, but little did I know that the pools that I had soaked in for hours were loaded with natural volcanic sulfates! Needless to say, I never went back and repeated my bathhouse experience, but it was an experience I will never forget—both good and bad!

Duty, Honor, Country, Valor, Sacrifice, and Heroism

Today and every day, I raise my American flag proudly and think about the sacrifices that our men and women have made and are still making in Iraq, Afghanistan and in places which we don't even think about to keep our great country free. We, as a free Nation, should be ever grateful for our veterans—those past and present. I am a proud American because it honors the brave men and women who have served our country and given so much. Their service is such a noble sacrifice that, in my opinion, demands our sincerest respect, thanks, and admiration.

One Person - One Opinion

I just got back from eleven days of work related travel to Portland, Oregon. On three separate occasions, I walked a few blocks from my downtown hotel to visit the Occupy Portland protest site located opposite Portland’s City Hall in Chapman and Lownsdale Square parks. This “tent city" was made up of approximately 200-400 tents that in my opinion, contained a group of a rag tag people appearing to only be interested in anarchy and publicity. Many of them appeared to be there because they were homeless, fighting addiction, or just wanted to be a part of something. The site had a pungent odor and there were several self-crafted poster board signs littering the parks and sidewalks. The damage to the parks appeared to be inconsistent with the “peace, love, and happiness” goals of the movement.

Occupy Portland started October 6 and grew out of the nationwide anit-Wall Street movement that is occurring across America. It is my understanding that the Wall Street movement began with the premise that everyday working people were fed up with policies that protected the financial markets and were generally angry over an unfair economic system and the disappearing middle class. If Occupy Portland’s movement is going to have any impact, besides complaining about the inequities in our society, the protesters need sit down and come up with a platform of issues and an agenda to accomplish them. Their complaints cannot just be vague pleas to end injustice. They need to be part of the solution and not just part of the problem. I do not think anything will be gained from Occupy Portland’s movement and it certainly will not help the protesters resume if they are trying to get a job.

Many people think that these protests are great, but where do we go from here? I believe in the right to free speech and the ability to peacefully protest. However, this crowd in Portland is walking a tightrope of civil disobedience that is not abiding by laws and ordinances and they are being destructive to public property. Thousands of dollars in officer overtime pay, park restoration, and sanitation removal, is needed to sustain this occupation—and who is paying for this? You are the taxpayer. I think that in this tough economic time, our tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere.

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

This is my 50th post on this blog and I wish to honor those that died on September 11, 2001.  Here we are once again, on the anniversary of the most important world-changing event—9/11. Like other crucial historical dates, most people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that date. I remember September 11, 2001 very well. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was at work at Philips Semiconductors in San Antonio, Texas. My husband called and said that a TV station reported that a small plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I stepped into the break room and saw that everybody had their eyes glued to the TV and they were expressing many levels of sadness. My attention was immediately drawn to the image of the burning North Tower. As I stood there in shock, I saw another plane fly into the South Tower. It was at that moment, I knew what was happening was not an accident and I think I said aloud, “We’re being attacked!”

As horror gripped us all that morning, watching the events unfold on TV, I knew that September 11, 2001 had become a day to remember. All of us stood there watching images of the tens of thousands fleeing the dust clouds pouring through the streets of New York and we witnessed the deaths of approximately 3,000 people that day. The images that still haunt me are the ones of the people jumping to their death. They stood in the windows of the Towers, desperately breathing in the air and with an inferno raging ever closer knowing that they would die if they stayed. Finally, with no options left, they hurled themselves out into space. As the days passed, I could not sleep and I stayed in front of the TV watching those images repeatedly.

For all those who remember, who continue to bear the scars and to the memories of all who were lost on that tragic day in New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon — Godspeed. Know that I will never forget you.

It's Been A Long Time

Hello to all my fellow bloggers, Facebook friends and family!  I am sorry for not updating my blog in such a long time.  I suppose you could say I am at a crossroads of sorts as to whether to continue with my blog.  Since I came back from Japan in June, I felt I had a lot to share but I did not know where to start.  Visiting Japan was one of the best things that I have done and I have no regrets.  I am still trying to sort out my feelings regarding the 9.3 earthquake, living on Camp Zama and the many friendships that I made along the way.  I left a piece of my heart in Japan and I will always cherish the memories of my visit.  I am sure as time passes, I will be able to write about my experiences but for now, I am still holding those memories close. 

In the beginning, I started writing this blog as a form of release to help me articulate many thoughts that I have swimming around in my head.  Some of these thoughts have been bottled up for a long time and just like pouring wine from a bottle; they do not come out all at once. I know that sometimes my postings may seem disjointed and random but they are the outpourings of my mind and they are connected to me and what I am feeling, seeing, or doing at any given time.  Several people have stopped by to read my blog and even some people have commented on my posts. I sincerely thank all of you for taking the time to read my thoughts and thank you for expressing words of kindness and showing some understanding.  I often am asked why I write and my only answer is that it is my life, this is my story, and it is my choice to write about it because it brings me a sense of calm. I am learning to live, speak and write about my life in a positive way and hope that it will inspire others to do the same. 

Sowing Seeds of Happiness

I believe that we should intentionally choose daily habits or “disciplines” that will take us where we want to go in life. Each statement below stands for a pattern or habit that I want in my life. Some of the statements get more focus or effort than others, but over the years, they all have become the habits that help me create the life I want for myself.

1. Smile more, let yourself be happy and avoid negative people when possible.
2. Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for them.
3. Forgive others, forgive yourself, and learn from every mistake.
4. Always focus on self-improvement but keep it simple.
5. Live your life with passion, enthusiasm and purpose.
6. Be there for others, you could be someone’s hero.
7. Live in the moment and be grateful for it.
8. Do not put things off and never give up.
9. Always give more than you promise.

What do you want your life to look like? If you do not like how life is responding to you, you may need to look in the mirror. It is not about other people changing; it is often about you changing. I encourage you to choose a few simple, positive habits that will enhance your life. Reduce them to simple actions that you will be able to perform every day. It has often been said, “You reap what you sow”. So, get out there and plant a seed, you will get back more than one seed, you will get back thousands!

My Trip to Japan

I love my job! For those of you that do not know where I work, I work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE) Learning Center (ULC) located in Huntsville, Alabama as an Instructional Systems Specialist. Our organization is responsible for developing and presenting Proponent-Sponsored Engineer Corps Training (PROSPECT) classes needed to accomplish the Corps' Vision. We are part of the USACE family that is currently commanded by Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp. USACE around the world has approximately 34,600 Civilian and 650 military members. We employ military and civilian engineers, scientists and other specialists that work as leaders in the engineering and environmental arena. We have a diverse workforce of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, natural resource managers and other professionals that meet the demands of changing times and requirements as a vital part of America's Army. We have offices around the globe to include places like Japan, Republic of Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Europe. The offices contribute significantly to the peace and security of the regions that they are located in though the execution of multi-billion dollar construction programs.

Less than two weeks ago, I was invited by the Japan Engineer District (JED) Commander, Colonel Truesdell to go TDY for 120 days. His district is located on Camp Zama, Japan where I will provide backfill support for deployed personnel supporting the rebuild efforts in Afghanistan. It is both an honor and a privilege for me to be able to help and provide this kind of assistance. Joining the JED is an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to support the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and their families living and working in Japan. What an incredible opportunity for me both professionally and personally!

Camp Zama (キャンプ座間) is a U.S. Army post located approximately 35 miles southwest of Tokyo. The JED has a skilled workforce consisting of over 315 personnel including Japanese and U.S. citizens working together with the government of Japan. They are one of the largest of the 45 districts in the Corps that provides quality, professional and comprehensive engineering, construction, and other value-added services in support of peacetime and contingency operations around the world.

So, as you can imagine I have been quite busy with lots of things in preparation of my 13-hour flight to Japan. I have had to get five shots (I still cannot raise my arms above my head), take three online training modules, fill out countless pieces of paperwork, create orders, find my passport, finalize funding, and send lots of email to make my departure date of 31 January 2011. I appreciate all the helpful folks along the way that have helped make this trip possible (USACE HQ, JED, SAW, ULC, HNC, and the support of my husband). With a 13-hour time difference, I am not sure what my personal connectivity will be like but I am looking forward to keeping all of you informed through this blog, Facebook, Twitter and on Skype.

Statistical and source information: http://www.usace.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx

Happy New Year - Good Bye 2010 Blog

I swear I am running out of steam with all the holidays galore. Whether you celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or your own special holiday, December is a whirlwind of activity capped off with a final holiday called the New Year—after which brings us a brand spanking new set of 12 months. I don't think I am going to make any New Year's resolutions this year but I typically make continuous goals that I strive for yearlong. These goals are easy, like trying to be a better wife, friend, employee, and overall person. If you want to make changes in your life, you need to start right now with something that is not that hard to change. Here are a few goals that I plan to work on this year:

1. I will try to exercise more regularly.
2. I will try to get more sleep in the coming year because 3-4 hours a night is about to do me in.
3. I will try to drink more water. I think I need to break my McDonald’s Sweet Tea and Starbuck’s Sweetened Green Tea addiction.
4. I will try to recycle more and be mindful of my footprint on this Earth.
5. I hope to do writing/blogging that is more meaningful in 2011.
6. I plan to say, "I love you" or “I appreciate you” every day to those that matter.
7. I want to be a better person. That means I will be more open and more introspective. I will listen more, preach less and lead with smaller steps rather than huge leaps.
8. Lastly, I look forward to the New Year with promise and hope.

I hope when you take time to reflect back on the past 12 months as I have, you will find happy thoughts and pleasant memories. New Year's Day means to me that we all have a fresh start with our goals and resolutions. It means that we have more chances to do the things we have always wanted to do. It means yet another year to spend with our loved ones and our friends. I am wishing you all a safe and wonderful New Year.  Happy New Year!

Santa is Coming!

Hello girls and boys around the world. It is Christmas Eve and Santa is coming. In some places, there is only one more time to fall asleep until Christmas morning. That is right; it is only one more night before the most joyous day of the year is here!

Santa is very lucky because he gets to see many wonderful things as he travels the whole world. He also gets to see many things that make him a little sad too. He sees people that are hungry, people that are hurting, and people that do not have a place to live. I am sure this year that he received many letters and emails from parents and children asking for more help. I am sure the letters and emails also expressed many feelings of thankfulness and hope. What gives Santa his energy and ability to serve the world is the hope and belief from all of us around the world.

Santa is really good at making toys and other Christmas presents, but he needs your help to make the world a better place. He needs all of us working on finding cures for diseases, stopping world hunger, and finding world peace. So, it is your turn to help Santa fulfill the wishes of all the girls and boys around the world.

I want to wish my readers and faithful supporters a Merry Christmas and happy New Year, filled with love, joy and happiness and my God bless you every day.

 

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

(Norman W. Brooks)

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope,

The spirit of Christmas which is peace;

The heart of Christmas which is love.

(Ada V. Hendricks)

"Old Age" is a Gift

The other day a little boy asked me how I felt about being old. At first, I was taken aback because I do not think of myself as that old. Then I realized that it was an interesting question and I decided to ponder it and write this blog. It is my birthday on Monday and I am entering my 45th year on this planet!

To start with, I would never trade my friends, my life, or my family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I get older, I am finding it easier to be positive. I care less about what other people think. I do not question myself as much because I have earned the right to be wrong occasionally. I try not to reprimand myself for eating an extra cookie, for not making my bed, or for buying yet another pair of shoes that I did not need. I am entitled to treat myself, to be messy, and to be extravagant from time to time. I have seen far too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair sprinkled with gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

Yes, sometimes I am forgetful. Then again, some of life is just as well forgotten, but eventually I do remember most of the important things! Sure, over the years my heart has been broken many times. Nevertheless, broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. You see, as I have aged, I have tried to become kinder to myself and less critical at the same time. In reality, I have become my own friend.

I have decided that “old age” is a gift and I am now, probably for the first time in my life, on the verge of becoming the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body of course! I sometimes still anguish over my physical appearance - the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and yes, the saggy butt. Many mornings I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my parents), but I do not agonize over it very long.  So, to answer that little boys question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I am becoming. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting on what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

The Splendor of Fall

I woke up this morning in Nashville, TN and the thermostat read 28 degrees. The temperature change was a huge shift from the 70s that we had on Wednesday. Just a two-hour drive south to Huntsville, AL and the temperature is now hovering in the mid 50s. What a difference and what a lovely day today is turning out to be! The sun is shining, the air is so fresh and clean and I am warm and comfortable wearing a scarf and light jacket. I am now sipping on a cup of tea as the sun is shining enjoying this Saturday afternoon.

The large Maple tree outside my sunroom window has almost shed all of its leaves while others are still sporting the magnificent colors of Fall. As I look out, I am taking a snap shot with my mind and I almost wish I could freeze time to capture these beautiful moments, but then I realize that it is the change itself that makes it so beautiful. Without Nature’s constant change, everything would be the same and the beauty would become dull and lifeless. Much as in our lives, without change and reinvention the splendor would be gone. If we stop changing and improving ourselves, then we lose ourselves into a world of routine and monotony. Sometimes we need to let our leaves fall, knowing that they will reemerge all the more vibrant again. So as the leaves are falling, I am cherishing these moments as they come and go.

Self Awareness

I believe we were put on this planet to master life. However, I know the only way to master life is to master ourselves first. Lately, I have had many days where I have felt tired and burned out and moments when I wanted to wave a white flag petitioning the powers that be for a brief respite. On some days, I felt as though I have lived an entire week in one day. These feelings have caused wear on my physical, mental and emotional being. This awareness has caused me to explore the need to be honest with myself, feeling the pull to connect to the truth, and feeling the need to step off the hamster wheel. I know who I am because acceptance is the key, honesty is my tool, and my feelings are my guides.

I believe that women are the most generous of givers. We live to give and give to live. This compulsion is often to the point of complete exhaustion. Lately, I have been wondering why I am compelled to give so much of myself freely. Through generosity and hard work, I try to give to all those around me – and do so without replenishing my own soul. Realizing this, I need to make myself a priority. Rather than standing in a space of critical and harsh self-judgment, I need to soften toward myself. I need to understand that each personality trait and every quality that resides within me serves a greater purpose. Although I may not be able to see it now, one day I will realize that every one of the qualities that I judged or labeled as wrong or bad is a blessing waiting to be realized. I also plan to give myself one small indulgence each day. For example, instead of running around meeting everyone else’s needs, I am going to take some time to sip my morning tea listening to the birds with my face upturned to the sun. I plan to breathe deeply and give myself the gift of stillness. I will also work on becoming a great receiver of all that I want in life instead of waiting for someone else to fulfill the need within me.

I have learned that I do not want to tip toe through life so that I can arrive safely at my death. There is an ominous stillness in the water between the waves and when we need to regroup. I need to remind myself to move into the still, peaceful waters behind the wave and lie on my back and look at the sky and rest. May we all find our place on the wave of life and ease onto it with grace.

Message to AED-North in Afghanistan

I love Facebook, but it has limitations sometimes when I want to post on a wall. Here is a message I sent to a friend that is working in AED-North:

Each one of your video stories provides a remarkable volume and moving testimonial from the viewpoint of the ordinary person as well as the soldier on the ground doing their part to restore Afghanistan to its former glory. It gives a unique glimpse and perspective of the daily issues and triumphs that you are seeing and working with on a daily basis. All together, these messages make for a powerful look at the positive impact that the Army Corps is making in Afghanistan. The videos show us that our first thoughts and actions should be devoted to the maintenance of the peaceful process of rebuilding this country and that we in time may be able to transmit it in all its integrity and glory back to the Afghanistan people. To be surrounded by hostile Taliban forces but undaunted in your mission, it is because of your grit and grace under the tremendous pressure that this is all possible. I do not doubt whether the coming day will dawn on the people to enjoy the blessings of the liberty that our country wishes for them. In time, I know that the Army Corps will be able to restore their waning confidence and give them reassurance that they can still possess a national government that will sustain itself for many years to come. I hope that the Army Corps is a symbol for the Afghanistan people to continue to fight to preserve their own country. You guys and gals are doing a great job. Hurry home safely. AED-North, you make me proud to be part of the Army Corps team.

If you want to follow them on Facebook, here is their link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1520222831#!/AEDNorth

Mentors - Part 2

I have been chewing on what mentoring means to me for the last few days, trying to massage my thoughts into some intelligible form. While I still struggle with validation at times, what I desire from a mentor is different. I want their suggestions on how to handle differing situations, recommended avenues for development, challenging and stretching, sometimes correction and sometimes just a nod and a smile. The one component of apprenticeship I crave the most is the opportunity to observe my mentors performing in their vocation. I enjoy watching these experts doing the things that make them the experts in their field like talking with customers, sharing their ideas in a meeting, hiring, firing, and all the grit of leadership and management that comes in-between. This is absolutely critical for me in learning how to be successful in business. For me, having the opportunity to observe my mentors modeling the various components of whatever vocation they are experienced in, and which I aspire to, is an indispensable component of passing on knowledge.

Role Models, Mentors and Friends

Every time that I start to feel sorry for myself, I think of all the stuff I have been through, put up with, survived, sacrificed, and accomplished. Whether I like it or not, the choices I have made or stumbled upon have made me who I am today. However, I have had a few good mentors, role models, and friends help guide me through this journey we call “life”!

I must admit that sometimes we do not recognize our true role models, mentors or friends until years later when we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. During my lifetime, I have had numerous role models and mentors. Some have reminded me what was really important in life, some have encouraged me to think and use the power of my voice, and some have dared me to make a difference. Each mentor and role model has taught me more about myself even when I did not want to listen. A role model to me is someone who not only treats me as an equal but also is honest, trusting, and most of all open-minded.

I believe the best roles models and mentors make us see the possibilities within ourselves. In the late 1980s, I had a supervisor, Commander Greg Lotz (USN-Ret.), who inspired me to try to live up to my potential. What he did was pull me aside one day and pointed out to me that I was “way smarter than my current job as a secretary” and that I needed to go to college in order to reach the potential that he thought I was capable of. I did not take his advice right then, but it gave me quite a boost and started me thinking and paying more attention to my career and goals in life. In the 1990s, I had another supervisor, Commander Greg Abbott (USN-Ret.), who also pointed out to me that I was hiding behind mediocre jobs instead of doing what I really wanted in life--helping others. He made me realize that I needed to be an advocate for myself and that I needed to take leadership on the issues that I believed in.

Lately, I have been privileged to have two very valuable role models and mentors named Colonel Tom Magness and Colonel Jeff Ryscavage. Their counsel and friendship have proven valuable to me and I have been influenced by the vitality and passion that they have in their lives and in the lives of others that they have touched. Their valuable insight, compassion, tenacity and humor often convinced me that the light at the end of the tunnel was not a speeding train! When I asked for advice, they always seemed to have time to listen, offered advice, challenged my perspective, and sometimes even redirected my efforts.

I am at that “40-something ponder my life stage” and I have come to the realization that I do not have traditional cookie cutter mentoring relationships. I like to call the above relationships episodes of spontaneous mentoring and role modeling. They have occurred because someone opened a discussion about how I was doing, asked me about my projects, suggested possibilities for handing career issues, and so on. If they had not asked me why I was not in college, told me that I was being mediocre, or not taken interest in my daily life, I do not think I would be as successful as I am today. Their input has had profound positive effects on me and my career and will for many years to come.

I truly believe that in order for a mentoring relationship to move beyond thriving to blooming, that there must be an equal flow of admiration and respect. I have been very fortunate to have had several mentors, role models, and friends that have taken an interest in my success. While the above list is not fully inclusive of all of them, their support and guidance continue to this day. I am eternally grateful to all for sharing their lives and I credit this dramatic turn around in my life to the time and effort of these individuals who mercifully helped me when I needed it. As the old saying goes, ‘when the student is ready, the teacher appears’. They all have appeared the moment I was ready to receive their wisdom.

Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

Why do we celebrate Labor Day? The true meaning and significance of Labor Day, much like many other holidays, has been largely forgotten by many Americans. I do not pretend to be very knowledgeable about our Labor history or the origins of Labor Day, but I did look it up on the Internet and learn about it this morning. What I found is that Labor Day is more than just a day off or a long weekend. It is a day that is intended for us to honor and recognize the contributions of all working people, both those with jobs and those who are struggling to find them in this current climate where our unemployment rate hovers in the double digits across the country. At a time when so many people are unemployed, Labor Day also reminds me that having a job is a valuable thing.

Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day was created by the labor movement during the height of the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Back then, the average American laborer worked 12-hour days and seven-day workweeks in order to survive. Does that mean that Labor Day is a relic, and no longer a meaningful holiday? Labor or being a worker in today’s job market has not become easier, it is just different because the majority of our workers are no longer unionized, blue-collar, or manual laborers. This does not mean that they do not work hard, in fact, these days many workers are working longer hours than ever to adapt to the global economy and ever-changing communications technology. Knowledge workers are perpetually tethered to their Smartphone’s and are always virtually at work.

In this decade, we saw taxpayers bailing out Wall Street while some greedy individuals continued to receive million dollar bonuses for their failures; all the while working families struggled to live paycheck to paycheck. We also saw our U.S. tax policy reward companies for shifting millions of jobs overseas in order to take advantage of workers that labored for mere pennies a day. Countless American workers saw wage cuts, loss of basic health care benefits or lost their jobs altogether while numerous corporations posted record profits. These are clear and compelling examples of corporate greed and reasons why we need to take another look at the true meaning of Labor Day. The examples should also make it clear to everyone that we need to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the American worker while also continuing to fight to help restore our country to the “land of opportunity” our parents and grandparents created for us. I have confidence that the working middle class will survive and will continue to provide the foundation for this country’s greatness. In memory of the true heroes who fought for the rights we all enjoy today, it is our duty to stand up now and to honor all of those who will follow us. That, I believe, is the true meaning of Labor Day.

True Friends

I enjoy the blessing of email and social networking sites such as Facebook because I am finding it easier to maintain and renew many of my friendships by a virtual means. I am a military brat and I have traveled most of my life moving every few years. Because of this, I have friends in many locations around the globe. I am not sure how true friendships emerge but I do believe that they are a gift from God. Having a true friend requires a certain oneness of mind, purpose, and a nobility of character. Real friendships require both friends to understand the “heart and soul” of the other, and to celebrate what they see, not because they are blinded to each other’s imperfections, but because they see all things through the eyes of friendship and love.

I truly believe that people are in our lives “for a reason, a season, or a lifetime”. Lifetime friendships are the strongest ones and often occur because of shared experiences born out of real opportunities, adventures, and challenges. Often when I look back on a solid friendship, there is a beautiful mystery attached to the origins of it. These friendships were not forced or fabricated, but my life was always the better for them. As we age, our lives undergo many changes and not all of our friendships survive. I have found it normal for a few friendships to fall by the wayside for no obvious reason. Sometimes our priorities shift or we simply grow apart. Friends that are in your life for a “reason or a season” are not any less significant because they are often just as intense and meaningful but only for a shorter time. Like any marriage, relationship, or career, they too require work, thought, and realistic expectations in order to maintain them during periods of ebb and flow.

True friendships leave footprints everywhere in your life, like mud tracked in on a light colored carpet. Nurture your friendships through shared intimacy and reciprocity knowing that they can be rich, life affirming, joyful but also complicated at times. True friends are a unique treasure that wealth cannot buy and power cannot hold. Their transformative power is essential because life is better together – with real friends.

Collaborative Learning

When institutions of higher learning open up and embrace collaborative learning techniques, they have a chance of surviving and thriving in our networked, global economy. With current technology, it is now possible to embrace some of the new collaboration models that will help facilitate a change in the relationship between students and instructors in the learning process. In the industrial model of student mass production, the instructor is considered the broadcaster. Meaning, the person that is responsible for the transmission of information in a one-way, linear fashion from transmitter (instructor) to receiver (student). For years, broadcast learning has been an appropriate way of gaining new information for a previous economy and generation; however, it is increasingly failing to meet the needs for a new generation of students who are now entering the global knowledge economy. Educators who use varying approaches of collaborative learning often tend to think of themselves less as an expert in transmitting knowledge and information to students, and more as an expert in design of intellectual experiences for students. Collaborative learning techniques allow a structure that creates more student participation and much more learning occurs when this happens. In addition to increased learning, mutual exploration, collective meaning making, and problem solving it creates a better learning outcome and understanding of the material in general.

What are your thoughts on collaborative learning?

Single Canvas Teaching

Have you heard the phrase, “Death by PowerPoint?” Imagine being able to use a presentation tool based on the idea of a single “canvas” rather than a sequence of multiple slides. This concept allows you to link to and reference work of leading scholars in the field while sharing this presentation online, thus allowing students the ability to explore links that are embedded. As an example, we can place an image of a form or computer screen shot at the center of the working area and label the distinctions about it. Additionally, an instructor will be able to put explanations and web links further out on the canvas. This organizational approach allows the form or computer screen shot to serve as the central point of the presentation and helps clarify how additional information is related to it. This application enables presenters the ability to zoom in or out on each explanation as needed and to follow links to online demonstrations of how to fill out the form or interact with the screen shot. Additionally, the canvas can be divided into different regions and as part of a team teaching concept; each instructor can place their comments, images, videos, and links in their respective areas. This tool can allow a team to develop a smooth and efficient presentation and the nonsequential nature of the tool, results in a richer experience for students by allowing the discussion to guide the presentation in unplanned directions.