http://dailypickmeup.com/blog Inspiration and motivation for today Sat, 10 May 2008 14:53:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I'm sitting in the restaurant area of a hotel right now, listening to a television program and its accompanying commercials.  It's a very frustrating experience--it's some sort of morning news program on which the people are speaking very loudly at each other--not to each other--and seemingly looking for conflict no ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/10/becoming-our-own-programmers/ Sometimes death comes up and smacks you right between the eyes.  It happened to me today, reminding me of some very important truths in life.  Truths that have to do with the fact that this life will one day end, for all of us, and with the idea that if ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/09/right-between-the-eyes/ Probably the most difficult thing that I ever had to teach myself in life was the fact that I was--and am--lovable.  I grew up thinking that I was completely unlovable, that no one would ever love me, that there was somehow something wrong with me that made it impossible to ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/08/you-are-lovable/ We don't always have to do everything ourselves--sometimes it's best to step back and let someone else contribute.  Today, it's Bernie Siegel: I have always found it hard to prune a tree and relatively easy to operate on someone.  That may seem coldhearted, but when I am operating on someone I ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/07/somebody-elses-words-2/ One of the most important pieces of advice that I've ever heard is not to judge people until you've walked in their shoes.  Another important piece of advice for me is to listen to advice from other people who have learned through experience. You see, almost everyone has heard the advice ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/06/in-their-shoes/ We had a bus break down on our way to a track meet yesterday.  We were stuck out in the middle of nowhere on the side of the Interstate with cars and trucks flying by at 75 mph.  Three coaches, a bus driver, and 26 high school athletes.  As you ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/05/honk-if/ Sometimes all that things in our lives need in order to become something new and different is for us to take a new look at them.  When we get used to them and start taking them for granted, or when we stop seeing them for the special and unique things ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/03/a-new-look/ I have about 140 students divided between five classes at school.  If you think that means that I'm not able to give the individual attention to each student that I could or should be giving, well, you're right.  With that many students I'm able to take care of all the ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/02/one-or-two-a-day/ It's an overused stereotype that guys don't like to ask for directions.  We've all seen it in sitcoms, variety shows, movies, plays--any type of entertainment that's looking for a cheap laugh with an overused cliche will eventually turn to the guy not wanting to ask for directions.  It's a stereotype ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/05/01/asking-for-directions/ I suppose the greatest frustration that I face as a teacher is seeing just how unaware students are of the opportunities they have.  I've always loved to learn, and I always saw classes as a way to add to my knowledge or skills.  Many of the high school students in ... http://dailypickmeup.com/blog/2008/04/30/opportunity-2/