"How Did You Get Here?”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

December 11, 2007

   I swear to God, and with no disrespect intended to any of my friends and acquaintances, I have never met anyone in my whole life who is as intellectually stimulating as my 3 and a half year old granddaughter, Hailee. The things that come out of her mouth are absolutely incredible and could form the basis for a university philosophy course.

   I am sure that every grandparent feels the exact same way about their own grandchildren, but it just amazes me that innocent young children can have such a capacity for making you dig deep into your own mind to discover the true meaning of life.
  
   The other day Hailee and my wife were walking around the Hart Department Store looking at toys, as usual. After I finished taking care of some business I had elsewhere in the mall I walked up silently behind them while they were standing in one of the aisles. They didn’t see me coming. As Hailee raised her head she spotted me beside her.  She then looked directly into my eyes without changing the expression on her face, paused for a moment, and then asked me a simple question that has been on my mind ever since.

   Her question: “How did you get here?”

   If she had asked, “Where did you come from?” or “When did you get here?” or even if she had looked surprised and laughed while she asked the question, it may not have had the same effect. But it was the way she looked straight into my eyes, no expression on her face, paused for a moment and then delivered the question, “How did you get here?”

   We continued with our visit to the store and walked around the mall before returning Hailee to her home later on in the afternoon, but I have been asking myself that question over and over ever since.

   In my entire 57 years of living I have made so many life-altering decisions that at the time did not seem all that important, however, had I made a different decision at the time in ANY one of those situations, I would not have ended up in that aisle in the store that day, standing beside my granddaughter and my wife. A simple question: "How did you get here?"
  
   Perhaps the question would not have had as much of an impact on me but I had just watched a movie the night before called “A Magic Christmas” (at least I think that is the title of the movie).  It was about a lady who was having difficulties in life and who was forced through some tragic circumstances to imagine what her life would be like if she lost her husband and two children. She was allowed to go back in time during Christmas Eve and make different choices in a couple of situations that saved her husband and children from an accidental death.

   I will also take time during the holidays to watch my favourite movie of all time, “It’s A Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart. It always makes me feel grateful for the life I am now experiencing by demonstrating that everyone you have in your life and every good thing that you like about your life is the sum total of the results of every single decision you have ever made in the past. One different decision could have changed EVERYTHING.

   And so, as I continue on my own “Journey of Life”, I take things day-by-day, making countless decisions that will in their own way each alter the course of my life and in the lives of the people I meet. I have learned that it is important to make each decision as wisely as possible, based on the knowledge you have at the time, and then to move on without regret. Every previous decision has been part of the answer to the question, “How did you get here?” And every choice I make today, the day after today and all of the days thereafter will form part of the answer the next time I am asked that question.

   And so, Hailee, I can certainly go back over the decisions I made yesterday, and the yesterdays before that, and I can definitely trace my steps back in time to determine the answer to the question, “How Did You Get Here?” What I can’t understand is “why” I made some of those choices. I can only be thankful that I made the choices I did, because I could never imagine myself being anywhere else but beside you and your Grandma in that store listening to your question, “How Did You Get Here?”
  
   Have a good week!

“Running in the rain…”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

December 4, 2007

   I want to thank my good friend, Cecile Coutu, for sending me an email recently that contained a little story that touched my heart so much I decided to share it with all of my readers this week.
 
   It is about a little girl who was out shopping with her mother. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. Everyone stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the store waiting for the rain to subside so that they could dash to their vehicles. Some waited patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
 
   The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance everyone was caught in, “Mom let's run through the rain,” she said.
 
   “What?” Mom asked.
 
   “Let’s run through the rain!” She repeated.
 
   “No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,” Mom replied.
 
   The young child waited about another minute and repeated: “Mom, let's run through the rain.”
 
   “We'll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.
 
   “No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
 
   “This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
 
   “Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'
 
   The entire crowd stopped dead silent. You couldn't hear anything but the rain. Everyone stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.
 
   Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Some mothers would likely laugh it off and scold the little girl for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
 
   “Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,” Mom said.
 
   Then off they ran. The other shoppers just stood watching, smiling and laughing as the mother and her daughter darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads, and yes, they got soaked.

   But in the next few minutes the mother and daughter were followed by other shoppers who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. They all got wet. Perhaps they just needed washing.
 
   When I finished reading the story it took me a few minutes to go on to my next email. My mind began to wander back to memories of my own children and the times my wife and I did things with them that at the time seemed downright silly, but were nonetheless fun. I could see my own grand daughters pulling at my hand to bring me away from the final minutes of the football game to their playroom to give me an imaginary cake that they had just baked in their little kitchen. Or the time they wanted me to climb onto their new trampoline with them and I thought,  “why not” as I joined them bouncing around for a few minutes without caring what others would say about a 57 year old grandfather up there acting like a kid with these two tiny girls.
 
   The story reminded me that “circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
 
   I don’t expect that we will have much rain for the next few months, but this winter I plan on taking time to run through the snow and perhaps maybe even make a “snow angel” or two just to make some more memories with those two little girls.

   Have a good week!

“Kids Know What Really Makes A Person Rich”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

November 27, 2007

   In this era of huge lottery winners, multi-millionaire athletes and entertainers, and corporate billionaires spending insane amounts on personal luxuries, it is hard for a lot of us to accept that so many people are still living in poverty in this country. It is hard for us to accept that thousands of people must rely upon food banks every week or that there are people who struggle to survive in “poverty” while on social assistance or earning minimum wages at part-time jobs.

   With all of these fabulously rich people acting as role models for the younger generation we could hardly be blamed for expecting that our own children might consider most of us normal parents as failures in comparison.

   Thankfully for us, children tent to have a far better perspective on wealth than most adults. To illustrate this point, consider the lesson the young child in the following story taught his father.

   “One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor some people can be. They spent a couple of days and  nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

   On their return from the country, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. The son replied, “It was great, Dad.”

   “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.

   “Oh, yeah,” said the son.

   “So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

   The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our back yard and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve each other. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.”

   With this the boy’s father was speechless.

   Then his son added, “Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are.”

   How many times are we as adults guilty of overlooking all of the good things we have in our life and instead concentrating on what we don’t have? We’re obviously aware that one person’s worthless object is another’s prize possession. Just look at the yard sales in the summer. Thousands of people go from one yard sale to another finding treasures that others are willing to part with. Value is all based on one’s perspective.
 
   The other day my wife and I took one of our granddaughters to the Hart Department Store. She likes walking through the aisles looking at all of the toys. On this occasion, however, she stopped at one of the displays and spent what seemed to be forever playing with a couple of little empty boxes that had been left on the shelf. They were odd shaped and could be inserted into each other. The rest of the toys didn’t matter to her. She was thrilled to spend time playing with the empty boxes.
 
   When our granddaughters come over to the house lately their favourite activity is looking through an empty wrapping paper roll. It has become their telescope.  Another activity of our oldest is to help her “grandmother” cooking at the counter by mixing ingredients into a bowl. My wife keeps a number of these ingredients in containers that can be used over and over again by this little girl who can spend an hour mixing at the counter. Her expensive toys remain in her playroom. She can have her toys any time. Spending time cooking with Grandma is precious to her.
 
   The father in the story today thought he was rich and the farmer was poor. Perhaps the farmer felt the same way. As adults we tend to have different benchmarks to measure success.
 
   However, when viewed through the eyes of the young boy, the farmer was the fortunate one - the one with all of the truly prized possessions - especially the ones that money cannot buy.

   So next time you find yourself wishing you could trade places with some rich and famous person you see on television or read about in the magazines, look around you and open your eyes to the richness of your life, and take note of those things that their money cannot buy - the things that really make you wealthy.

   Have a good week!

“The Pareto Principle”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

November 20, 2007

   Some of you are already aware of the “Pareto Principle”. Others may never have heard of it. Regardless, I am absolutely positive that everyone has applied the Pareto Principle many times in their life – including you.
  
   I was first introduced to the “Pareto Principle” when I was a teenager and began my first summer job with INCO. Those were the days when there were 20,000 employees and the company hired over 3000 students to work every summer as vacation relief. There was no such thing as a summer shut-down in those days.

   Eager to make a good first impression on my shift boss and co-workers, I remember really digging in to every task I was given with everything I had. If I had to shovel rocks back onto a conveyor belt I would go like crazy and work the entire shift to keep those rocks off the floor. My section was cleaned to perfection.

   One thing I noticed, however, was that the permanent employees seemed to have a lot of spare time on their hands than I did.   After working so hard during the first few days I went over to one of my co-workers and asked him what I was doing wrong. I explained to him that I seemed to be the only one on the shift who spent the entire eight hours working so furiously while most of my colleagues seemed to have plenty of time to sit around talking or strolling around the building.

   That person taught me one of the most important lessons I have ever learned in my life, and I am certain that he had never ever heard of the Pareto Principle. The next day he told me to follow him at the beginning of the shift. I went with him to the section of the conveyor belt that he was in charge of keeping clean. I watched him work for about an hour and then he put his shovel down and said, “There, I’m finished. Now I’ve got the rest of the shift to relax and just take care of major spills.”
  
   I stood there dumbfounded. “But look at the floor. There is still a lot of rock left to be put on the belt.”
  
   He looked at the rock that was left and then said, “The important thing here is to keep the conveyor belt from getting jammed up from the rock that is accumulating on the floor. I’ve cleared away the biggest piles from the trouble spots. Now I know that the conveyor belt will be good to go for the rest of the shift. I could spend a lot more time and energy cleaning up the rest of the rocks and sweeping the floor to make it perfectly clean, but it wouldn’t make any difference. All I have to do now is watch the conveyor belt to make sure that there are no accidents or major spills to jam it up.”

   It was at that moment that I knew what the Pareto Principle was and I have been using it ever since. It is a way of thinking that can be applied to just about EVERYTHING in your life.

   Some people refer to the Pareto Principle as the 80/20 Rule. Quite simply, it means that if you look at most jobs or tasks that you have to perform, you can get 80% of the job done with 20% of the effort. It is the final 20% of the job that takes 80% of your time and effort. And in most cases, that final 20% doesn’t have any effect on the outcome. In fact, you can get along quite well without the final 20% and use the time more productively in other areas.

   When I began to apply this principle in my own life I found that I could get 80% of five (5) different jobs done in the time that it would normally have taken me to get 100% of one job done. And I discovered that in this world, you can get along very well with 80% of most things in life.

   As a classroom teacher I tried to get that message to my students. Many of my students were perfectionists who would spend far too much time trying to get 100% on everything they did. The trouble was that they might only have time to get one of five assignments done. They would get 100% on that one assignment, but get zero (0) on the other four, giving them an average of 20% and a failing mark. Other students who adopted the Pareto Principle were able to get 80% on all five assignments with the same amount of time and effort. They received an average of 80%. The most successful people in society today are the ones who can get five jobs done at an 80% satisfaction level.

   The next time you have a job to do, see what happens when you use the Pareto Principle. You too will discover that in most cases, the final 20% is not worth the effort and won’t make any difference in the outcome. Your life will become much less stressful and you will find that you have a whole lot more time for the things you really enjoy.
  
   Have a good week!

“Keep Your Fork, The Best Is Yet To Come!”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

November 13, 2007

   Each week as I travel around the city meeting different people from all walks of life I am amazed at how difficult life has become for most of us.  The good news for all of my younger readers is that over the years I’ve discovered that no matter how bad the situation may seem, things do eventually get better. It’s all a matter of having faith and the courage to keep going despite the odds against you.

   One of the other fascinating things I’ve discovered is that no matter how good things may have seemed in the past, or how much I may have enjoyed a certain time in my life, each new stage I enter as I grow older seems to be better than any of the ones that I’ve gone through before. I can’t explain it, but life just seems to get more and more satisfying as you grow older. It may be that once you realize you don’t have many years left you tend to appreciate things more.

   This week I want to share a story with you that I take out every now and then when things start to get me down.  The story itself is kind of sad because it is about a lady who is about to die, but the message may help you get through some troubling times in your own life. We just have to remember that “The Best Is Yet To Come”.  The story is called, ‘The Fork’.
  
   “A woman had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and had him come to visit. He went to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted at the service, what scriptures she would like to be read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favourite bible. Everything was in order, and the pastor was preparing to leave, when the woman suddenly remembered something important.

   “There’s just one more thing,” she said excitedly.

   “What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply.

   “This is very important,” she continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor looked at the woman, not knowing quite what to say as she asked. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, to be honest, I am puzzled by the request,” said the pastor.

   The woman explained, “In all of my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I remember that when the dishes and the main course were being cleared, someone would usually lean over and say, ‘keep your fork’. It was my favourite part, because I knew that something *better* was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder: ‘What’s with the fork?’ I want you to tell them: KEEP YOUR FORK. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.”

   The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of Heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.

   At her funeral people were walking by the casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing, her favourite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question “What’s with the fork?” and he smiled.

   During his message, the pastor told the people about the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.”
 
   So, from now on, whenever you pick up a fork, no matter how good or bad your life has been up to now, remember the message from the wise lady in the story: “the best is yet to come”. Just keep on going and have faith. Never give up! The Best Is Yet To Come!
 
   Have a good week.    

“Who’s Driving Your Bus?”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

November 6, 2007

   I have often thought of my own life as a long journey with no real destination, just a lot of stops where I have been able to get out and enjoy the experience before getting back on with the trip.
  
   During the last few weeks I have been reading some of the works of Phil Evans, a Motivator, Business Coach, Life Coach and Inspirational Writer based in Australia .
  
  According to Evans, “We should all think about our own lives as being a journey on a bus, surrounded by a great variety of people, all with particular positions on our bus that relate to where they fit into our lives. Some are right there next to us; some behind us; some in front of us... but all are important in playing some role in how we are "positioned" in their lives, and they in ours.”
  
   Now imagine yourself on your bus going along on the journey and suddenly you find that the bus is going along out of control as if being driven by some maniac who has gone mad. Instead of enjoying the trip, you find yourself in a terrifying nightmarish situation where you could crash at any moment and face disaster. If any of you have seen the movie, “Speed” with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, you know the kind of ride to which I refer.
  
  Evans pointed out that “many people are living-out that nightmare bus-ride right now. It is as if their life is out of control and they really don’t know what they can do about it.”
  
   Over the course of my own life I have come across many people, young and old, who felt as if they were on that out-of-control bus, riding along fearing that disaster could strike at any moment. If you find yourself in one of those situations, it is critical that you “move to the back seat of the bus for a while and become the observer of what is really going on,” explained Evans. “We need to observe who the most significant people are, and how they are positioned in our lives. Are they standing over us because they feel superior? Are they moving forward in their own lives and leaving us behind? Are they falling behind us because we've chosen to move forward?”
  
   If you feel your life’s journey is going out of control the most important thing for you to do is find the answer to one little question, “Who’s driving your bus?”
  
   “Is it someone from your past who has dominated you and what you do, even though they may not still be present in your life now? Are they taking you where you want to go? Do you feel like you would like the bus to stop and let you off?”
  
   If you are not happy with the person who is driving your bus, then there is only one thing for you to do, and on this point I agree wholeheartedly with Evans who gives the following advice. “From this rear seat of observation, you need to start to move closer to the driver's seat. It doesn't matter how long this takes, and it doesn't matter how much you are challenged by the people who may be trying to block your progress forward. You have to do this for yourself... starting right now!”
  
   The message is crystal clear! If you think of your life as a journey, and if you imagine yourself on an imaginary life-bus, then your ultimate goal is to be in the driver’s seat, in control of where you want to go and how you will get there.
  
   There is absolutely no question that you will come upon bumpy roads and detours along the way. Your bus may even break down once in a while and need some repairs. At every stop along the journey some new passengers may get off and others will get on, each playing some role in your life and affecting the rest of your journey.
  
   There will be times when you may have to ask people to get off the bus if they become a negative influence on the other “passengers” and ultimately on you. As long as you are the driver, you can determine who you will allow to come on board for the ride. If someone else is driving, you lose that control.
  
   As you are driving along there will be times when you won’t be too sure about what to do or what road to take. If that happens, just “stop the bus” and park for a while. Think about where you are now and think about where you want to end up. Then determine the best route and get on with your journey. Remember the important thing is that you arrive safe and sound at your next destination. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you as long as you enjoy the trip. And always remember that your next destination will not be your last. It is merely one more stop on the road of life.
  
   Have a good week!

“A Bowl For Grandpa”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

October 30, 2007

   Perhaps one of the most important lessons I ever learned in life came shortly after my oldest son began Junior Kindergarten. Up until that time I had spent the previous six years enjoying the beginning of my career as an elementary school teacher. As a young teacher I worked diligently with my pupils and did what I could to help them develop skills in mathematics, english and the rest of the curriculum. My main focus was on the academic component of instruction, and while I am sure I conducted myself in a very professional manner, I never really paid much attention to the hidden lessons the children were being exposed to.

   During the year my son went through Junior Kindergarten, I listened intently as he described his days at school. Both my wife and I were amazed at what he was learning - not just academically, but about life itself. Nothing that his teacher did escaped his notice. The way she treated the children and the values she ‘demonstrated’ during the normal course of the day had a profound affect on my child. I am sure the teacher would have been astounded at some of the things my son was learning from her just by observation of the way she went about her daily activities. There was nothing wrong with what she did, but I’m certain that when viewed through the eyes of a four-year-old, the message received was not always the one she had intended.  It made me wonder just what kinds of messages all of the other students in her class were taking home. They were all making observations based upon their own particular set of values and point of view.
   
   I then tried to imagine the messages I had been sending out to my own students during those previous six years. What were they saying about my own behaviours and attitudes? What messages were they receiving from the way I was treating them and their peers.

   At that point in my career I was able to identify the most important principle about teaching. Most of what a child learns is “caught, not taught”. It matters not so much what we ‘say’ to our children, but what we ‘do’ in front of them that will remain with them as building blocks for their future. To demonstrate this concept, let me share with you a story entitled, “A Bowl For Grandpa”.

   A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.

   But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.  

   “We must do something about Grandfather,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.”

    So the husband and wife set up a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

   One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?”

   Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

   The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

   That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

   Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes observe, their ears listen, and their minds process every single message they absorb as they are trying to understand what life is all about. If they see us patiently provide a happy atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives.

   The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for their child’s future. Let’s be wise builders.

   As you go about your business today, remember that you are laying the building blocks of your child’s future. Make sure the foundation is a strong one.

   Have a good week! 

“Take A Long Look At Your Speedometer: Is It Worth The Time You Save?”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

October 23, 2007

   For as long as I can remember people have been talking about the need to improve highways in order to make them safer. The four-laning of Hwy 69 South and the McCrae Heights corridor both come to mind as places where the highway is usually blamed whenever there is a serious accident.
  
   In actual fact, there is no section of road that is unsafe if drivers would only exercise a level of caution appropriate for the conditions. I am sure we have all been guilty of having a heavy foot from time to time and I am sure we have all had our close calls. I came across the following story which should make all of us reflect about our driving habits as we head deeper into fall and winter when road conditions deteriorate because of weather. If you know anyone who tends to drive a bit too fast, please share this article with them.

   Jack took a long look at his speedometre before slowing down: 73 in a 50 zone. This was the fourth time in as many months that he was being pulled over for speeding and he couldn’t believe his bad luck.
  
   As the officer stepped out of his car, Jack saw that it was Bob, a person he knew very well from functions at their church.

   “Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this,” said Jack as he jumped out of his car.

   “Hello, Jack,” said Bob with no smile on his face.

   “Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids,” added Jack while toeing a pebble on the pavement. “I’ve seen some long days at the office lately. I’m afraid I bent the rules a bit - just this once. Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?”

   “Yeah, I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct because of the number of tickets you receive,” explained Bob.

   Ouch! This was not going in the right direction thought Jack who decided it was time to change tactics. “What’d you clock me at?”

   “Seventy-one. Would sit back in your car please?” directed Bob.

   “Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65,” the lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

   “Please, Jack, in the car,” again directed Bob.

   Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Jack wondered why Bob hadn’t asked for a driver’s license. Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever talked to this cop at church again.

   A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a bare 5 centimetres, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

   Bob returned to his car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

Dear Jack:

Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it - a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters - all three of them. I only had one, and I’m going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I’ve tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now...Pray for me. And be careful. My son is all I have left.

Signed: Bob

   Jack twisted around in time to see Bob’s car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. It took Jack a full 15 minutes to regain his composure and then he pulled away and drove slowly home. His wife and kids were surprised at the hugs they received when he arrived home that night.

   Life is precious. So starting now, let’s all slow down a bit and make our roads safer. Next time you are in a hurry, ask yourself if the time you save is worth a lifetime of lost hugs for some unsuspecting victim. Ask yourself what it might be like if you had to live the rest of your life knowing that you were responsible for taking away a lifetime of hugs from other people. Slow down. You’ll still get there.

   Have a good week!

“Whatever You Are Doing In Your Life Right Now Is Exactly What You Are Supposed To Be Doing”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

October 16, 2007

  Anyone who has followed my editorials over the years is well aware of the fact that I am one of those persons who believes that there are no accidents in life; everything happens for a reason and no matter what your situation, good or bad, “you are exactly where you are supposed to be”!
 
   I am convinced that the secret to a happy, satisfying life is to learn to accept that everything happens for a reason, and that there is always some good that comes out of everything that happens to you that would not have happened if your life had turned out any differently. You may have to read that last sentence a couple of times, but I hope you understand what I mean.
 
   For example, this generation will never forget the tragedy that took place in New York City on Sept. 11th, 2001 . The story I want to share with you today will demonstrate just how important it is to accept that everything happens for a reason, and in many cases, it is the little things that will have the greatest affect on the rest of your life.
 
   On that fateful day in New York many companies which were located in the World Trade Centre lost most of the members of their staff when the planes hit the twin towers. One of those companies invited the remaining members of several other companies to share some available office space nearby until they could reorganize. During a meeting one morning, the people around the table shared their stories about why they were still alive. If you are not yet convinced just how important the little things in your life mean, consider the following:
  
   The head of one company was delayed that day because his son had just started kindergarten and he had to drive him to school before coming to work.
 
   Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts and so he had stopped to pick up the treats for the office.
 
   One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off at the usual time.
 
   One was late because of being stuck on the highway because of an auto accident.
 
   One of them missed his bus.
 
   One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
 
   One's car wouldn’t start.
 
   One went back inside the house to answer the phone.
 
   One had a child that was moving more slowly than usual that morning and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
 
   One couldn't get a taxi.
 
   One man had put on a new pair of shoes that morning and developed a blister on his foot while walking to work. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
 
   In all of the cases above, those little annoyances that caused them to be late for work that morning prevented them from being in the Twin Towers when it collapsed. Those little, unexplained things were what kept them alive while thousands of others died.
 
   So the next time you are stuck in traffic, miss your bus, turn back to answer a ringing telephone, have trouble finding your car keys, or get upset with your child for moving too slowly in the morning ... and any of the other little things that annoy you, just take a deep breath and remember; this is exactly where God wants you to be at that very moment. There is a reason for the delay and it is going to change the rest of your life – for the better.
 
   The next time your morning seems to be going wrong, don't get upset or frustrated. Just accept it and realize that this is exactly what is supposed to happen. Just go with the flow. The rest of the day will unfold as it should, all because of those little annoyances of the morning.
 
   Have a good week!

“What Are We Doing In This Cage In The Middle of A Zoo”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

October 9, 2007

  As a member of the baby boomers I'm afraid I have to accept responsibility for a lot of what is wrong with this world today. However, like so many others my age, we sometimes look at the younger generation and wonder how they turned out so different from us in many respects.
 
   For example, I often come across people of my demographic group who have worked their entire life in jobs that they simply did not enjoy. They endured the work for the paycheck and for a comfortable pension because they felt they had a responsibility to provide for their family. It didn’t matter whether or not they liked their job; it was just something they were expected to do. Many of them are now retired and getting back into part-time work in fields that they love and wish they would have had the courage to get into when they were younger.
 
   On the other hand, I meet a lot of young adults who jump from program to program in university and college; switch jobs more often than I switch cars; and seem to be on a never-ending search for that elusive perfect life. I find myself shaking my head in amazement at their “courage” and wonder what will become of them.
 
   I experienced first-hand what the younger generation is going through when I retired from my career as a teacher. It was then that I decided to take the opportunity to get involved in the field of marketing and public relations. I found that I was “searching for meaning” at this stage of my life and I’ve experienced both the highs and lows that come from taking some wrong turns, some right turns and simply trying to find my “place in society” now that I have become part of the “mainstream” alongside the younger career-seekers.  

   A philosopher once said that if you chase two rabbits, both will escape. Well, I’ve chased a lot of rabbits during the last six years and a lot of them have escaped.
 
   Fortunately, I seem to have arrived at a place where I feel comfortable and confident. It is where I should be and where I belong. As usual, if I had just listened to my wife in the first place I would likely have ended up here much sooner with a lot fewer headaches, but such is the life of a Gemini. She always told me that I was a born “teacher” and that I should do something with my life that involved education, which is where my passion has always been.  

   Thus, I now find myself providing personal tutors and other education-related services to students, parents, teachers and businesses in the community and loving every minute of it.
 
   I think the difference between my generation and the younger generations of today is best illustrated in the following story about a conversation that takes place between a baby camel and his mother.
 
   One day a baby camel asked his mother, "Why do we have such large hoofs on our feet?"
 
   She turned to him. "God made us that way for a very special reason," and she began her explanation. "The big hoofs are to keep us from sinking into the sand."
 
   "Oh! So why do we have long eyelashes?"
 
   "It's to protect our eyes from the sand."
 
   "Why the big humps?"
 
   "That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!"
 
   "I see!" The baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother, "The big hoofs are to keep from sinking into the sand, the long eyelashes are to keep the sand out of our eyes, and the humps are to store energy to travel long distances...then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?"
 
   I think the baby camel represents young people today. They too must be asking the same kind of questions. With so much potential and so many wonderful skills, coupled with the fact that the world is so full of opportunities…”what are we doing in this cage?”
 
   Bars come in all sizes and shapes. Some are physical; others are emotional or even mental. But none can withstand the force of determination that breaks them down. The effort is worth it and the results, simply amazing!
 
   And so, I tip my hat to the young people who are not going to remain “caged” when they have so much to experience in the world today. I also salute the “older” people who have decided to get out of situations in which they felt “caged and trapped”. 

Life is too short to remain in captivity. It may be a lot more challenging to live in the “wild” and it may be more dangerous, but it sure beats staying behind bars that prevent you from living your life to the fullest.
 
   Have a good week!

“The Day I Decided To Stop Teaching Reading , Writing and Arithmetic”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

October 2, 2007

   As I was going through some of my files the other day I came across a wrinkled page on which was written a story that had changed my whole approach to teaching very early in my career. It brought back a whole lot of memories about former students of mine who I remember quite well to this day, not because of their superior academic accomplishments, but rather for their courage and perseverance once they realized that someone actually “believed in them”.

   I just have to share this story with you and ask that you pass it on to any parents and teachers you happen to know. It had a huge impact, not only on my personal philosophy of teaching, but also on how I treated my own children.  

   As Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

   Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

   It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take  delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

   At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."

   His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

   His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

   Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

   By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's.  His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

   Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.

   But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

  Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

   ON THAT VERY DAY, SHE QUIT TEACHING READING , WRITING AND ARITHMETIC. INSTEAD SHE BEGAN TO TEACH CHILDREN.

   Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

   Many years later they met again. By this time Teddy had gone on to medical school and had become a successful doctor.  They hugged each other for a long while, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

   Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

   During my own 28 years as a classroom teacher I came across a lot of “Teddy Stoddards”. My only hope is that they remember me as someone who believed in them and showed them that they could make a difference.
  
   Have a good week!

“This Would Be Funny If It Wasn’t So Close To The Truth”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

September 25, 2007

  Take a few minutes to reflect back upon your life and think about some of the achievements and accomplishments that gave you the most satisfaction. Chances are the times that come to mind are those when you were allowed the freedom to assume full responsibility for the results of your actions. Those are most likely the times when you were given a job to do and allowed the freedom to “do it your way”.

   I know in my own life I have always worked best when I was given a job to do, told the parameters within which I was to operate, and then permitted to make things happen in my own way. The times that have caused me the most stress and produced varying degrees of confrontation with my superiors were times when I was given the responsibility to do something and then “told how” to do it by the person in charge.

   In my many roles in life, as a father, a teacher, a business owner or a tutoring agent, I have always, always, always believed that if I was going to hold someone accountable for results I couldn’t supervise their methods. In other words, if I gave someone a task and told them that I was going to hold them responsible for the results, I had to at least allow them to do the job THEIR WAY, not mine. I may not have done the job in the same manner, but as long as they are not in any danger of hurting themselves or someone else, then I had to give them all of the help and support they needed and then demonstrate my confidence in their ability by GETTING OUT OF THE WAY and letting them do their job. Even if it meant that they failed, I would at least have demonstrated that I had faith and confidence in them to let them try it their way. If they failed, then they could try another way. Eventually they would get the job done and feel good about themselves. It may have taken longer, but they were better sons, students, employees or tutors for the experience.

   The problem we have in many areas of society today is that the LEADERS of business, government and even volunteer organizations spend far too much time finding fault and criticizing. It has reached such epidemic proportions that when I read the following story I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. Even though it is one of the funniest stories I ever read, it is SO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH that is just not funny.
  
   This is a story about two employees of a landscaping company and their supervisor, Sam. However, it could apply to many management / employee situations, including perhaps the one in which you currently find yourself.
  
   “Sam, a supervisor, was dumbfounded as he watched Bill diligently dig holes while Chuck, after waiting a short interval, filled them. When Sam demanded an explanation, Bill was indignant: "We’ve been doing this job for more than 10 years. What’s your problem?"
  
   "Are you telling me that for 10 years you’ve been digging and filling empty holes?" Sam replied.
  
   "Well, not exactly," Bill said. "Until a few months ago, another fellow put a bush in the hole before Chuck filled it. But he retired and was never replaced."
  
   "Why didn’t you tell somebody?" Sam sputtered.
  
   "My gosh," Bill answered. "You’re management. We figured you knew."
  
   THIS WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT WASN’T SO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH. Management styles today are often built upon control, especially when the positions of responsibility are filled with people who just don’t have what it takes to lead people. In many situations, when employees make mistakes, instead of using the occasion as a learning opportunity, managers often place blame upon the employees and make them feel inadequate or fearful of losing their job in order to demonstrate who is in power. Offering suggestions to a manager like this is useless since they feel that by accepting advice from employees they are demonstrating weakness as a leader.

    After a few years of this kind of treatment employees learn to adopt the attitude that in order to protect themselves from criticism, they will ONLY DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.  Hence, you get people like Bill and Chuck who simply continue doing what they’ve always done, even if it doesn’t make sense. After all, they can’t be blamed for anything as long as they are doing what they were told to do. It’s not their fault if things go wrong while they are following orders from management.

   We all find ourselves in “management” roles of some kind during our life. Regardless of the situation, you should remember that if you give someone a job to do, don’t supervise their methods. Let them do the job THEIR WAY as long as they produce the desired results. Give them the support they need and be there if they ask for advice, but don’t interfere unless YOU are willing to accept responsibility for the results.

   Have a good week!  

“The One Thing Everyone Needs In Life”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

September 18, 2007

   I learned a long time ago through my involvement with people in all walks of life…whether it was at work, at school, at home or in any other part of life, that there is absolutely one thing everyone and I mean everyone needs in this world. It doesn’t matter what age you are, or whether you are a man or woman, girl or boy, nor does it matter what your status is in society…the one thing we all need is to feel appreciated.   

   Mary Kay Ash once wrote, “Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT.”
  
   In my line of work I meet a lot of people who are in between jobs. Many were once in pretty decent occupations earning a substantial income and all indications were that they were successful at what they did. Most of those people identified one main reason for leaving their employment – a lack of appreciation and acknowledgement for their contributions to the company or organization.

   A quotation I read the other day by George Adams got me thinking about the various directions I have taken in my own life and career. Adams stated, “There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else.”

   Adams was absolutely correct. As I thought back on some of the times in my life I considered to be “high points” I could clearly recall that is was encouragement provided by others that gave me the confidence to move ahead with my dreams. It seems as if there was always someone there to give me the strength and courage I needed at just the right time. I wondered what might have become of me if I hadn’t received that little bit of encouragement. What if I was left on my own to muster up the courage? Would I have been able to accomplish all that I have done in my life?
 
  Dale Carnegie, the person who became famous for his inspirational books and programs has empowered people all over the world. He once said, “Perhaps tomorrow you will forget the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”  When I read Carnegie’s comment I decided to reflect upon my activities during the previous few days. Where there moments during those days when I may have said something that could possibly have had a life-changing effect on another person with whom I had come in contact?
  
   I recalled that the previous morning I had a meeting with a recent graduate of Teachers’ College to interview her for a position with my tutoring agency.  We had never met before, yet when our eyes met in the crowded room at Tim Horton’s I knew right away who she was. As we sat down to talk I explained to her that out of all of the people in the room, she was the one who stood out because she “looked like a teacher”. I said that as a very positive comment about the “presence” she portrayed and the way she carried herself. She thanked me and then we went on with our meeting. But I could tell that my comment meant a lot to her.

   And then there was the young lady a few days earlier who stopped by my office to register as a tutor. After talking with her for a while I encouraged her to develop a seminar presentation that we could offer to schools in the area as part of a full-day workshop. She was absolutely thrilled with the prospect of getting involved in a project about which she was so passionate. I felt good about being able to provide her with the motivation to proceed with this venture, and then as she was leaving she turned to me and said four words that have echoed in my head ever since. She simply said, with a sincere smile of appreciation, “You are so inspiring!”

   Two seemingly uneventful moments in my life: and yet in those moments one lady who has thus far been unsuccessful in her search for a chance to begin her career in teaching may have received the strength and inspiration to carry on pursuing her dream of one day being in front of a class: just because I told her that she “looked like a teacher” and that she has obviously made the right career choice. I wonder if the other young lady will be inspired by my encouragement to fuel her passion for teaching natural science and perhaps spread her knowledge and enthusiasm among many other young students as a result of our meeting.

   All I know for certain is that I will never forget the tremendous feeling of appreciation I felt when I heard those four words directed at me.
  
   It clearly made me aware of the enormous responsibility we all possess. Each and every one of us has the power to change a life with a single comment: the chance to encourage and show appreciation to all other human beings with whom we come into contact.
  
   I leave you this week with a short passage from John Wesley: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
  
   Have a good week.

“Living A Life That Matters Is All About Being Nice”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

September 11, 2007

    I get to meet a lot of university students who are studying to become teachers. I also have contact with a number of university and college graduates who are desperately searching for a chance to begin a meaningful career. Some of the people I speak to are actually at the beginning of their teaching career.
 
   One of the things that become clearly evident as I get to know these people is that each of them sincerely wants to make a difference in the lives of others. They want to “matter” to others and to do wonderful things with their life. I love being around such youthful exuberance. Young people have beautiful dreams and are not afraid of anything. Life is like a huge Christmas gift that they can open each and every day.
 
   I also get to talk to a lot of “older” people from my own generation. Many people who were born as part of the “baby boom” generation are also desperately searching for meaning in their life. Indeed, many of us look back on our life and wonder what it all meant. What have we done to make a difference? What have we done that “matters” in the whole scheme of things?
 
   Those questions were on my mind the other day when I read a short passage about a lady named Marta, who was also searching for something. She found it while traveling on a bus. Here is her story.
 
   Marta was a hard-working single mother. When her minister sermonized about "living a life that matters," she worried that working to raise her kids and going to church wasn’t enough. So while on the bus to work one day she made a list of other jobs she could do and volunteer work she could try.
 
   Sylvia, an elderly woman who was on the bus that morning, saw the worry on Marta’s face and asked what was wrong. Marta explained her problem. Sylvia said, "Oh my, did your minister actually say you weren’t doing enough?"
 
   "No," Marta said. "But I don’t know how to live ‘a life that matters’ I want to make a difference in the life of others."
 
   "You don’t have to change jobs or do more volunteer work," Sylvia consoled her. "It’s enough that you’re a good mother. But if you want to do more, think about what you can do while you are doing what you already do. It’s not about WHAT you do, but HOW you do it."
 
   "You don’t understand," Marta said. "I sell hamburgers. How do I make that significant?"
 
   "How many people do you deal with every day?" Sylvia asked.
 
   "Two to three hundred."
 
   "Well, what if you set out to cheer, encourage, teach, or inspire as many of those people as you could? A compliment, a bit of advice, a cheerful hello, or a warm smile can start a chain reaction that lights up lives like an endless string of Christmas bulbs."
 
   "But that’s just being nice," Marta protested.
 
   "Right," said Sylvia. "Niceness can change lives.”
 
   Marta looked at the old woman. "What do you do?"
 
   "I was a housekeeper until I retired," Sylvia said. "Now I just ride the bus talking to people."
 
   Let me repeat a section from this story: “If you want to do more, think about what you can do while you are doing what you already do.” What a profound philosophy. If you want a slogan to live by this is it. “THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO WHILE YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ALREADY DO”. This is a rule that EVERYBODY can live by, regardless of what they are doing with their life.
 
   In today’s story Sylvia spends her day riding the bus talking to people just like Marta. All Sylvia is doing is being nice, but as she said, “Niceness can change lives.”
 
   And so, no matter where you are in your life right now, you CAN make a huge difference and you CAN live a life that matters, simply by “thinking about what you can do while you are doing what you already do.” Just by being nice to other people, you can change their whole approach and outlook on life: just by being nice.
 
   Don’t forget, “It’s not about what you do, but how you do it." that will make you stand out from others and will allow you the satisfaction of knowing that you did indeed live a life that matters.
 
   Have a good week!

“Make the Most Of Your True Talents And Keep Your Dreams Alive ”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

September 4,, 2007

  We all want to be good at what we do. Whether we are engaged in sporting activities, work related tasks or recreational hobbies, we all have this intense desire to do well.   

   Unfortunately, we soon come to realize that it is a cruel fact of life that there is no way we can be good at everything. Some people are natural athletes - others couldn’t catch a ball if their life depended on it. Some children are gifted students and come home with straight A’s every year. Others struggle just to get passing marks.

   Today, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 , is the first day of class for elementary and secondary school children in the area. As such, I think the following story about Sparky is appropriate and should be shared with your children.

   “Sparky didn’t have much going for him. He failed every subject in the 8^th grade and in high school he flunked Latin, algebra, english and physics. He made the golf team, but promptly lost the only important match of the season, then lost the consolation match. He was awkward socially - more shy than disliked. He never once asked a girl to go out on a date in high school.

   One thing, however, was important to Sparky - drawing! He was proud of his artwork even though no one else appreciated it. He submitted cartoons to the editors of his high school yearbook, but they were turned down. Even so, Sparky aspired to be an artist. After high school, he sent samples of his artwork to the Walt Disney Studios. Again, he was turned down.

   Still, Sparky didn’t quit packing his suitcase! He decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. The character he created became famous worldwide - the subject not only of cartoon strips but countless books, television shows, and licensing opportunities. Sparky, you see, was Charles Shulz, creator of “Peanuts” comic strip. Like his character, Charlie Brown, Shulz may not have been able to do many things, but he made the most of what he could do.”

   And so, as we embark on yet another school year, we are reminded that our job as parents and teachers is to provide children with experiences and opportunities that will develop their natural talents and skills to the fullest. We must help them find what they do best, and once that discovery is made, we must facilitate the development of those particular skills. While it is always a admirable to help children strengthen their weaknesses, we should never forget that it is impossible for a child to grow up to become an adult who is “good” at everything.

   The good athlete should be encouraged to train and develop his/her athletic skills and to explore careers that will utilize those skills. The person who has a passion for reading should be given every opportunity to read and fuel that passion. The talented artist should be allowed the freedom to be creative and excel in that field.
  
   The biggest challenge facing the education system today stems from the fact that we are constantly facing pressure to have a child achieve “straight A’s” in every subject on the report card. A child who achieves A’s in Reading and Writing and C’s in Mathematics causes great concern for his parents and teachers. He is often given extra help and homework to bring up his math mark and although he may improve his mark in math to B, he may have had to take time away from Reading and Writing, seeing those marks drop down to a B.

   Our goal as a teachers and parents should be to encourage the student to excel even more in Reading and Writing, aiming for an A+ in those areas. Research has shown that as one improves his/her areas of strength, the areas of weakness will also grow. By pushing for an A+ in Reading and Writing, there is every likelihood that you will also bring the Math mark up to a B naturally without having to do much extra work. The improved “learning skills” developed in reading and writing will be transferred to other subjects.
  
   So, if you are one of the few who are good at everything you do, thank your lucky stars every morning. If, however, you are like most of us, follow the example of Charles Shulz and make the most of what you can do. Find your passion and add fuel to it for the rest of your life. Everything else will follow.
  
    Have a good week!

“A Message To All Teachers: Don’t Forget To Sharpen Your Ax.””

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

August 28, 2007

   On Tuesday, September 4, 2007 , teachers, principals and support staff will gather in their schools and classrooms for a Professional Activity Day in order to prepare for the 2007-2008 school year.
  
   The following morning, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 those same educators will greet almost 25,000 local students from as young as three years of age as these eager minds welcome the opportunity to continue in their quest to fill their minds with all sorts of important knowledge about life.
  
   I can honestly say that during my entire 28 year career as a teacher, this time of year was always accompanied by tremendous anxiety on my part, especially as I got older and realized just how much impact I was having on these impressionable young people. The thing that frightened me most was that I never quite knew how my words and actions were going to be “received” by these boys and girls who were being placed in my care by parents who trusted my judgement and hoped that I knew what I was doing to shape the minds of their offspring. I knew the message I wanted to get out, but I could never be sure of the message they were taking in.
  
   In the early years of my career that didn’t bother me as much. I was passionate about my job. I loved working with children. I loved everything about the career. I just went forward with all of the confidence in the world that I would make a positive difference in the lives of my students and I would open up their minds to new and wonderful learning opportunities.
  
   I think I was a lot like the woodcutter in the following story. It has a special message for all teachers and parents at this time of year.
  
   Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a lumber company, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an ax and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.
  
   "Congratulations," the boss said. "Continue what you were doing!"  Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. 
  
   The third day he tried even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.  "I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. 
  
   He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your ax?" the boss asked.
  
    "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my ax. I have been too busy trying to cut trees."
 
   Thankfully I came across that story early in my career as a teacher. It hit me right between the eyes and had a profound impact on my philosophy of teaching from that day on.
 
   The story warned me about getting so caught up in my enthusiasm for teaching my subject matter and following the curriculum guidelines that I forget to sharpen my own ax by taking the time to really get to know my students and their parents. Yes, I was a university graduate with two degrees. I did well in school. I had high marks. I had an excellent attitude towards learning. My family was very supportive and encouraged learning in every way.
  
  THE STORY ABOUT THE WOODCUTTER MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF THE CHILDREN IN MY OWN CLASS.
  
   The day after I first read that story I looked out at the faces of the boys and girls in my classroom and realized that the majority of them would never even set foot on the property of a university campus let alone successfully graduate with a university degree. For many of my students, education had become boring and something they were "forced to do". They did not share my enthusiasm and were not “receiving” the messages I was sending. My ax was dull. It needed sharpening.
  
   So if you find as I did that the harder you work as a teacher, the less you seem to be getting through to your children, ask yourself if perhaps it is time to "sharpen your ax" and take a day or two to get to know your children a little better. Find out who they are and what is important to each of them in their life right now. Discover the hidden barriers that are preventing you from "getting through to them". Get down to their level and see the world through their eyes. I found that once I got to know my students, their parents and their neighbourhood, I was in a much better position to help them develop personal learning skills that would serve them well no matter which road life’s journey was destined to take them.
 
   I wish all teachers the very best of luck this year. You will make a very significant difference in the life of each of your students. Get to know them well. Sharpen your ax.
  
   Have a good week!

“Welcome To Holland ! You’ll Be Here For A Long Time So Enjoy Your Stay.”

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

August 21, 2007

Have you ever experienced disappointment in your life? Have you ever had any of your personal, family or career dreams go up in smoke?

   I suppose it’s only human nature to complain about how rough life is. After all, we never have enough money, or time, or opportunity to do everything we want. And so many of us recall times when we had to suddenly cancel a trip or dinner engagement because of some unforeseen happening.
  
   I meet a lot of people from all walks of life because of my involvement in education. Many of them tell me of how they had big plans in their life for wonderful careers, huge homes and plenty of fame and recognition. Those plans changed because of some major event that forced them to take on a whole new direction.

   I want to share a story with you today which shows us that if we spend too much time mourning our losses, or wishing we were somewhere else, we will miss out on so many of the special things that exist in our own life, even if it is not quite the life we had planned and dreamed about.

   This is an adaptation of a story is entitled, “Welcome To Holland ”. It was written by Emily Perl Kingsley, who was describing what it was like when she gave birth to a daughter with Down Syndrome. The message will touch the heart of everyone who remembers dreaming of a life that is much different from the one in which they are living.
  
   When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy . You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum; the Michelangelo; David; the gondolas in Venice ; and more. You may even learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting as you plan for this wonderful trip that will change your life forever.

   After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland .”

   “ Holland ?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland ? I signed up for Italy ! I’m supposed to be in Italy . All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy .”

   But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

   The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place. It’s just not where you had expected to land.

   So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

   It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy . But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

   But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy ...and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”

   And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

   But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy , you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland .

   Emily dreamed all her life about becoming a mother with a normal child and doing all of the things that mothers do with their daughter. But that’s not what happened and she learned to accept this change and enjoy everything about her new arrival. She was still a mother and this was still her daughter, only it was different.
  
   This story is not just about people who have children with a disability. It is for anyone who has experienced real pain in life. It is for anyone who has lost a loved one; experienced a divorce; been in an accident; is suffering from a life-threatening disease; had to move away from home; or any number of other major life-altering events. It is about making new plans and reading new guide books. It is about letting everyone else talk about their trip to Italy while you are taking time to enjoy the windmills and tulips of Holland .

   For no matter how much pain you feel, or how bad your situation may seem to you at times, there are always beautiful, special windmills and tulips in your world. All you have to do is stop mourning and accept that this is the way it will be.

   Welcome to Holland ! You’ll be here for a long time so enjoy your stay.

   Have a good week!

You Cannot Discover New Land Unless You Have The Courage To Lose Sight of The Shore

Editorial by Robert Kirwan

August 14, 2007

   One of my favourite authors is Tom Peters. He wrote the following observation, “I’ve spent a good part of my life studying economic successes and failures…above all, I’ve learned that everything takes a back seat to innovation.”
 
   Unfortunately, most of our busy lives are so focused on solving day-to-day problems that we seldom have any time to even consider opportunities which may lay right on our doorstep. Sadly, many of the people currently occupying leadership roles in business and government spend so much of their time trying to maintain control that they actually discourage employees and colleagues from “thinking outside the box”. It doesn’t take long for young, ambitious persons starting out in a new career to learn that if they want to keep their job, they better do what they are told and put a lid on things such as innovation, risk-taking and creativity.
 
   I came across a great story recently called, Paper Airplane. It was written by a man named Michael McMillan. The story is about a Grade six teacher who spent an entire week teaching her class about aerodynamics. To finish off the unit she organized a paper airplane contest. Each student was given a sheet of construction paper and 15 minutes to build the “winning” plane that would fly the furthest and win a prize.
 
   The students went to work immediately, carefully folding their paper, hoping to create the perfect plane that would travel farther than all of the others. Before long, everyone was ready to go outside to start the contest. Everyone that is, except for Jeff. He was a unique child and was known for traveling to a “different drummer” if you know what I mean. He usually had his own view of life that was not always the same as the others in the class. Jeff hadn’t made even one fold in his paper. He just sat there staring out the window – thinking.
 
   To give him more time, the teacher told Jeff he could go last. As the contest went on there were some very interesting results. Some of the planes barely flew two meters while others did surprisingly well. As the students in the class each stepped forward to test their creations, Jeff stood there at the back of the line, still holding on to that piece of construction paper.
 
   Before long, Jeff was the only remaining contestant. With great anticipation, the class watched as Jeff approached with his “craft” well hidden behind his back. Then he stepped to the line and exposed his masterpiece…a flat sheet of paper. But just as the class began to snicker, Jeff confidently wadded up the piece of paper into a tight ball, and then drew his hand back and threw it higher and farther than the leading plane had landed.
 
   The rest of the class stood there in amazement. The silence was broken when the teacher began to clap her hands and stepped forward to present Jeff with the first-place prize. The rest of the students then joined in applause and cheered the champion.
 
   Jeff demonstrated a new way of interpreting a problem. More importantly, he had the courage to act on his vision. 
 
   I’ve met a lot of people in my life like Jeff. Most of them, however, have grown tired of trying to “fight the system” and eventually settled down into a relatively secure life of compliance and conformity. They learned early that “rocking the boat” and “making waves” makes most other people uncomfortable. Your life is a lot less stressful if you just “go with the flow” and do what you are told.
 
   Others have gone on to “think outside the box” and have become very successful through innovations that other people soon came to like once they got over their initial “fears”.
 
   T.S. Elliot once said, “Only those who are willing to go too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”
 
   The next time you come up with an idea that seems “outside the box”, have the courage to act on your vision. If you fail, you fail. At least then you will know how far you can go or at the very least, what you must do to go further the next time. T.S. Elliot’s message is true. If you never fail, you never really know just how far or how successful you could become. You have to fail in order to know when you’ve gone too far.
 
   Remember, in order for Christopher Columbus to discover America , he had to have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

   Have a good week!

Published by
INFOCOM CANADA BUSINESS CONSULTANTS INC.
Robert Kirwan, President & C.E.O.
4456 Noel Crescent, Val Therese ON P3P 1S8
Phone: (705) 969-7215    
EMAIL   rkirwan@infocomcanada.com