February 24, 2023. Portland OR.
Portland Oregon in the USA normally has mild weather winter temperatures can drop down to freezing for a few days and in the summer rarely get to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius). So, when we have snow Portland is not prepared and this week we had a snow storm with some places getting as much as 12 inches (one foot or 30 centimeters) so we are taking a “snow day” and working from home. I am teaching online and my students are in their pijamas! In many ways this is giving us another opportunity to think about life.
First I have to say how grateful I am for this opportunity. My job allows me to do it this way, working from home is a privilege that not everyone has. Some how working from home removes the hassle of preparing for going out and commuting to work, so I have the energy to write and share my thoughts with you, even though I am writing to me!
Technology is great! Yes, I know that many people say that technology is dehumanizing us and that we are becoming more isolated individuals because of it, but even though I agree, in part, with this statement I also think that it is also giving us an opportunity to grow and create intentional communities online. The fact that I can teach remotely and my students can participate in class is a wonderful thing. The question now is: How can we make technology work for us not against us? The answer is: We need to understand how our minds work!
We need to engage! There is nothing we can do to change or modify circumstances. The only thing we can control is our own self, how we think, how we feel. Our attitude. Engagement is a personal endeavor, nobody can engage us as nobody can make us happy. we have to make ourselves happy as we have to engage ourselves. There is a saying about taking the horse to the water well but you can’t make the horse drink the water. Same with engagement, same with learning.
Query. How do you engage yourself?
David J Terrell 