Update

June was a very good month for me, and July has not been too shabby so far either. I have been building websites and playing music... gave up on corporate America. If someone comes looking for me with a steady paycheck offer, I'd take it, but I'm not going out there to be rejected any more.

You can't legislate peace

Nor will peace ever be achieved through competition. Only the opposite of competition, COOPERATION can achieve true peace. Competition insists that there must be a winner and therefore, by default, a loser. Competition stirs up a lot of adrenaline and perhaps testosterone as well... but when you do this it has a natural tendency to lead to incredible violence and corruption.

Forced peace is no peace at all. Just because you call it so does not make it true. I can say "we are at peace" while bullets fly and bombs explode, but there can be no reality to it until ALL believe it is time to love instead of hate, give instead of take and build up instead of tearing down.

It is unfortunately unlikely that we, the human race, will ever all agree sufficiently to pool our combined strengths and achieve what might be possible given supreme cooperation. I would love to peek into an alternate reality in which it actually did come to pass: Nirvana? Paradise? Utopia? Things that make you go "hmmmmmmm"

Pining away for Gilmore Girls

I think that since all of the former cast of Gilmore Girls is now free, that Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband should change the name and continue the story. They have created a world which the witty and intelligent among TV viewers sorely miss. If they act quickly before the primary actors are committed to other projects, the spin-off would undoubtedly be the most successful spin-off ever.

Since Rory's going off to seek her fortune and Lorelai married Christopher... even though they split back up again, Gilmore Girls would have been an inappropriate name for the continuation of the saga anyway. A new name would bring freshness to a series that never seemed to lack it, until it's creators were forced to leave the show, which no doubt hastened its demise.

I have no doubt that this could be one of the best casts ever to have been assembled, and would hate to see it broken up just yet if a smart network would urge Amy and Dan to pick up their characters and return them to their rightful place: in our living rooms!

Personality Type and Job Satisfaction?

I took this personality test, and the results say that only 4.4% of the population are like me. I guess they're all unemployed too?

At any rate, I took the results, and color coded my response to what they said:
Jung Type Description:

INFP


creative, smart, idealist, loner, attracted to sad things, disorganized, avoidant, can be overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings, prone to quitting, prone to feelings of loneliness, ambivalent of the rules, solitary, daydreams about people to maintain a sense of closeness, focus on fantasies, acts without planning, low self confidence, emotionally moody, can feel defective, prone to lateness, likes esoteric things, wounded at the core, feels shame, frequently losing things, prone to sadness, prone to dreaming about a rescuer, disorderly, observer, easily distracted, does not like crowds, can act without thinking, private, can feel uncomfortable around others, familiar with the darkside, hermit, more likely to support marijuana legalization, can sabotage self, likes the rain, sometimes can't control fearful thoughts, prone to crying, prone to regret, attracted to the counter culture, can be submissive, prone to feeling discouraged, frequently second guesses self, not punctual, not always prepared, can feel victimized, prone to confusion, prone to irresponsibility, can be pessimistic


I am not a very private person ordinarily, although like everyone I have my secrets. I do not like the rain because it causes humidity, but I like that it cools the world off a bit… and I always try to be punctual: IF I show up at all.

favored careers:

poet, painter, freelance artist, musician,writer, art therapist, teacher (art, music, drama), songwriter, art historian, library assistant, composer, work in the perfoming arts, art curator, playwright, bookseller, cartoonist, video editor, photographer, philosopher, record store owner, digital artist, cinematographer, costume designer, film producer, philosophy professor, librarian, music therapist, environmentalist, movie director, activist, bookstore owner, filmmaker

I’ve written poetry for many years, and I am a musician and writer. I teach (tutor) but not the subjects suggested herein: computer-related topics. I’ve been a songwriter since I was about 12 years old… and performing since I was a teenager.

I would love to one day write/produce/direct and possibly act in plays and/or films. I will be writing my first script in June. (Part of a program, while I have an outline, etc. I'm not allowed to begin writing until June 1)

disfavored careers:

business professional, manager, executive, administrator, business owner, supervisor, office manager, business analyst, financial analyst, public relations manager, ceo, executive assistant, judge, event coordinator, lawyer, office worker

I just dissolved my failed business. I work as somewhat of an executive assistant, but the guy I work for is accustomed to my gritty personality. I’ve tried (and failed miserably at) coordinating events… and have not done well as an office worker apparently, despite thinking I did just fine. My perceptions are not always “on the mark” and I guess those around me saw a different picture than I did.

Sometimes you have to stop searching...

and just turn around!

It looks like my luck may be changing. Of all the many jobs I've interviewed for, one stood out above all of the others and is the only one I really wanted. Without saying too much it's close to home, steady paycheck, full benes and free candy every Friday. Sounds pretty nice, huh? I could really dig working close enough to home to buy a BICYCLE and get some EXERCISE on the way to and from work rather than invest in another petroleum-dependent insurance-expense-prohibitive motor vehicle. Say a prayer, keep your fingers crossed for me... I had really begun to depair that God would allow me to have a regular paycheck. I signed up with a new temp agency last week and was planning to look for only musical gigs because my tolerance for rejection has long been surpassed.

Well... hopefully I'll know soon.

Bouncing back

I continue to apply for jobs, but do not see the likelihood of obtaining one. The truth is that there are far more people unemployed than the statistics account for, due to the fact that the statistics are based on those who are receiving benefits which means first that they must qualify for those benefits.

There are many more of us who never qualified for benefits but are still perpetually employed less than 30 hours per week. If I did not have my husband to support me, I'd be living under a bridge. My heart goes out to those who have nobody to support them, who are homeless AND jobless.

It's time to count my blessings and act accordingly. If I don't forget that five minutes from now.

Officially a loser

Well, it was going to happen sooner or later, but color me really stupid. My van was repossessed last night, and because I didn't back it into the driveway, they dragged it on its tires until one popped... then dragged it on the frame. Brand new tires my husband bought a few months ago, Michelin Hydraedge tires. I suppose he thought if he bought me the good tires I'd try harder to pay for the van, but no matter what I have done I have been unable to secure steady work for the past two years. Even if I COULD come up with the money I wouldn't want the vehicle back now that they've damaged it. It was only worth paying $550/month for a vehicle in tip-top shape.

Actually, it was probably NEVER worth paying what I was. Like I said, color me stupid.

I'm really pissed off at myself for not taking all of my stuff out of the vehicle because it will cost me $125 to retrieve any personal items from the repo people... and I don't even have enough money to pay my cell phone bill, much less pay them to retrieve my meager possessions. (Car charger for said phone, various music CDs, booster seat for my kid, Sunpass, a couple of beach towels, a book or two, etc.)

I'm feeling exceptionally hopeless at this point: useless, worthless and incompetent. I have no idea how to turn that around. It's a good thing I don't have a bottle of Valium lying around, and that I'm a baby about pain.

Say no to drugs. Here, have some drugs!

We live in a truly schizoid society. Where else do we have a slogan telling us to eschew drugs, while at the same time the pharmaceutical companies are trying to get us all hooked on their poison?

You can't have what you want 'til you know what you want...

Warning: major rambling and introspective crap follows:

In September I wrote a post entitled "What I Really Want."

I honestly believed that to be true. But the intervening months have led me to understand that it is not nearly as simple nor cut-and-dried as all that.

What I want changes so constantly that every time I set sail for one destination, by the time I am a fraction of the way there I have lost interest and may wish to go in the opposite direction entirely.

My needs are probably a lot easier to base my actions upon: food, clothing, shelter... companionship and a little sunlight? Very basic.

I have never been comfortable with the pursuit of wealth nor with attempting to maintain a position within society. Does this make me crazy or saner than most? Or is it all part of my overall condition?

As I have seldom truly felt happiness in my life except for fleeting moments whose ethereal quality always left something to be desired, I don't really know what it feels like to not live on the edge - waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It amazes me to see the vast differences between people's lots in life. Leonard Cohen, for example, never truly had to WORK a day in his life. He lost his father at a young age, and his inheritance subsidized his life to give him an unparallelled freedom. I can not imagine how different and beautiful my life might have been under such circumstances. However, at the other end of the spectrum we have those who are born in filth to live their lives and die as loathsome and hated creatures - barely acknowledged as even human.

What a dichotomy there is between the lowest of the low and the priviliged few who often don't even realize just how fortunate they are.

Where does that leave me? Pondering, as always: more than I should be... more thoughts go through my head than there are travelers at JFK on any given day.

My husband is still largely a stranger to me after nearly 23 years of cohabitation. We have very little in common and most of the things he enjoys bore me to tears. Or worse, things such as the type of humor he enjoys really disgust me. My children, likewise, enjoy things that I do not - and neither my husband nor my children come to my gigs or really care much about my music or the things that are important to me.

Could it be possible that the time is approaching when I should leave my family and accept that it is not my future... but my past... and that my grown children will likely seek out their father more often than me, so they probably won't be needing me for much longer: if they really need one such as I to begin with.

I am uncertain of my contributions, the only certainty that I have is in the fact that I did not stop with one or two children as most people do. I chose to have quite a few kids despite being a poor role model and less-than-nurturing mother.

I breastfed them all, some longer than others... but most of them weaned of their own accord when they were ready. I wonder if the age at which they chose to wean has any implications regarding their future, such as whether they'll be young when they leave home or wait until they're a little older. I suppose that remains to be seen and will be interesting to look back upon in retrospect.

My children are generally well-behaved, honest, kind and decent. But when they are not I am ashamed and feel that it is my fault. Maybe it's not, but it feels like I have failed when they do not act the way they are supposed to... and I have. I failed on many levels, while succeeding in a hit-or-miss fashion on others.

I don't feel like a failure, per se... but I do feel like a perpetual loser. Losing, losing... losing. It is hard NOT to lose things when you live your life in a bubble, in your own little world - often completely oblivious to everyone and everything around you. Some of my neighbors feel that I am rude when I neglect to wave or stop and chat... but I honestly don't even see them most of the time. I see my internal world instead. Sometimes I'm so deeply involved within my own thoughts that it's nearly impossible to break through to me.

I wonder if a time will come when that 'nearly impossible' will become 'completely impossible' and no one will be able to reach me any more at all?

Gallbladder

I finally had my gallbladder out this week. For better or for worse, it had begun to get infected and the whole ordeal was unbelievable. I may tell it here one day... who knows?

An Open Letter to Leonard Cohen

I wrote the following on a poetry page online, but feel it falls far short of what I really meant to express.

"I don't know how I made it into my 40's before discovering Leonard Cohen's awe-inspiring work. When I watched 'I'm Your Man, ' at first I thought he'd died, and this was a tribute to him: the artists all brought such obvious emotion to their performances. But the further I got through this movie, the more I understood why these people were so intensely gripped by the songs they were sharing... because I felt it too. I feel as though his music has opened up a tightly capped wellspring within me, and the tears pour forth as I write this. I will never be the same again after experiencing his lyrical passion - and I pray for his continued health and well-being, that he may continue to grace us with these priceless soul-feeding jewels. Mr. Cohen: if you ever read this, thank you."

I'd really like to record my rendition of "Bird on a Wire" one day, God willing and the creeks don't rise... with permission of course. This song touches me more deeply than any other I've ever heard. It's almost an apology, but more of an explanation. I change a few of the words when I perform it... but the song itself, including the melody, is likely to be my anthem for a long time... if not forever.

R.I.P. Bill Goldfarb

I just received a call from the sister of my friend Bill: he passed away this morning.

Bill had AIDS and had been HIV positive since 1986 - the year I became a mother for the first time.

I met Bill while we were both working at Telephone Takeout, and we remained friends after we both quit working there. He had recently begun to work there again.

I got Bill set up with a computer through Freecycle, and obtained a desk for him as well. Then I began to teach him how to use the computer. In the past year he went from being completely computer illiterate to learning how to burn CDs and download music, pictures, etc.

In the past year, he spent more time being sick than he did being well... and we thought he was going to pass away on several other occasions. I am ashamed that I never visited him in the hospital... and even more ashamed of the times I did not take his phone calls because I "could not take the time" to chat. But what makes me more sad than anything is that he followed me down to my car when I was leaving last time I saw him - on Saturday - to get a hug. Before I could hug him, a neighbor came and said he'd called to have my car towed and I'd better hurry and leave before they get there... so I never got to hug him.

Hug your friends, your kids, your loved ones today. It may be the last chance you have to do so.

So far so good

I know it may not seem like much, but since the turn of the New Year I have been taking great pains to keep the dishes washed and kitchen clean.

To those who have spent any time in my house, that probably comes as quite a shock... but it makes me very happy to walk into my clean kitchen and not have to wash dishes or otherwise clean it before I fix a snack or meal.

Prior to this the mess would pile up until I forced one of the kids to clean it and wash dishes... the dishes were always put away haphazardly, and different kids cleaned with differing levels of actual success. Sometimes the dishes were so poorly washed they had to be re-washed.

I decided that I'd rather just do it myself, to my own standards, and put things away where I want them and the way I want them... so I won't have anything to complain about. When my kids have school, they get up at ungodly hours to catch the bus or other ride, then come home exhausted to nap. In the evening when they awaken, hungry for dinner, they have homework to complete. So I try not to burden them overly much with the chores. After all, I'm barely employed: why should they do chores so I can sit around watching movies and eating bon bons?

Okay. So I don't eat bon bons... but when I get my kitchen clean it gives me such a huge sense of accomplishment each time... I'm hoping I can gradually spread this to the whole house. Baby steps, as the flyladies say...

Success and failure

Well, last night I had a huge success with my "Sweet Ladies of South Florida" musicians showcase. I've been asked to repeat the event every Thursday night at Michele so I'm really psyched about that.


On the failure side, I did not manage to get all the way to 50,000 words with my book, but it's only about 11,500 words shy at the moment and close to being finished so I'm going to go ahead and wrap it up. Therefore it's not COMPLETE failure, just failure to meet the 50k mark... but it's a success in writing a book!

34,518

That's how many words I've written thus far in my quest to produce a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. Thanks to Mikel's book from a couple of years ago, I've chosen to write one that's largely autobiographical, with some names changed to protect people. I can't believe that I'm just over 15,000 words away from achieving that goal!

I think, however, in order to do that, I may need to add a significant amount of embellishment, as the truth can only get me so far, LOL

Gosh. I hope somebody doesn't creep out and shoot me over it.

Being, apparently, a parent...

Being a parent is as individual a thing as one's personality. There's the milk-and-cookies mom that we all wished was waiting at home for us after school, and the working mom which most of us DID have. I wonder how many of us really appreciate what a sacrifice that was for our mothers to make.

They had to choose to hand their children over to someone else to be raised, for the most part. And in this daycare society, that usually means someone the mother has never met before, has no idea of their background or morals... scary.

In our tribal past, the elders would have kept the tribe's children while the women went about the busy work of keeping things in order. The men would have gone out hunting, and it was a peaceful life until someone else decided they wanted the land your tribe inhabited.

It amazes me how history is full of examples that a piece of land, which no one could TRULY own, time and again proves to be of more value to someone than human lives. Oh, the stories that were lost forever when the last voice that told them was silenced. And the songs... and artwork.

I think that as a society if we continue to move further and further away from a tribal lifestyle we are nailing humanity's coffin shut in the process.

My daughter's boyfriend

It has come to my attention that my daughter's silly boyfriend has been reading my blog. No telling how far he's gone... but hope he's enjoying himself. He must be REALLY bored with life, LOL

What I really want

What I really want may seem so selfish as to be unthinkable, but nonetheless, if I am to be honest... what I really want is to be pretty much left alone to write, without having to bother with basic needs such as housework, etc.

Of course, to make that possible... I could not actually BE alone, or who would do the laundry, dishes, and so on?

I suppose if I have realized that I truly love writing more than performing, more than any other endeavor... then it behooves me to investigate means by which I might achieve this dream and thereby turn it into a goal.

I can think of several satisfactory scenarios, any of which may have its associated drawbacks, but let's explore them.

1. Stay with various wealthy families who enjoy being patrons of the arts. The drawback to this is that I would not be able to impose on such people with my entire family, therefore it would require separation from them. On the other hand, in a few years, once my youngest has grown to independence: why not?

2. Obtain a grant or grants to underwrite such expenses as my lifestyle would require. Currently I could do quite well with $1500/month, but in order to hire a maid, I may need an additional $500 or more per month. (Depending on his/her duties... and I am NOT opposed to hiring a man for a maid if he'll do a good job!)

3. Win the lottery... well, we all know the likelihood of this. And if I won, it could turn my loved ones into monsters, so I don't know if I would actually keep the money. I am thinking I would do best to have a highly trusted friend cash the winning ticket and pay me an allowance. I have someone in mind whom I know has invested well for HIMSELF... like Warren Buffet with Bill Gates, I could hardly do poorly with this gentleman in charge of my finances. Well, anyway: winning is a long shot.

4. Since I love playing music ALMOST as much as I enjoy writing, I could continue to pound the pavement looking for gigs... which could pay the bills and MAYBE hire the coveted maid... but might leave me with less than satisfactory energy levels to spend enough time on my writing.

Okay. I think that is enough options for argument's sake. The point is, I don't feel that I can plod through life as "normal" people do... work my 40 hours, get my paycheck, pay my bills, with that pathetic carrot of "retirement" at the end of the road.

If I don't find my equilibrium soon, it's going to have far-reaching consequences. Therefore it is imperative that I make SOMETHING work. Any ideas from the peanut gallery? And any "get a job" posts will likely be deleted, so if you have no imagination, please go post comments on someone else's blog.

Satisfaction can be oh, so sweet

This has been a good week thus far. I was able to obtain sufficient funds to pay the past due amount on my van (although this month's payment is still due, so if you want to make a donation...) and more than half of my cell phone bill. In addition to this, I was contacted by Bellsouth who made special arrangements and met me halfway regarding the issue of defective equipment, etc.

They are going to send me a new base unit and handset, as well as two return labels: one for the original base unit and (defective) handset, the other for the extra handset we really don't need. (Actually, I'd like to keep it, but dh doesn't care to pay for it right now when money's so tight)

So in the end I should have a functional phone without having to give up the other one until it arrives: as it should be. However, I'm still a little miffed that I'm going to have to reprogram the new unit when it comes. (It has talking caller ID... but you have to record your own voice on it)

Oh... and I also forgot to mention that the problem with Timmy at school has been fixed: he was taken out of Home Ec. and put into P.E.

Permission to be Weird

I have begun to write a book, and since I love to share everything with you people, here is the current length of it. Please, tell me your thoughts... as I am truly baring my soul with this.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
I have always felt “different” from other people, even though that might sound strange to someone who doesn’t feel that way. I never felt like I fit in anywhere, even in groups whose members all seemed to like me. Always the odd man out, I was never good at sports and usually the last to be chosen for team sports in school. I never understood the point of forcing team sports on those who clearly aren’t cut out for them - perhaps in the future schools won’t do that any more. It is a dream of mine to see individuals treated individually, rather than clumping us all together and treating us as if we were identical. We’re not identical, and neither are our needs.

While I may have been good at word games, I never truly enjoyed any sort of games, so I just quit playing them sometime during my 20’s. There was no specific event which occurred after which I said “I will never again play games” or anything as dramatic as all that, I just came to a point in life where I decided “why bother, if I’m not enjoying myself”? I’ve since applied the same concept to most other things. I no longer attempt to “learn to enjoy” things just to spend time with someone. I’d much prefer that they go have fun and leave me out of it. I don’t enjoy competition.

To be honest, I’m not sure I ever really “enjoy” things much at all. I find that most of life is a series of choices: to enjoy, loathe or tolerate… and most of the time I simply tolerate the situation. When I do find myself actually enjoying something, such as a good movie, I’m pleasantly surprised. I savor the moment… and more often than not: will become so absorbed in that which I am doing that it would be difficult indeed to obtain my attention. However, when I sometimes come to the sudden realization that I am not only NOT enjoying myself, but that I am actually having a BAD time, my attitude may seem to change abruptly. I suppose it DOES change abruptly. This is often the case when I go somewhere and become overwhelmed by the sounds, bright lights, smells or closeness of other people.

It is equally true that no matter how hard I may try, I can not bring myself to maintain interest in something that bores or disinterests me. I’d rather be boiled in oil. Well… maybe not, but I would certainly rather live under a bridge as a derelict than do the “nine to five” thing like a robot. Yes, I’m peculiar. Strange. Odd. Bizarre at times. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of us, and we’re tired of being cast aside as unimportant. We deserve to be accepted as we are, just like we accept those who are “normal” and “sane.” Stop trying to convince us we should be like you… let us be who we are… and the world will be a much better place, for you as well as for us. If you don’t, if you insist on eradicating us through selective breeding by genetic testing and so forth, one day you may find the world sadly lacking in creativity or innovative new procedures and inventions.

From the beginning of time there have been individuals who “marched to the beat of a different drum” and who often seem to be in their own world. Those who are not a part of the spectrum may never understand that world, but for those of us who live within it, it’s a fragile and nebulous alternative reality. It is a retreat and an oasis. A safety zone which we can always have nearby, because it is no further away than our next thought. To zone out, unfocus our eyes and enter this apparently coma- or zombie-like state is preferable to what we are experiencing is a defense mechanism of the highest order. It harms no one, but it helps us, so it is important that people understand that “we’ll be back” when we feel no further threat.

Many of us are hypersensitive to the point of pain and must either retreat outwardly (as in leaving a room or situation) or inwardly to avoid disaster. When we can’t retreat, when we’re backed against the wall so to speak: we crumble. We melt down. We may even get violent. That is when those who do not understand need to accept that they do not and can not understand and just back off. Leave us alone. Let us chill out and recharge. We will be okay if you let us. It is usually a matter of over-stimulation of one or more senses and can be easily remedied by momentary calm (peace & quiet) and dim lighting. The further you press us the more damage you may ultimately do. Get over the idea that you can “fix” everything and realize that some matters require only time, patience and acceptance.

This inability to tolerate certain situations (or even certain people) is not conducive to working in some environments, but there are wonderfully fulfilling positions that we can hold without being triggered into a full-scale meltdown. Many of us are performers, artists, poets and other sorts of writers, inventors or creative people. Despite having difficulty with motor coordination, a number of people within the spectrum are excellent martial artists and dancers. Working with animals is also ideal, because we often identify better with creatures other than homo sapiens. Mankind has messed itself up a lot… name another creature on this planet you can say that about.

I have always loved horses. One of the true examples of evolution on this planet, the horse began as a small, unassuming creature with five toes, which somewhat resembled a dog. Over time this creature, eohippus, adapted and changed according to the environmental pressures surrounding it, to become the powerful and majestic beast we enjoy today.

I mention horses and evolution because I believe that those of us with hypersensitivities may be the precursor of a new type of homo sapiens. The next adaptation. It would be interesting to me to see if there is a subgroup of individuals whose sensitivities lie beyond the usual five senses in the realm of the paranormal… and whether those people could help piece together the next part of the puzzle of life. I read today a speculative article suggesting the opposite: that we are throwbacks to our Neanderthal roots, exhibiting traits that are easily explained by biological bygones.

Whatever be the case, surely mankind cannot continue to race headlong down the garden path expecting to one day arrive at “retirement” and some sort of Nirvana. Can they not see that racing headlong is not wise when there might be a cliff around the bend? Once caught up in a stampede it is impossible not to be swept over the edge along with the rest of the hapless sheep/buffalo/rats take your pick of illustrative creatures, but the result is the same. A serious dead-end of destructive massacre. Perhaps it is a survival instinct, that there are those of us who would rather die than join in that “group mentality.”

No, I don’t seek to join the “rat-race” and share the fate of those who are not willing or able to heed the signs. Nor am I anarchist, although I suppose that would be the closest in ally to my beliefs that exists in politics. I’m anti-society, but my antisocial tendencies all have sound reasoning behind them. They’re a reaction to the vulgar and base manner in which society chooses to conduct itself. If this is society, I have no reason to want any part of it. Society has shunned my kind, and we, in turn, happily shun them back.

As a child, I detested group activities, and still do. No one ever “socialized” me into enjoying them. I think it’s a ridiculous waste of time to force feed unwilling victims your own expectations. It is more important that people learn certain basics, and the rest should be left up to the individual. The educational system has so many gaps in it, it is not surprising that perfectly normal people barely have a clue how to live their lives. The world is dysfunctional for the most part, however few care to admit it. Without their servants, how many of the high-born of this world could cook, clean, do laundry and perform the duties required for childcare, etc.? Precious few, I’ll wager. So why should the middle and lower classes be much different? Necessity? Hardly. One can always find an excuse for that which we are deficient in.

I have ideas which I believe could revolutionize the educational system worldwide, if I ever make the time to finish getting them out of my head and online or on paper, etc. so that others can share my thoughts. I am absolutely convinced that our current educational system needs to be scrapped and restructured more appropriately and efficiently. It is not a question of if, but more a question of when… because it’s glaringly obvious that our country is falling further and further behind the rest of the world. There are good reasons for this.

May God help me as I attempt to set forth the basic premises here, along with my other lucid ramblings. And to present it coherently enough that the world can understand and utilize what it is that He has given me in concepts and clarity. There is so much that must be explained along the way, I pray to maintain focus for a moment or two on this path.

Education begins in the womb, believe it or not. So therefore I believe it is a good idea to start with the pregnant mother. We require premarital counseling in our state (Florida) in order to obtain a marriage license, and pre-divorce counseling in order to dissolve that same marriage license. Is it not conceivable, then, that we should be requiring some pre-parental classes during pregnancy?

Okay, require sounds harsh. But it has been speculated and in some cases proven that babies in the womb can learn languages, musical scores and other things. Therefore, to teach mothers FROM THE EARLIEST SIGN OF PREGNANCY ONWARD deep breathing, relaxation and other means of ensuring a healthy baby, it should be done. Nutrition is all a matter of taste, but it is equally important. The choices we make have long-lasting repercussions.

Currently, there are childbirth classes which begin in the latter stages of pregnancy. However, this may be “too little too late” because in some individuals it is a lifetime of breathing wrong that needs to be corrected and taught sufficiently to become habit. Yes: how you breathe is as important as what you eat, drink or otherwise ingest. I read a study which said that ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of heart attack victims were “chest breathers” which means that they did not practice deep breathing techniques. Tell me – are you breathing deeply or shallowly yourself as you read this? Do YOU know proper breathing techniques?

Breathing should continue to be taught and reinforced at all levels of education. Each day of learning should begin with deep-breathing and proper nutrition. The proper breathing oxygenates our tissues better, including our brains. The lack of proper nutrition can make it virtually impossible to learn, even for the most eager student.

After breathing, stretching and general physical fitness should be the order of the day. A little stretching and light aerobic activity gets the blood flowing and awakens the adrenal glands to release their precious energy-producing elixir into our systems. NOW we are ready to learn, and will soak up the material like a sponge. Oxygenated, nourished and adrenalated, we can focus more clearly on what is presented to us.

But, you may ask, at what age should education begin? At birth, of course. There are a number of things that can be shown to babies right from the start. Of course, this will vary greatly from one private home to another, but if we lived more tribally, as mankind should, that would be less of an issue. However, I digress.

Children should be tested annually, on or near their birthday for convenience sake, to ascertain what their aptitude and direction is. As that becomes more apparent, steps should be taken to initiate the path each individual needs to travel. While this differs from one person to another, there are certain basics we all need to learn, in order to be capable of continuing our own education.

Once a child shows the readiness for reading and writing, that is the time to begin. Not at a specified age, but rather, whenever their test scores indicate they have achieved the appropriate level of focus and interest. Trying to teach a child before they are ready is like trying to teach a pig to sing: it’s a waste of time and annoys the pig. Therefore a child may be three years old or ten years old when they begin their reading, writing, math with figuring, etc. but this does not mean they can’t be taught other important things in the meantime.

Without having learned to read a child can be taught the lifesaving skills of swimming, CPR and first aid. Prior to knowing how to read words and write them, many children excel at learning to read music and play beautifully. Dance, gymnastics and other physical activities all require no reading. But the confidence to be gained from these things will assist the children in their further quest for knowledge later as they DO learn to read, write, do math and build the strong foundation for the rest of their education.

In other words, I believe that traditional educational approaches often “put the cart before the horse” and in doing so, sell the world short. There is a better way, and if you read further I shall continue to expand upon this idea. Ultimately, as the old saying goes, “the proof of the puddin’ is in the eatin’” so until and unless someone, or rather LOTS of someones agree with me and put these methods into practice, no one can know what good will come of it. I’m fully convinced that it would transform and revitalize learning as the world knows it.

Age-centered learning should be thrown out like old bathwater. It is ludicrous to base education upon the age of the child. While it is true that we can expect most children to achieve certain milestones at certain ages, there are studies that have proven that it is detrimental to force a child to read when he is not yet ready. Interestingly enough, when those who are so inclined wait upon the child to express readiness, sometimes they are not really interested in reading until 8-12 years of age. Once they ARE ready, they learn it very quickly and rapidly catch up with classmates who have been reading for years.

The system I propose would center upon using diagnostic testing to find each individual’s proper learning style and needs, then group children with similarities together for instruction REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGES. When in life are we expected to sit with a bunch of people the same age we are? After school: never. That is not to say that we won’t be required to get up, go to work, perform certain duties, and maintain adequate levels of hygiene and so forth… but I am totally against grouping people together based on their age, once they have left diapers behind.

Speaking of hygiene, since there is no guarantee that a child is being properly taught such things at home, it is best to begin at the earliest possible age to teach the basic tenets to schoolchildren. For example, most people do not know that you need to wash your hands for a minimum of 15 seconds to remove bacteria. I see it all the time in public restrooms: ladies walk in, dampen their hands, soap them for about five seconds, rinse, dry and leave. Likewise, it is recommended that we brush our teeth for a minimum of five minutes, covering each surface carefully before rinsing, flossing and a final rinse with a mouthwash.

Daily life skills may seem to be things which parents should teach to their children, but in the hubbub of daily life, quite often these things are not passed along properly, and the result is another generation will pass along their bad habits (or lack of good ones, at least) completely ignorant of the fact that they are missing something.