Mix it Up - or Not - Learn to Love Learning

HAVE FUN WITH IT!  Variety can be engaging... Try different things.  When you do, you reinforce learning and living.  Some of  learning comes by doing, some can come by reading, watching or listening.  Just be sure to take the time to reflect on the experience and draw your own conclusions.

Physically visit your library or bookstore.  Enrich your life.  Expand your horizons. Read, learn and test the waters. Getting the benefit of others' experiences can add confidence and assuredness and when the author(s) share challenges, they can offer insight and preparation as well.  Just make it a point to enjoy the process.  Dr. Nel Noddings wrote in, HAPPINESS AND EDUCATION, 2004,

"The best homes and schools are happy places. The adults in them recognize that the highest aim of education - and life - is happiness... Happy children growing in their understanding of what happiness is, seize their educational opportunities with delight, and they will contribute to the happiness of others." 

I found this quote in a sometimes controversial yet compelling collection of essays and poems from a book called THE LOVE OF THE FIFTH PARADIGM, 2010.  Reserving your right and privilege of reflection, introspection and interpretation is usually a wise decision. 

To be sure there are many ways to learn and entertain.  Video games, books, audios and videos/movies and sports and social activities and even work offer unique and shared benefits.  HAVE FUN WITH IT ALL!  Poise yourself for better living by finding ways to enjoy yourself as you learn.  Put a little bit of your style in your learning.  If you like interacting with people, form study groups.  If you are visual, add videos to your learning.  If you are a hands on person, include activities that teach, to your reading.  Need to find strategies for doing this?  Check out your local library or bookstore... and Youtube... Do you even have a library card?  No problem, you don't need one to visit and a card is usually easy to obtain.

[ ] Clifton McKnight is an educator, counselor, personal coach, author and keynote speaker. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Visit his site at www.motivision.net [ ]

Use all of Your Strength

Young man tries to move a boulder.  Boulder does not budge.  Mom asks, "Are you using all of your strength?" Young man lowers his shoulder, braces his foot against the ground and presses... No movement... Mother asks again, "Are you using all of your strength?"  Son, takes a deep breath, hunkers down in what might be reminiscent of a football or rugby position and leaning against the rock pushes with all his might bearly budging the big rock.  Mother asks,  "Are you using all of your strength?" A bit irritated the young man says, "YES MOM, I am using all of my strength!" Mother replies, "No you haven't.  You did not ask for help."

 Sometimes we act as if we are independent islands, solely and wholly responsible, or, not at all responsible ("not my problem").  The truth is, we are all connected and it serves us to use all of the resources available or at least some of the resources available.  Do you use your Academic Center?  Can you use the internet differently? 

Aside from your favorite music video, Youtube has many study resources, tips and tricks available.  You may be surprised at what comes up when you go to youtube or google and do a search for "Study tips" or "Math tips."  Want a chuckle down as you buckle down to learn, do a search on "Math Rap."  Resources abound, just verify with your professor or advisor the accuracy or what you view and plow ahead. 

Skype and ooVoo make it possible for study groups to gather together virtually from all over the country, perhaps the world over,  surely you can connect with a classmate.  You can have fun while getting your work done.  Add it to what you already do.  Most students just don't put enough time in to begin with to be maximally successful.  Next time you surf the net, remember your classes.

Go to your or another college website and cruise the resources.  Again, do an internet search.  It is amazing how many free lectures you can find when you look.  "itunes" seems to be a favorite medium for professors.  I am not saying you can get free credit but it is great to be able to capitalize on lectures from colleges and universities including Ivy league institutions.  Incidentally, I am not saying you can't find "free" or low cost credits either.  Ever heard of the CLEP Test? You might want to look into it.

Clifton McKnight is an educator, counselor, personal coach, author and keynote speaker. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Visit his site at www.motivision.net

Mind Your Money, Mold Your Future

It's not just what you earn, it's what you learn! What will you do with your earnings? Learn how to prioritize and plan. Learn how to employ your money. How much will you keep and how much will you grow?

Will you take your time and choose before you spend or let the media choose for you? Be consious, be awake. I've seen the bottom fall out and I know that even when times are tough, when you are awake, a better future you will make. Enjoy this resource and pass it on.

http://www.pbs.org/your-life-your-money/  Track your money and plan your spending.

Mind your finances for a happier ending.

Feed your spirit and feel your heart mending.  Visit http://www.cliftonmcknight.wordpress.com/

C. McKnight

- Clifton McKnight is an educator, counselor, personal coach, author and keynote speaker. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Visit his site at www.motivision.net

Sometimes...

http://www.motivision.net Sometimes things don't go the way we plan. But they do go and we do grow, so we can just know, we are well.

Sometimes we can't tell and we need some rest. Well deserved too, cause we did our best. We may hurt sometimes cause we fail a test. Didn't quite do, or may have done our best. We take a deep breath and continue our quest. 

Each path carries its  own unique style, accompanied by a hug, and a wink, and a smile. Sometimes we need to pause, then we can feel good  because, my spirit warmly embraces yours.

Feel the love from deep within, and then refreshed, we can begin again.

- Clifton McKnight is an educator, counselor, personal coach, author and keynote speaker. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Visit his site at www.motivision.net

9/11 healing: The mothers who found forgiveness, friendship | Video on TED.com

9/11 healing: The mothers who found forgiveness, friendship Video on TED.com

Let us listen to and support our mothers as we create a more healthy and peaceful tomorrow. - Clifton McKnight is an educator, counselor, personal coach, author and keynote speaker. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Visit his site at www.motivision.net

Words from One who knew His Days Were Numbered. LIVE

Almost always, when I teach a class, I challenge my students to reflect and to project to the things that are most important, to the people that are most important and to the goals that are most important.  One way I assist them in getting to that space is to ask, What would you do if you knew you only had  3 years or 1 year to live?  Well, here what Randy Pausch, professor at Carnegie Melon University had to say.    He lived well. He gave of himself and focused on the positive.

So, what would you do? In this minute long video 3 points are outlined.    The truth is we are all going to pass away, one day.  So LIVE until you die. See below to see Randy's "LAST LECTURE" in its entirety.  It is about an hour fifteen minutes...    Watch and add wealth to your days.  Have fun never give up and always look for the good in others..

What we do and what we have

Consultant shares quick thought about how it is that someone he met is a billionaire and he is not.  Useful for students and frankly for anyone.    What we do is directly linked to how we think.  What are you going to do today?  Think about it.

Audio Social Network May Revolutionize How you Communicate

Want to make connections but not quite sure who to give your phone number out to?  In the 21st century there appear to many resources to balance the risk.  Visit www.saynow.com and see how you can receive a FREE phone number that you may use as voice mail or text messaging or even as a relay to your phone.  And get this, you also become a part of a new social network.  You can also create voice messages on your account for people to enjoy.  Your present phone number can remain private.

If you have a study group you can send message out to the entire group at the same time and everyone who is connected in your network can contact each other.  SayNow intends to be a part of the next wave, social networking with audio capacity.  Many celebrities are already on board providing still another way to connect to their fans.  A recording of Janet Jackson returning a call from one of her fans is available for you to hear for example.

Saynow was acquired by Google so I wouldn't be at all surprised if it grows in leaps and bounds.  They are betting that the computer will all but replace telephones as primary communication sources in favor of services like Skype and SayNow.  Presently as I understand it, you can interface with SayNow using either a phone or computer.  As always, be careful, mindful and protective of personal details.  This is just information sharing not an endorsement.  Your contacts in essence hang out on the SayNow network much like they might on Facebook, Twitter etc. so there is little or no need to store phone numbers.  You can read what Tech Watch has to say about it at http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/28/phone-numbers-dead/   Please take your time and exam the site and services carefully before deciding if you will enroll.  If you elect to enroll, maybe you can teach me how to get things going :-)