SPRING

Between winter and summer, spring arrives.  On the first day of spring, day and night are of equal length and temperatures gradually rise in the Northern Hemisphere from March to May.  Plants begin growth anew after the dormancy of winter.  Birds migrate poleward.  Animals begin nesting and reproductive activities. 

Spring also means to come up out of something into existence.  Also to jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward.  As flowers spring up out of the ground, a new idea can spring to mind, then we can spring into action.

Spring symbolizes new beginnings and transformations, starting fresh and staring over.  Spring has sprung.  As nature begins anew, we can too.      

The First Amendment

 No law should be based on religion nor should government be based on religion.  Don't expect your religion or any religion to influence the law.  Public spaces and public places are for everyone.  Even if your religion is in the majority, the Ten Commandments, manger scenes, or other religious displays should not be on public property.  Prayer does not belong in public schools except when an individual wants to silently pray.    

No law should prohibit  the free exercise of religion.  Citizens can practice any religion or have no religion.  

Citizens have freedom of speech and freedom of the press.  We can freely speak our ideas and opinions and publish them on paper or in other media as long as we don't incite violence or other criminal activity.  However, the misuse of this freedom is vey difficult to control.  Public school librarians should be in charge of books made available to students regardless of pressures to ban certain books.

Citizens have the right to assemble peacefully.  We may peacefully gather together to be in favor or against ideas and opinions.  We may protest unfair treatment and laws.  When the powers that be don't listen and continue to treat citizens unfairly, people have to get their attention in other ways as long as they remain peaceful.  Some protestors become too angry, turn violent, and lose their effectiveness.  We need to try and understand why they are angry. 

Citizens have the right to petition government for redress of grievances.  We can contact our legislators and other officials and go to court to present our case.  We can also present grievances to employers.

The First Amendment exists for the benefit of everyone.

JUST SAY NO

 Many situations exist that make it difficult to say no.  Our own personality may make us want to please or to not rock the boat.  It may be much easier to stay quiet or agree than disagree.  Our society, our families, our friends and neighbors, those we live with and hold most dear, may influence us to believe as they do, behave as they do.

There comes a point, however, when our own inner voice must be brave enough to reveal our true feelings and opinions.  There may be a cost when we do.  Society tries to manipulate us to celebrate the many calendar holidays, to think and do certain things at specific times of year, often suggesting gift giving as a way to express love.  Families may expect us to repeat their traditions in order to be part of the group.  We often do what friends and neighbors do so we don't appear weird or different.  When we show our true colors, we may seem like a dangerous influence as if we are going against the status quo. 

Good reasons help form our ideas, and we need the courage to stand up for ourselves even if others don't understand or agree.  When others are open to hear what we believe, we can try to give our reasons.  This takes courage and fortitude to withstand the possible pushback.  Just say no to what goes against your feelings and opinions.   Better yet just say yes to your inner voice.        

LANGUAGE TOOLS

Maybe I don't have to write my blog; maybe I can have technology do it for me.  Now we have ways to ask language tools to write blogs, essays, reports, almost anything.  Plagiarism can sneak in and we can get the credit unless something can detect our shortcut.  Words and ideas received from these sources seem almost too good to be true.

We need to put more value into original thought and write our own ideas; however, even our own ideas might not be our own.   They may be echos from our parents, pastors, and professors or from biased or untrue notions we hear and read from the media.

Research is good, but we need to form our own thoughts and opinions, not just accept the words of others whether from human sources or from artificial intelligence. 

Privileged

 If you were born into a family with loving parents who had enough funds to provide the necessities, you already are privileged.  You did nothing yourself to deserve this status.  Some people may say that their parents worked very hard to have enough to cover their expenses, and that their families were not privileged. They may think that families who do not have enough to provide just don't work hard enough or are relying on only one parent.

If you obtained a higher education, you may think you studied hard to get that degree, but you may have been born with the intelligence to succeed plus had a way to pay for your classes.  Some people may think that many teenagers just waste their chances to do their best in high school and will only be suited for lower income jobs.  Many people may never have felt prejudice or been held back by a society who stereotypes some groups as less capable.  They may believe that minorities have just as many opportunities or chances to succeed as anyone else. 

Some people use the term blessed when they have what they need.  Some use the term lucky.  We realize that what we have is often not what we deserve or even what we have earned.  And those that do not have all they need have not always caused their own situation.  Many of us are privileged to be the haves while others are the have-nots or underprivileged.  Our society needs to give empathy, not blame.

Risk of Sports

If your body is prepared and warmed up, if your brain is prepared, if you are able to focus and at times relax, you can benefit from sports participation.  Some sports with no physical contact can be lifelong activities, like golf and swimming.  Many sports, however, require physical contact, and more risk is involved in sustaining injuries, like boxing and football.  Some injuries may affect the rest of the athlete's life.

Most people are aware of the positive aspects of sports, but aren't mindful of the negatives.  Athletes and parents of young athletes need to weigh the positive with the negative.  Perhaps another less risky sport or physical activity would be better in the long run.

Parents may believe their young athletes will receive the benefits of the sport.  They also may enjoy watching the accomplishments of their offspring.  Plus the athletes often get adulation from their peers.  The possibiity of financial benefits from scholarships, college play, or turning pro is very slim.

Participation in sports is one thing; being a fan or spectator is another.  Vast amounts of money is made from ticket sales to sponsorships.  So the value of many sports rests on how much money is made from the spectators.  Many of the more popular spectator sports involve physical contact team sports, almost like a substitute for battle.  Often the possiblity of the damage to the athletes is ignored.

One leads to another.  Sports most enjoyed by spectators may be the ones young people want to play. 

  

CONNECTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

  

 Make connections to prevent or solve issues and problems.  Connections can also help create something new.  Getting the perspective of another person can help you define your own.  Businesses are realizing how connectional intelligence can improve their workforce relationships while setting and reaching goals.   Connections with media and technology can also be improved. This type of intelligence can benefit individuals to improve their relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and other groups.

Make better connections through conversations, face-to-face, over the phone or on the computer.  Listen as much or more than your speak.  Discover what you have in common and what the other person likes to talk about.  Ask questions.

Make better connections by writing letters (yes, people still do that) sending emails, texts or through social media. Tell about your everyday life.  Let them know you are interested in them.  Ask questions. Take your time.  Texting is usually brief but better than nothing.  Often details are omitted.  Even if you don't get a timely response, keep writing.  Respond to communication sent to you.  

The younger generation thinks they know about communicating and they may know more about technology.  They may know about face-t-face conversations with friends and their peer group, but they may need practice in talking to those of different generations especially their parents, grandparents, and other family members.  They will also need to develop business skills going out into the workforce.  As a parent or grandparent, remember to listen as much or more than you speak.  Honor other opinions; don't expect your children to always agree with you.  Show them how to think.  Be a good example. 

Develop your Connectional Intelligence.