SUNDAY FUNDAY - JANUARY 8, 2023

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

WARM-UP

 May your coming year be filled with 

magic and dreams and good madness. 

 

I hope you read some fine books and 

kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, 

and don't forget to make some art -

 write or draw or build or 

sing or live as only you can. 

 

And I hope, somewhere in the next year, 

you surprise yourself.

***

It is a new year!!!  What will 2023 mean for you?

As a professor, every new semester was like a new year.  A new class, new students, new opportunities to learn and grow - both for them and for me.  

I don’t exactly know how my comparison started, but I compared my job with my dentist.  Every semester I got to start over.  I got to tell the same corny jokes; I got to walk into the classroom and go “WOOOO” at the top of my voice every day; and I got to encourage, mentor, and teach students.  And my dentist got to put his fingers into saliva mouths every day - maybe different patients, different cavities, or actions were needed, but not all that exciting.

When people learn that I was a professor, their first question is likely to be “What did you teach?”.  My great friend, mentor, and colleague answered “Students”.  Yes, I taught students.  Sure, I had subject matter (Management Information Systems), but I was really teaching students.  I was teaching Jim and Martha’s son about computing, but I was teaching Jim and Martha’s son about life, about learning, about learning, and being passionate about learning.  My friend pictured his students as children of anxious parents - parents who wanted the best in their children.   And, as adults and worthy of respect and love!!

My students were there to get a degree, to get a ‘stamp’ on their forehead (not really) that said “USDA Prime”, (that said “Learned”).  Employers generally didn’t expect my graduates to step into the C-Suite on their first day - and that the first year that graduate would be doing on-the-job learning.  A friend was hired as a programmer for Ford Motors.  He thought he was smart and knew to program (and he did), but he said the first year was not about learning to program but learning about how Ford Motor programmed.

I like the word “elan” - meaning “energy, style, and enthusiasm.”.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm.".  (Aside, many of you have only seen bare glimpses of Karen White’s enthusiasm - I keep it pretty low-key anymore!!!)

So, here we are in a new year - and I am EXCITED, I have my ELAN ready to roll.  Yes, it will soon become routine, it isn’t a new life (but maybe it is a new life- and maybe, just maybe, that is why I have a ‘new life”).  It is just another day - sure the calendars changed - but so what?  I try not to let the new and exciting become mundane.  (But, I try not to scare people too much by going WOOO at the top of my voice anymore!!!)

So, how is 2023 going to be different for you?  

*****

PREACHING TO THE CHOIR - (Please forgive me)

My father in his 90s had dementia.  I work with some dementia friends at Wesleyan.  Some of you had parents with dementia/Alzheimer’s.  Here from the Centers for Disease Control is a listing of things to help avoid dementia/Alzheimers  https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/reducing-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/index.htm

Prevent and manage high blood pressure. ...

Manage blood sugar. ...

Maintain a healthy weight. ...

Be physically active. ...

Quit smoking. ...

Avoid excessive drinking. ...

Prevent and correct hearing loss. ...

Get enough sleep.

To this I’d like to throw in five others:  Keep thinking, do something memorable, be social, watch your finances, and find your place in the universe.

*****

Do something memorable.  Last year I found three new State High Points (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska).  This year I’m already planning a trip to Utah to see Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.  And, I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon.  That should be memorable.

Be social - relationships, relationships, relations.  Both Bridge Brat Bridge, and Fire Ant Granny Basketball as social events for me.  I am NOT the best bridge player and I am DEFINITELY NOT the best basketball player!!!  But, I hope I am social, friendly, outgoing, and supportive!!!

*****

Watch your finances - life is not free!!  Senior retirement communities are not free.  Assisted living is not free.  Even dying is not free.

*****

Find your place in the universe.  In my reading, I’ve seen an estimate of two TRILLION galaxies in the universe.  (Let’s see - thousands, then millions, then billions, and then trillions - that’s a lot).  Might there be planets like earth in some of those galaxies?  

And, where do you fit?  Your family?  Your friends (including me, I hope)?  The people you see frequently?

******

WRAP-UP

LOVE WINS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © JANUARY 4, 2023