Coffee in the morning, coffee in the afternoon, coffee in the evening.
I love coffee.
However, my observation of coffee in New York City is people drink it all day!
There are very rare times you see the people that work and live in the city without a cup of coffee in hand. Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons, Starbucks and the little cup that is signature of the cart.
Why is coffee such a trade symbol in the hands of people walking around? Well, my only reasoning for this is because the city is exhausting and I don't think that people ever really, stop. While I'm from the north, I'm not from the city. Quite frankly I've developed a slower pace of life from living in the south. Do I walk fast yes, Do I rush around most of the time, yes. But, I like to slow down in the evening, take walks, just sit and decompress. From my outside observations the city is a work, work work mentality. I know I know I may fit into that sometimes. I can fit into that sometimes, but it's exhausting.
While it's my first week in grad school at Columbia. I have coffee every morning. Nothing new there. But, then at lunch yesterday I fell into the trap...I had a latte at lunch! Thanks to my friends who gave me starbucks gift cards. Coffee in the morning, coffee at lunch...no I didn't have coffee in the evening. Not to say I won't.
My thoughts in the morning were I love a good cup of coffee and thinking I need it to stay awake this morning in class. Then I got on the subway. I've decided I do some great thinking on the subway; just me, my coffee and some music that gets me thinking about Jesus. While on the subway I found, I don't NEED the coffee to get me through the day, I NEED God, His strength, grace and wonderfulness to get me through the day. I started my day with ease at this one thought. Puts things in perspective, what I can't do on my own I can do with God.
Maybe coffee is my reminder of needing God because lunch I thought, 'oh I did it--I went for the coffee!' After I was drinking my latte on the way back for class I thought. I NEED God this afternoon, not coffee.
The abilities of myself were put into perspective yesterday, I am small. God is BIG.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Pens
Pens..such a simple tool that we don't always use in the days of technology.
When I think of a pen as a writing tool my first thought that comes to mind is, 'I'm a pen snob!' Why? Because I only like pens that write smooth, look nice and those pens are usually very expensive. Today on my first day of graduate school in the writing institute I am having to face my fear of the pen---writing with it!
The first inspiring words of the week, "A tool that makes you into a better teacher...a pen." was quoted today at my first keynote. While I have to say that is true as far as teaching goes, I want to think that it would make me into a better thinker, person, communicator?
Honestly, I'm afraid of the pen. The computer feels more natural, easier to think, ironically simpler. But, this week I'm facing my fear of the pen. I'm attempting to put it to the paper and write! I ask kids in my classroom to do this everyday and yet I am already at a writer's block with my pen. I feel like I pinpoint every feeling of a kid who doesn't want to write, doesn't know what to write about, doesn't like writing or is "thinking." How do I know this, because my pen wouldn't move today in my very own adult writing workshop. So, I tried a pencil. At my stealth attempt to trick my mind into writing, still it wouldn't create words on the page.
What is about the pen (or pencil) that creates the writer's block, the fear, the run-around incomplete thoughts in my head? I have no idea!
Tonight I'm attempting my writing assignments in hopes that the pen will become a tool instead of a fear to express my thoughts that swirl around in my head. My attempt to untangle moments that could come to life on the page for someone else or just to be a moment I've lived.
I'm going to leave the comfort of the keypad to pick up the plain, simple, black bic pen!
When I think of a pen as a writing tool my first thought that comes to mind is, 'I'm a pen snob!' Why? Because I only like pens that write smooth, look nice and those pens are usually very expensive. Today on my first day of graduate school in the writing institute I am having to face my fear of the pen---writing with it!
The first inspiring words of the week, "A tool that makes you into a better teacher...a pen." was quoted today at my first keynote. While I have to say that is true as far as teaching goes, I want to think that it would make me into a better thinker, person, communicator?
Honestly, I'm afraid of the pen. The computer feels more natural, easier to think, ironically simpler. But, this week I'm facing my fear of the pen. I'm attempting to put it to the paper and write! I ask kids in my classroom to do this everyday and yet I am already at a writer's block with my pen. I feel like I pinpoint every feeling of a kid who doesn't want to write, doesn't know what to write about, doesn't like writing or is "thinking." How do I know this, because my pen wouldn't move today in my very own adult writing workshop. So, I tried a pencil. At my stealth attempt to trick my mind into writing, still it wouldn't create words on the page.
What is about the pen (or pencil) that creates the writer's block, the fear, the run-around incomplete thoughts in my head? I have no idea!
Tonight I'm attempting my writing assignments in hopes that the pen will become a tool instead of a fear to express my thoughts that swirl around in my head. My attempt to untangle moments that could come to life on the page for someone else or just to be a moment I've lived.
I'm going to leave the comfort of the keypad to pick up the plain, simple, black bic pen!
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