Bird Droppings March 20, 2025
Getting ready

“In the government schools, which are referred to as public schools, Indian policy has been instituted there, and it’s a policy where they do not encourage, in fact, discourage, critical thinking and the creation of ideas and public education.” Russell Means

I drove early this morning, before sunrise, in the hope of seeing some wildlife and, capturing the sunrise, and looking for a few photos. The moon was gone for the time as clouds filled the sky. Georgia has been experiencing very wet conditions, and temperatures are expected to rise, although a freeze warning was issued a few days ago. We have had rain almost every day for several weeks, with more on the way. There are spots here and there, a raindrop here and there. Some days, it rains in the front yard but not in the back. Generally, there are brief storms and sporadic periods of heavy rain. It might be in town, drive a half mile, and nothing, sort of a typical Georgia spring. We have been lucky to have had rain at our house and in the surrounding area, as evidenced by the kudzu growth, which is just getting started, and the wisteria that has already bloomed.

As a teacher, thinking back about five years ago, there was severe anxiety, especially with the online experience that was new to many. Some states had already started bringing students back in person, and our local county had stayed in class all school year. As the last official school day draws near, I find myself sitting here, wondering as I look back on my teaching. Hopefully, I will be teaching college this summer or next fall. Almost like starting a new year, do we have the necessary books, paper, pencils, pens, markers, poster board, and other required materials to spread the required knowledge?

In a world of rapid access and instant everything, can we even compete with all that is available as humble teachers? I started with Russell Means, a key figure in Indian Activism for nearly forty-five years. Means is an actor who portrayed Chingachgook in The Last of the Mohicans alongside Daniel Day-Lewis.

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. “Kent Nerburn

“Yesterday is ashes; tomorrow is wood. Only today does the fire burn brightly.” Inuit proverb

I read this and wondered, perhaps, about an old version of the Aerosmith quote I use so often: ‘ Life is about the journey, not the destination.’ In the world of the Inuit, every moment is of utmost necessity, as life hangs in the balance constantly. There is a forward-looking line, knowing we need wood to keep the fire going and food to sustain a living, and yet the moment is crucial. Last night, I had a dream of teaching. Oddly, a teacher would dream of teaching, but it had significance to me as it was about teaching swimming. I started teaching swimming lessons when I was around twelve. In teaching swimming, you have to learn to swim. By swimming, you cannot learn as easily as by reading a book. I find it amazing how we have taken for granted and forgotten the simple concept of having context for the lesson. John Dewey would be rolling in his grave if he could see how much we have bastardized learning.

“Predicting the future is easy. It’s trying to figure out what’s going on now that’s hard.” Fritz R. S. Dressler

Create your future from your past, not your present. Werner Erhard

Recently, I assisted a friend in writing and designing a brochure for a program they were hosting. The front cover had a picture of a foundation and was worded something to the effect of building a solid foundation. For many people, life is trying to focus on the future, and they try to build a foundation based on a far-off goal. Often, they lose sight of what is here and now, instead focusing on what is immediate. The Inuit knew tomorrow they would need wood for the fire, which would be found, but the heat is here now while it burns. Often, we need a goal set out in the distance, but we must live in the present to achieve it.

“There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time, and the instrument plays itself.” Johann Sebastian Bach

Right now is the moment to proceed with building toward your goal. Bach could not create his masterpieces without spending time hitting the right keys and perfecting the music that would become timeless.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.” Yogi Berra

Many years ago, newspapers would joke about the yogism and poke fun at the great catcher for the New York Yankees. When he became a Major League Manager, they still made fun of his comments. However, upon examining this quote, there is little difference when discussing fire and wood; however, when you need the fire, there is certainly a borrowing from the Inuit statement I started with.

“Don’t do anything in practice that you wouldn’t do in the game.” George Halas

The great NFL coach was just as accurate in life. If you practice it in your life, you will do it. I often write about examples and strive to set a good example. It is in what we live that others see and understand us. I was walking in and noticed posters on a coach’s wall alluding to this concept. Several of the following were on his wall.

“If I don’t practice the way I should, then I won’t play the way I know I can.” Ivan Lendl

“We all knew there was just one way to improve our odds for survival: train, train, train. Sometimes, if your training is properly intense, it can be overwhelming. More often — much, much more often — it will save your life.” Richard Marcinko

Richard Marcinko was a former US Navy SEAL team commander and founder of the notorious SEAL Team Six, the group that took out Osama Bin Laden. He was an antiterrorist before it was being supported with federal tax dollars. Marcinko is now a security advisor and author writing about his exploits during Vietnam and after the tenuous period as terrorism shifted as a means to accomplish a group’s ends. His concept of practice and training kept both himself and his men alive.

If I miss one day of practice, I notice it immediately. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience will notice it. Ignacy Paderewski

An hour of practice is worth five hours of procrastination. Pancho Segura

I received an email months ago from a good friend announcing that she would be singing in a concert. Her email spoke of the joy and fulfillment she found in singing, performing, and perfecting the music. She was excited about her description of the upcoming event and the thrill of performing. But is it the hours of dedication the audience sees, and the emotions poured into over the hours of learning the music that is heard, not simply the one-hour recital at 7:00 on Saturday night? Life is about practicing and working at knowing the wood will be there to keep the fire going. Please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your heart’s thoughts. namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

docbird