The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: Writing

  • Reconciling the importance of the present, past, and future to find balance

    Bird Droppings December 5, 2025 Reconciling the importance of the present, past, and future to find balance I spent the better part of the past few days in Southern Pines, North Carolina, visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids. On our way home, we side-tracked Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Huntington State Park for a quick…

  • One puzzle piece at a time, a secret formula for good teaching.

    Bird Droppings December 4, 2025One puzzle piece at a time, a secret formula for good teaching. “Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow How many times are we told “take your time”? So often in life, we are anxious to finish the job or…

  • To think, or at least trying tothis morning, my brain is foggy.

    Bird Droppings December 1, 2025 To think, or at least trying to this morning, my brain is foggy. In the past year, I tore my rotator cuff, and my heart went into A-fib. I have had five biopsies and four surgeries for skin cancer, and I am waiting to hear about the fifth biopsy. I…

  • Living a moment at a time

    Bird Droppings November 26, 2025 Living a moment at a time On Tuesday morning, I walked out into my yard to take a few photos after missing the sunrise. From the field behind us, a red-tailed hawk soared around once and landed in a large, black walnut tree next to us. It was only seventy-five…

  • I was listening to the stillness of a morning, the sunrise, and sometimes we need a window and not a mirror.

    Bird Droppings November 21, 2025 I was listening to the stillness of a morning, the sunrise, and sometimes we need a window and not a mirror.  I was sitting alone this morning, as I often do, after running, trying to get a few photos of the sunrise. Today, it was mostly foggy and cloudy and…

  • Within the circle of life, infinity exists

    Bird Droppings November 19, 2025 Within the circle of life, infinity exists I had a doctor’s appointment first thing this morning, and, as usual, I had Carlos Nakai playing on my radio as I drove. There is something about his calming music that, for me, is almost meditative. Over the past few days, I had…

  • I firmly believe that there is a spiritual aspect to teaching.

    Bird Droppings November 17, 2025I firmly believe that there is a spiritual aspect to teaching. I just arrived after an hour of driving around, chasing the sunrise. I got home, had some breakfast, and went outside to sit, listen, and photograph birds in my backyard. I periodically checked my Apple watch to see my heart…

  • Bird Droppings November 14, 2025Searching for a flower, the butterfly pea (Clitoria marina), in the winter or is it gone now forever Interestingly, I had two thoughts earlier in the morning, when I started the day, that made me think of the butterfly pea. One I heard on the radio was that I was heading…

  • Imagination is a key to unlocking a higher level of thought.

    Bird Droppings November 13, 2025Imagination is a key to unlocking a higher level of thought. Over the years, I have visited many places and met numerous people. In 1973, I was living in Macon, Georgia, and had the great privilege to meet Bill and Gerald Harjo. Gerald was in school at Mercer University finishing his…

  • Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are

    Bird Droppings November 11, 2025Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are I was asked at dinner one evening when I started teaching, and I responded that I was twelve. The group I was with was thinking I was being my typical sarcastic self. Then I explained that I started teaching swimming to beginners…