Opinions...every one has them!

Well, today is November 8, 2011. It's Election Day here in Indiana and I have always been told that unless I vote I don't really have a reason to publicly share my opinion on those who hold office around me. So, I'm heading out after this blog post to take part in my civic duty and right to vote, so that I can share my personal opinions about the shape and state of my community and country!

Now, I've been sitting here thinking this morning about all of this and you know me, I always seem to find a way to draw it back to schools! Many folks I talk to on a weekly basis would like to tell me how bad their schools have gotten or the lack of respect and the bad behavior many students possess in their community.

My question is always, "What are you doing to change that?"

I've had this mentality since I was in middle school, because I used to see myself as a victim of my circumstances (and we've all been there!). I was overweight, nerdy, definitely not able to afford designer clothing and so therefore I allowed myself to see myself as a victim. It wasn't until one teacher got ahold of me and helped me realize that those things were only materialistic and outward, but it was what I possessed on the inside of me that made me unique. It made me Josh Pearman, and I had to allow that to come out in spite of my circumstances. No matter how much money my family had, no matter what kind of clothes I wore. No matter how obese I was in the moment those things could all be temporary. They are changable. The talents, intelligence and drive that lived within me was what was unique only to me.

I could harness what was uniquely within myself to change the outward things surrounding me. So often we see the worst in people, in the world, in our students. But we don't want to think that WE could be the catalyst needed for change. Change takes time. It's typically not instantaneous and it definitely requires work and investment of TIME!

So many of us don't have that luxury. Or at least we don't allow ourselves that luxury. Think of it like this...you and I have the same amount of hours in our day as the founders of America. The same 24 hours of the day that Elvis Presley or Steve Jobs had. The same 24 hours in each day that Jesus and his disciples had to work with! We have allowed ourselves to be over-stimulated by technology and other wasteful things that hog our time! Let's work to invest what little time we do have to affect change in those around us! Then, after having done all of that, if nothing changes we can at least say we did our part!

Josh