Any chance I get to align myself with Albert Einstein, I'll take. He shined.
He said this: "If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the answer, I would spend the first 55 minutes figuring out the proper questions to ask. For if I knew the proper questions I could solve the problem in less than 5 minutes."
Oh, how I wish we could have an hour of his time on this day - National Question Day.
I would take copious notes on the the questions he posed about the single most important social issue that I think I is facing our nation. A problem upon which our future does, in fact, depend on the answer.
Education.
With so much to worry about regarding our educational system - standardized testing; teaching to the lowest performing student, at what seems like the expense of our best and brightest; budget cuts; increased student-teacher ratios; low expectations and high incidents of grade inflation; plummeting scores when it comes to creative thinking; and so on and so on and so on - I would love to hear which questions Mr. Einstein posed.
We don't have access to Einstein, but we are a community of readers who Shine and who care about educating future generations of people who Shine. And, we have at least 55 minutes to figure out the proper questions to ask.
Join us in celebrating National Question Day by visiting us in today's comment section and asking at least one thoughtful question about our country's educational system.
Shining off until tomorrow...
I'll see your William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, and raise you one Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of America.
Today marks 99 years since the Girl Scouts were founded in Savannah, Georgia, so I thought we should celebrate by featuring a current day Girl Scout who is busy living the principles of this preeminent organization.
"Caitlyn is a freshman in high school and one of what is today becoming a rare thing. She is proud to say she is a girl scout. Today's girl scouts are far different than of yesteryear. They're not all about crafts and songs.They are strong, courageous, caring young women with a strong drive to make a difference in the world. Caitlyn is involved on so many levels in the organization. She volunteers at day camp mentoring younger girls, helping them to learn archery, canoeing, kayaking, high ropes, to name just a few fun things at camp. She serves as an annual delegate representing her area, and this November she will represent her Council as a National delegate in Houston, Tx. to help kick off the 100th anniversary celebration of Girl Scouts. On Feb. 24, she was one of 100 Girl Scouts from all over the state of Ky that "stormed the capital" in Frankfort, sitting in on committee meetings, and Senate sessions. Caitlyn also volunteers each month at her counties Dare to Care food distribution to needy families, helping to sort and bag food. Caitlyn has earned her Bronze and Silver awards, and has started on her Gold award, the highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouts. So why should Caitlyn be selected? I can't think of anyone that cares more for the environment, animals, freedom and democracy, and humanity in general, than Caitlyn. And Caitlyn truly lives by the girl scout law that says, "Be a sister to every girl scout". She's always helping someone else, she would be so amazed that someone thought of her."
Celebrate National Girl Scouts Day, honor Juliette Gordon Low, and recognize our recipient in one fell swoop. It's easy. Here's how:
Simply write Caitlyn a short note letting her know how impressive you think her commitment is to this organization and congratulate her on her long standing involvement with Girl Scouts. Maybe even help her see the work she is doing is helping to carry on the legacy of Juliette Gordon Low.
Then seal your letter in a yellow envelope and place the words, Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address. Commit to sending your envelope to the mailing address listed below, sometime before next Saturday when we meet again to recognize our next worthy recipient.
Caitlyn M.
987 Vance Road
Turners Station, KY 40075-7347
And if you are still itching to celebrate National Girl Scouts Day then do what I intend to do. Eat a Thin Mint right out of the freezer.
Shining off until Monday...
Keeps the doctor away!
Greetings all. Cheryl here to continue our month long recognition of fun holidays using Brownielocks.com as our guide.
Everyone shout "HAPPY JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY!"
I have learned so much about the apple in the preparation of this post. Of course, we all know that incorporating an apple into our diet is a healthy, smart choice. Apples have no fat, cholesterol or sodium, and contain small amounts of potassium, which may promote heart health, help maintain healthy blood pressure and a healthy weight. And that my friends is just the tip of the iceberg.
The apple has been around since ancient times- hmm, Adam and Even, anyone? But my favorite reference of the apple goes back to Greek and Roman mythology where the apple was used as a symbol for.... wait for it... love and beauty. Apples were used in courtship and marriage ceramonies where you may have heard, "You're the apple of my eye."
Did you know that you could eat a different variety of apple everyday for more than 19 years and not eat the same variety twice? That's a lot of apples! Personally, give me a Honeycrisp! It's my favorite.
I could go all Bubba Gump on you: Apple Pie, Apple Crisps, Apple Cider, Apple Turnovers, Apple Butter, Applesauce, Apple Juice, Carmel Apples, Candied Apples, Apple Martinis but, I won't.
Let's not even get started on Apple, Inc. Oh, how I love an iPod.
Alas, today is not National Apple Day- it's Johnny Appleseed Day.
So, who was Johnny Appleseed? In just a brief synopsis, John Chapman was born in 1974 in Massachussets. He is an American Legend. He was an eccentric, devout man that worked on an apple orchard when he was young and spent his adult life traveling through the midwest encouraging others to grow apple trees while spreading the Swedenborgian gospel.
He was in the business of Spreading Shine! And, that's why I think you should Eat More Apples!
Signing off until tomorrow.... when you'll want to tune in to discover another deserving Yellow Envelope Project nominee.