THE LEARNING CLINIC WORLDWIDE

Posts Tagged ‘grateful’

Thursday, January 26, 2012. Today I am very grateful for teachers and prospective teachers, the world over. ~ Doc Meek, Teacher/Learning Specialist

Image from: http://amid-the-olive-trees.blogspot.com/2011/08/yin-yang-you.html

I am also very grateful for Melissa Kelly, Secondary Education Guide at ABOUT.COM, who sends me newsletters.

Here are some excerpts from Melissa Kelly’s recent newsletter to me about teacher pay, and other things:

ABOUT.COM: Secondary Education

Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Today I am grateful that my colleagues at TeacherPlanet.com reminded me: “Chinese New Year is celebrated this year on January 23rd. 2012 marks the year of the Water Dragon – something that only occurs every sixty years.” ~ Doc Meek

Image from: http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=2012-year-of-the-water-dragon-wallpaper-in-photoshop

EXCERPTS FROM TEACHERPLANET.COM NEWSLETTER TO DOC MEEK:

Monday, January 9, 2012. Today I am grateful for a “random act of kindness” that rescued a faltering funeral soloist. ~ Doc Meek

My brother sent this heart-warming and moving account.

• 
  
• On 31 December 2011, it was Dorothy Clark’s funeral. She is one of several women that Dorothy knew, at least as acquaintances, and had visited in hospital when they were ill, for example. She was 90-something, and had been a member of our ward at church for years and years. She had had a hip replacement not very many years ago, and the family thought then that she might not make it through. But she rallied, and learned to walk with it and everything. Recently, however, she had been quite ill (but mercifully, for only a relatively short time). During her illness, especially the last few weeks, she was completely at peace; and she had mentioned to family and friends that she was ready to go.

The funeral was a lovely service, and provided an especially poignant moment toward the end when Dorothy Clark’s Granddaughter sang a solo tribute, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” The purpose of this entry is to describe that moment as best I can. I was very moved by it, and so were many others in the congregation.

This Granddaughter, whom we scarcely know, is perhaps college age, or so. And she was accompanied at the piano by her Mother (the daughter-in-law of the deceased). This Granddaughter was clearly trained in voice, and started off confidently and bravely with a composure I could not have mustered in the circumstances, certainly not with that hymn, at any rate. She sang several verses with ease and grace, … even with charm and a very pretty smile. But when she came to the last verse, the text was a little too close to home, I think, and she began to lose her composure.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Now it so happens that sitting beside the organ console where she had been playing the prelude music and accompanying the congregational singing was this sister, perhaps middle-aged, and whom I only know because she is a very experienced and accomplished singer, and with many, many laudable performances to her credit in many venues. She was not a part of the solo tribute at all, just sitting there handy to the organ console where she would soon go to accompany the congregation in the closing hymn. The organ console is about three steps from where the soloist was singing..

The soloist got about three words into that final verse when it became clear that she was not going to be able to carry on, … at least not the way she would want to. The sister who had been providing the organ accompaniment for the service, stood up with her very best performance bearing, with a loving and supportive smile, and exuding firmness and strength that I could not have mustered, walked the two or three steps over to the soloist, locked her arm in hers, and began singing with her (without missing a beat or a note or a word) exactly as if they had rehearsed it as a duet a hundred times. She sang with her only the next phrase, whereupon the soloist regained some of her composure. And the other woman continued to sing, but much more quietly, so that it again became a solo performance. But she stayed there, arm-in-arm with that young soloist, flawlessly projecting the confidence and assurance that they now shared in some way, until the end of the piece.

She then comforted her with some words of encouragement, exchanged pleasantries with her, and the two of them sat down..It was just such a perfect, perfect gesture, rendered at exactly the perfect, perfect time and in the most perfect, perfect way, that there was not a single dry eye in the congregation, including mine. I would love to have the grace and skill and presence of mind to do something like that sometime. It was just so profoundly beautiful and loving that it made a measurable impact on the service. And others mentioned afterwards that it was just exactly the kind of thing that Dorothy Clark would have been able to do when she was alive and well. What a magnificent tribute..It is, methinks, a really good example of what true brotherhood and sisterhood is all about here in this mortal brier patch. This world would be a so much better place if there were more people who were willing and able to step up to the plate in such circumstances, and provide a helping hand just exactly as needed..I am filled with gratitude for that sister, for the soloist and for the privilege of being in the congregation to witness such a beautiful helping hand, filled with love and assurance and confidence and strength. .

Thank you, unknown support singer! Your example of “instant kindness” is inspiring to me!

Doc Meek, Mon, Jan 9, 2012, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

Monday, December 26, 2011. Today I am grateful for family who invited us for Christmas yesterday with the grandchildren! ~ Doc  Meek

It began looking a lot like Boxing Day early Monday, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. (James Murray/CBC)

Image from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/26/boxing-day-sales.html

“Boxing Day” in Canada has nothing to do with the “fight game.” It refers to the day after Christmas Day, when hordes of shoppers go hunting for post-Christmas bargains, and to exchange Christmas gifts that need exchanging.

One lady said to me, “It’s like ‘hand-to-hand combat’ in some stores, so I just stay home on Boxing Day!”

For me? I curl up with a good book, like best-seller “Lost December” by Richard Paul Evans, or “Potevka’s Gifts” by Mike Ramsdell (author of best-seller “A Train to Potevka”).

Whether you go out to engage in “hand to hand combat” in some stores, or stay in to curl up with a good book, my best to you this Christmas Season.

Doc Meek, Mon, Dec 26, 2011, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA

Thursday, November 3, 2011. Today I am grateful for newborns, the world over. They remind us of innocence, new beginnings and new hope!

In many ways babies (and children)  teach us more than we teach them, eh? ~ Doc Meek



Glad parents of new baby Serena

………………………………………………….

Dear Mom and Dad of Serena,

Sunday, October 23, 1939. Today I was born, and I am so grateful for my mother, who suffered much and long to bring me into the world today.  ~ James Collins Meek III

Sunday, October 23, 2011. Today (my Natal Anniversary!) I am so grateful to be an active learning participant in Paul Scheele’s transformational learning workshop. I wish with all my heart that my wife Jeannette were able to be here with me! ~ Doc Meek

Image from: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Brilliance-Paul-R-Scheele/dp/0925480541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319365080&sr=1-1

Or access Paul Scheele’s latest book, Drop Into Genius, at:

http://dropintogenius.com/

Or watch Paul discuss his book, Drop Into Genius, on YouTube:

Sunday, October 16, 2011. Today I am grateful for mothers and grandmothers, and children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren, to the latest generation, eh? ~ Doc Meek

Not My Actual Mom (if anyone with a photo of my Mom with a grandchild can show me how to put it in here, I’ll be forever grateful); image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/grandmother%20and%20child/stevencg1978/BobEdGrandmotherPearce.jpg?o=33

AHA! My friend David has shown me how to add my actual mother (with grandchild) here. This photo was designed to illustrate a grandmother/grandchild in an ancient culture [New Testament? Old Testament?]:

Grandmother & Grandchild, posed as if from a previous society

Today I wrote a letter to my siblings, plus their spouses, children, grandchildren, etc.

Sunday, October 16, 2001 @ Sherwood Park, AB  T8A 2J4, CANADA

Dear Siblings, Spouses, Children, Grandchildren, etc.,

Mom is 93 years old now, as you know.

This is a good time to think about writing Mom a nice letter, perhaps expressing appreciation for creating you, plus other onerous duties in your behalf, and for your welfare, all along the way.

Whatever comes to your heart.

Humor and jokes are always great. Meek’s tend to excel at that. Mom has a good sense of humor.

I say a letter because she treasures them, and can read them again and again.

This is a critical feature when your short-term memory does not retain the contents of the letter for more than a few minutes.

However the good feelings engendered by such letters last for a long time.

The feelings? ”They care about me.”

Visits and phone calls (soon forgotten) also help create good feelings, which remain:

“They care about me.”

Such feelings are very potent, as are the opposite feelings of course.

Mom’s Mom lived to be 98, so Mom has longevity in her intrinsic makeup.

However, in recent days, Mom is showing significantly reduced muscle strength and energy. In addition, it is less easy for her to maintain her balance when walking.

She continues her erratic sleep patterns.

All night long, it’s sleep-wake-read-sleep-wake-read-sleep (with her reading light still on).

I said to Mom, “Thank heaven you learned to read when you were a child. We are so lucky in our culture in that regard. What would you do now if you hadn’t learned to read?”

Also, in the daytime now, all day long, it’s sleep-wake-read-sleep-wake-read-sleep.

Mom says, “I don’t sleep a wink at night.” Sort of true. No solid refreshing sleep. And she awakes unrefreshed of course.

Mom says: “I don’t nap in the daytime, because it will ruin my sleep at night. I just lie down to rest because I am so tired all the time.”

Well . . . she dozes off in bed all day long. Good thing. She doesn’t get enough good sleep at night.

Really, it’s time to write a nice letter to Mom

As mentioned in my opening paragraphs above, this would be a good time to get out the pen and paper and write a nice letter and mail it (or better, drop it off, if that is feasible).

Mom doesn’t have the energy to sustain long visits anymore–unless a baby is part of the entourage of course.

In the case of the baby, then she has good energy–”forever,” throughout all eternity.

Loving Kindness, Collins

–

J. Collins Meek, Ph.D. (Doc Meek)

Neurological Learning Specialist

“What if your brain is smarter than you think?”

“What if your heart is more loving than you think?”

“What if you can work harder than you think?”

http://www.docmeek.com

THE LEARNING CLINIC WORLDWIDE, INC.

CANADA: P.O. Box 3105, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2T1

TONGA: Mele Taumoepeau, P.O. Box 60, Nuku’alofa

USA: Dr Meek (801) 738-3763, South Jordan, UT 84095

For brain health, also ensure heart health (short video):

http://www.amiraclemolecule.com/themeekteam

More on heart health: http://www.themeekteam.info

Ph (801) 971-1812 (Jeannette); Fax [801] 282-6026

===========================================

Saturday, October 8, 2011. Today I am grateful for the many people who are helping children and adults with with learning differences (often called learning disabilities, which is not exactly how I see these learning challenges that can contain gifts). ~ Doc Meek

Image from: http://www.goodblogger.net/2011/09/11/learning-disabilities/

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From “LD Online”: The world’s leading website on Learning Disabilities and ADHD: http://www.ldonline.org/calendar/ld

Learning Disabilities Awareness [Learning Differences Awareness] Month (October)

Explore below for:

• Information on LD
• Fun Activities
• Inspirational Stories
• More About LD
• History and Future of LD Awareness Month

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month [October in CANADA and the USA] is a time where people pay particular attention to children and adults with learning disabilities [learning differences]. During this month, LD OnLine asks each of you to teach one person something new about learning disabilities [learning differences]. You could, for example, introduce them to our newsletter or share an interesting article using the “Email” icon (located in the top right corner of every page).

Information on Learning Disabilities [Learning Differences]

Read A Primer on Learning Disabilities to find out what a learning disability [learning difference] is, what the different types of learning disabilities [learning differences] are, and what causes them.

Read these short articles to learn more about the specific types of learning disabilities [learning differences]:

• Dyslexia (reading problems)
• Dysgraphia (writing problems)
• Dyscalculia (math problems)
• Executive Function Difficulties (problems with organization)
• ADHD (trouble regulating attention)

Our glossary defines the vocabulary of special education.

Our timeline tells the history of learning disabilities.

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Fun Activities

Send an e-card to a teacher. The school year has just begun and an e-card about how a teacher has helped your child should get the year off to a great start.

Read a children’s book aloud to a child you know.

Visit our kids’ art gallery. Encourage your child to draw or paint a picture and submit it here.

Visit Sparktop, a website where kids with learning disabilities (or who learn differently) can create things, play games, connect with other kids, and discover new ways to succeed in school …and life.

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Inspirational Stories

Here are some success stories about overcoming disabilities to give hope and inspire solutions for similar problems you may be experiencing:

• My Son’s Disability, and My Own Inability to See It

How the special education system helped her child

• A Physician’s Story

How a doctor overcame a non-verbal learning disability to pass her medical boards

• Why I Love Audio Books

A person with dyslexia explains why he loves “reading” audio books

• The Handicap that Had No Name

How learning about the label of “learning disabilities” helped a college student understand herself

• The Journey Begins

How planning skills helped a man succeed in college, and on the job, despite his learning disabilities

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More About Learning Disabilities

Our LD Topics section tells you how to help children learn math,writing and spelling, reading, and how to study. You also can find out about:

• Homeschooling
• Transitioning from School to Work
• Non-Verbal LD

Here are some other helpful articles:

• Parents: Help your child succeed with tips from Life Success for Students with Learning Disabilities: A Parent’s Guide.
• Teachers: Learn how to teach social skills to your difficult students in Teaching Social Skills to Kids Who Don’t Yet Have Them.

Subscribe to our free LD Online Monthly Newsletter and Daily NewsLine to receive up-to-date resources and headlines on learning disabilities.

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History and Future of LD Awareness Month

October was originally designated in the United States as LD Month in 1985 through a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan. Learning Disabilities Association of Canada has celebrated an LD Month since 1987 and provides a toolkit to help you celebrate. For many years, learning disabilities organizations in the United States used the month to inform the public about learning disabilities through events and proclamations. LD Month is still commemorated in a few states. LD OnLine is considering a plan for public education in LD Month next year. Please contact us if you formally celebrated LD month this year, using “Positive side of LD” as your subject. We may feature your ideas next year.

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Thanks to all those who help children and adults with learning challenges!

Doc Meek, Sat, Oct 8, 2011, South Jordan, Utah, USA

Kingdom of Tonga

Flag ratio: 1:2

Naval Ensign.

Royal Standard.

The flag of Tonga was adopted on November 4, 1875.

The flag looks similar to the flag of the Red Cross. The flag was originally identical to that flag, but to avoid confusion, it was changed so that the red cross appeared as a canton of a red ensign, making it similar to the 17th century red ensign. The flag has been in use since 1864 but was officially adopted in 1875. Clause 47 of the Constitution of Tonga states: “The Flag of Tonga shall never be altered but shall always be the flag of the Kingdom.”

Flag images and text from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Tonga

Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Today I am grateful that Sisi Hingano, one of my Tongan Facebook Friends, sends me political news from the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific Islands. She also teaches me  some Tongan words as well. ~ Doc Meek, Neurological Learning Specialist

Thank you Sisi!

View Post on Facebook

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Doc Meek, Wed, Sept 21, 2011, Okotoks, Alberta, CANADA

Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Today I am so happy and grateful for my good connections with Tongans and the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific Islands. ~ Doc Meek, Neurological Learning Specialist

Beautiful Tongan sunset

Tongan sunset image from:

http://photo_artist.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=6231056

Watch a gentle Tongan sunset-time video at this link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKbnBHlUM4M

Lucky me! I got to see the Tongan culture and lifestyle first-hand, and for more than two years, thank heaven!

I was appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Education out of BYU-H (Brigham Young University-Hawaii) in 1999,  and sent to the Kingdom of Tonga with my beloved wife Jeannette. Both of us were appointed to participate in the ITEP (International Teacher Education Program) sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The teachers and students and the administrators all worked together to raise the student achievement dramatically.

Way to go Tonga educators!

They helped the students get higher marks and they also helped them change attitudes, behaviors, and cooperation with other students and teachers.

The results? Happier students and healthier students (and wealthier students, wealthy of mind).

They took the meaning of active learning beyond expectations.

And they took my “heads-hearts-hands-hope” inclusivity to a new high.

The Tongans taught me more than I taught them.

Tongans are generous of heart and mind, non-judgmental, and they loved and respected me.

And Tongans loved and respected my wife Jeannette even more.

Naturally! She’s better looking than I am!

And we loved and respected Tongans.

Forever.

Jeannette was a real hit with the students and their parents. She directed a 150-voice Tongan choir, mostly youth, and learned to appreciate the saying, “When Tongans sing, the angels sing with them.”

Tongans can sing 7-part harmony a capella, with ease and grace.

And they can dance too! Sometimes wildly. Wow!

Jeannette also taught an English class for young adults who had all failed to pass their “big English Test” in high school. Thus their gateway to higher education was closed to them (at least in their minds, and in the minds of their parents).

Permanent “doom.”  No hope.

Until Jeannette showed up and pointed out (dramatically):

“I don’t care how others have graded you. I am going to grade you up!”

She added (as some of the students thought this palangi [Caucasian] teacher might give them all an easy “pass”):

“We are going to study and write that exam again; then we are going to study and write that exam again; and then we are going to study and write that exam again!”

The students were stunned.

The thought of writing that dreaded exam again and again was not part of the cultural norm at that time.

If you flunked, you flunked. That was it. You were an “educational failure for life.”

Jeannette faithfully taught a class of 32 students (who came from far and wide when they heard about her famous English class).

Twenty-eight (28) went on to higher education. And the rest carried their newly-found self-confidence into other great opportunities.

We are forever grateful to the first student in Jeannette’s class: Uini, whose dear father asked Jeannette if she would help his daughter with English.

Thank you Tongans for the greatest two years in any land!

A special salute to the parents and teachers and students and administrators in all the Tongan Islands.

And a dozen “high fives” for Mele Taumoepeau, who was Principal of Liahona High School on Tongatapu during my time in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Mele made the hard work sing! Thank you, Mele!

Kindness, Doc

Doc Meek, Tues, September 13, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

P.S. My beloved wife Jeannette is now building her new health and wellness business, which is giving new hope and health and wellness to people with heart disease and diabetes:

http://www.amiraclemolecule.com/themeekteam