Posts by Pat:
Who else has ever crammed for a test?
Cramming versus the Law of the Farm!
Did you ever “cram” in school? Goof off during
the semester, then spend all night before the big test trying to cram a semester’s worth of learning into your head?
In our social culture we sometimes think we can dismiss natural processes, cheat the system, and still win the day. And for some of those high school or college classes, it worked. At least for passing the test!
In the short term, cramming may appear to work.
Yet it takes time and effort spent reading the textbooks, listening to the teacher, and doing the homework to give us the mastery of the subject we are studying.
How many of us wish now we hadn’t crammed? We got the degree but didn’t get the education. We passed the test but didn’t come away with the knowledge.
Can you imagine
trying to cram on the farm?
Can you imagine forgetting to plant in the spring, flaking out all summer, and hitting it hard in the fall-ripping the soil up, throwing in the seeds, watering, cultivating- and expecting to get a bountiful harvest overnight?
In the long run, the Law of the Farm governs most areas of our lives. The Law of the Farm means we have to plant the crop we want first. Then cultivate, water and weed our plot. All this before we get to harvest. It takes our planning, time, and effort to be successful in harvesting what we desire.
There are lots of areas in our lives where cramming doesn’t work!
We eventually find out there’s a difference between succeeding in our school system and succeeding in the development of our mind skills.
It takes our time and effort to develop the ability to think analytically, creatively, at deep levels of abstraction, to hone the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing ,and to rise above outmoded practices and solve problems in newer, better ways. Cramming doesn’t work here.
And what about character? Can you cram and suddenly become a person of integrity? Cramming doesn’t work here.
Or physical health? Can you overcome years of a potato chip, chocolate cake, no exercise life by spending the night before the marathon working out in the gym? Cramming doesn’t work here.
What areas in your life have you been successful with cramming?
What areas in your life have you paid the price with your energy, time and effort and earned your rewards by using the Law of the Farm?
A week ago, “Boston” hadn’t happened
Life changes in the blink of an eye. And we just think that it can’t happen to us. My son has run in a number of the Boston marathons over the years, so last week’s events came home to me a bit sharper than it might have otherwise. But whether as an individual or […]
Spring Cleaning and Your Life
How does spring make you feel? Does it lighten your heart as it does mine? It feels like a new beginning, a fresh start that begs me to open my internal windows and release the stale and tired emotions I’ve carried all winter. I feel a light breeze of peace and positivity wash over […]
The way to begin a new beginning…
Divine discontent happens when something new beckons, and you are hesitating. You are trying to find satisfaction in a world that’s too small for you. You want to stay there because it’s familiar, and yet it no longer serves you. It’s like a chick in an egg. First, it’s comforting, and then, as the chick […]
What do you do with your lemons?
From the lives of children come many of life’s inspirations! One such story that has touched my heart is that of Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was diagnosed just before her first birthday with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. In 2000, just after turning 4 years old, she informed her mother she wanted to start […]
Ducks-a symbol of versatility?
Perhaps I’ve chosen an unusual symbol. But hey, folks have often said that I come up with an unusual take on things. So here it is: Versatility is a good thing. I want to be versatile. Ducks are versatile. “What’s that you say?” Yeah…I know it’s quirky. But ducks are adapted to the 3 […]
Your imagination list
In clearing out some old files, I found this fascinating list in an old Toastmasters’ newsletter that I thought you might find thought-provoking too! Here’s just a few from the list: The Imagination List What color is today? What does happiness look like? What does your self-image sound like? What is the weight of […]
Your A-MAZING life!
The best laid schemes o’mice and men often go astray. Robert Burns 1759-1796 With the maze as a metaphor for your life, you can examine what choices you have made. Whether the maze you find yourself in is self-made or not, it is one that no doubt has contained a number of false starts, […]