These thoughts are a response to the tweet from Fred Cuellar on Twitter

Related Reading:
​The School Question 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I was taking the time to think about my previous thoughts, particularly with this idea of racism, and the fact that it exists in today's day and age. It is a given that everyone has heard of this term, so why does this still exist? As I mentioned previously, it is not about not knowing, it's more about ignorance and understanding why the problem still exists. We live in societies where systems are constructed, or set-up so that barriers faced by people of color and visible minorities continue to exist. Now that we have established that the problem still exists, and why they continue to exist, can we or will we do anything to reduce these barriers, so that they can be eliminated?

​     Barriers that have been in place through systems cannot be extinguished in one day. The creation and also the elimination are a process. This is how social change, and evolutions take place. No one is useless, no one single person. But the ones who have faced these exclusions for years, and years on end slowly feel that this is all there is, and that the barriers will continue. Of course the barriers exist. This is not to say that one should not try. For those pushing through the boundaries, and those who are paving the ways to eliminate barriers, these can be achieved if we continue to keep the attitude that it can be done. For those who face barriers and for those who seek to eliminate barriers, know that the only factor that separates the minority from the majority is - opportunity. 

Dedication: The words of this human being are dedicated to all beings. Keep seeking until you find, never give up hope. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on November 28th, 2017.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that the other day I came across a quote as follows:

I began to think about the second part of this quote and why the writer would think about the creation of the school boards in this sense. As someone who is studying the field of education (Human Development), I began to think that the field of teaching and learning is pointless. Then I thought about my views from the parents perspective, who basically had to fight her way through to ensure that her child received access to education, through the lens of equity, and also the fact that sometimes we don't even agree with what is being taught in the classrooms, because if you think about it, the curriculum is a political document. Where the views of the Government of the day, as well as attempts to re-make, re-work and instill a sense of nationalism, and also the teacher will use these documents to teach what is important to them. Of course my thoughts vary according to subjects, as Math, Science, or technical skills that require the teachings of skills, more than developing social, political views. We can even think of the quote through a historical lens. How have school boards repressed the rights of specific populations historically? How have they empowered the rights of specific populations?

     We cannot go back in time to correct the wrongs, but the value of history is that we have access to what worked, and what did not, effects, and causation. The only thing that is stopping us from achieving a more equal society is ignorance and intolerance. We can take this point when we interpret or read articles, or history. Some may like what we introspect, and some will not. But the truth is that to deny history, or the introspection of history is a form a ignorance. 

     So what are we to do with the school boards, or even the study of the field of education? The fact is that school boards exist, and therefore the study of education will continue. But knowing the histories, and the imperfections should be sought of as an opportunity for continuous improvement, this is where the study of education is vital. We cannot be critical of one system, and praise another, knowing that there are flaws in all. Every flaw is an opportunity. The question is will flaws be actively turned into opportunities, or will leadership, or those who have the power to enact change remain ignorant to the inequities?

Dedication: The words of this human being are dedicated to all beings, there is an immense value to +/- history. Read it, study it and most importantly question it. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on November 27th, 2017.
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Related Reading: 
​The Heart's Refinery

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I was taking the time to reflect upon my previous thoughts, particularly the idea about not letting the heart go hard. This can happen through our experiences of bitterness, pain, and hurt. We allow the emotions to seep in, and slowly they take over. We don't see beyond these. To demonstrate these thoughts we can think about the Grinch who stole Christmas, or Scrooge, in A Christmas Carol, he was cold-hearted and did not like Christmas. We try to protect and shield the self, because we don't want to continue to experience bitterness, pain, or hurt, without realizing that the shield is disallowing the warmth and beauty of love. However, the shield could be thought of as ice. 

     Ice is a substance that even when it is a solid - frozen, it allows energy inside. It is the energy that allows the ice to change forms. In this sense we could think of our body, flesh and outer edges as a type of ice, that is protecting us, protecting the heart. But at the same time the ice allows the warmth of love inside, it keeps us in this state of vulnerability, loving, and caring, even when it  hurts to do so. We can think of Elsa's sister, Anna in the film, Frozen. Her heart was turning to ice, which was causing her to slowly freeze, luckily she was saved. This is am important lesson that we can all learn from. Never allow the heart to turn to ice.

Dedication: These words are dedicated to all human beings, never allow the heart to turn to ice. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on 26th Novemeber 2017.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The truth is that the other day was Veterans Day, and the beauty of this holiday is that it reminds us of the services and sacrifices veterans have made for the sake of a nation, in this case America. I would like to echo the words of President Trump who said that veterans are a nations treasure. I agree with this thought, because we can never forget those that have protected and defended a nation. As we honor our veterans, we also remember those who are serving on this present day, and we also pray for the future. This is the point that I would like to focus on., because as we thank those who have served, and also are presently serving, we must do our best to prepare those who will serve in the future. This means that those who are presently serving must be future orientated, futurist, thinkers, imaginistic, about their vision for the world, our Earth, and also nations, meaning that what we envision for a brighter future has to begin to be put in place, at present moments.

     For this to happen it also means to work with the present and also veterans who have previously served, for the understanding of a collective vision. Often we will encounter resistance from present, and also previous service members, because what is presently envisioned is not what they fought for, defended or protected. But this is what social evolution, innovations are about. Not only this, we humans want to continuously evolve, especially as we are seeking rapid growths of technology, information, globalization, and other mechanisms that are used to protect and defend a nation. 

   However, with all the rapid evolutions, and innovation comes this immense responsibility to our uses, and how we ourselves will handle growth. Growth, innovations, and futuristic thinking does not mean that we forget how we got to the points that we are at today. It means that we honor, remember, and it also means to put what is envisioned for a brighter future in place, even if it is met with resistance. Ultimately this is a responsibility to the generations for the future, who are the future care-takers of the world. I cannot think of a greater responsibility than this.  

Imagine The Future! :) PPF = Past, Present and Future.

Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to those who have served, who continue to serve, and those who are building the generations who will serve. The future care-takers of the world. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 
​
Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on November 25th, 2017.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I was taking the time to reflect upon this idea of worry or anxiety. We all come across these points of emotion within our life, however the level of this emotion will vary from human to human, depending upon the situation or circumstances, or life experiences. But what is common for all of us is this fight to survive. We could take the example of the death of a loved one, or a family member. When this happens, we as human beings want the hurt, the pain to go away. We fight with this, because we don't want to feel this pain. From initial shocks, to denial, pain, and then finally acceptance, to coping. We fight with that which we don't want, or that which is hurting. We can think of tribal ages, where tribes would gather to defend and protect their people. As societies have evolved, we have found ways of coping, but what I don't think will ever change is the reactionary processes, that are rooted in our human instinct to survive. Sometimes we all act, behave, think in a way that will be hurtful to others, the people around us, those who love us might not understand our responses, because we ourselves are fighting. It is easy to forget that we all have this intense desire, craving to be loved, even when the fight / flight reactionary processes are taking place. 

     This is where we have to remind ourselves of gentleness, vulnerability, and peel away the hardened edges of the heart, that are shielding us, to find the purity of the heart, our human essence. We have to open the heart to love, at the level of understanding, even if it hurts. We want to survive through our losses, and gains, no one person, or one nations people are better than others. Let us peel away the hard edges of the heart, and remind ourselves that we all have this yearning and longing to be loved. No one has the right to trespass upon a wound​, and no one has the right to exploit or manipulate a wound. 

Dedication: The words of this being are dedicated to all the innocent lives that have been lost in Egypt, with a death toll of now 305. Let us heal, and peel away the hard edges of the heart. One nations people are better than other nations people. 

​Notes: These thoughts were hand - written on November 25th 2017.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that this week I decided to share thoughts as gentle reminders for thankfulness. I did this through Instagram posts without the use of hashtags. Even though a hashtag is helpful and can allow others to find related thoughts, I simply wanted to put a thought out there, without any mechanics, simply to be read, inspire or encourage. As I was creating this profile, I thought about who I am, what is my identity. Then I wondered about identity, the hats that we wear, or identify as. We could be students, educators, service workers, entrepreneurs, parents, but what about being human? Could we for a moment forget about the many identities that we carry, and remember our human essence? Or even with the identities we carry, remember our human essence? The intricate link that we all share is being, human. So I decided to be known as Mom, one of the identities that I carry. Someone who wants to try her best to love, nurture, without any judgement, share experience and thoughts for life.

     In this life it is a given, as with the many identities that we carry, we also carry the experiences that come in all forms. Sometimes happy, sad, pain, laughter, there are times that we will be utterly broken, and there are times where we will be utterly happy. This is life. Through all of the experiences, we will find that our emotions are intricately attached to others, or our experience with others. These could be of those who we have lost, as much as we try to keep happy, embrace and be grateful for our life, to keep on living, the voids of loss can never be filled. It is the wounds that simply find ways to cope, heal, and soothe. This is also the beauty of being human. The human soul needs time to grieve, and begin to heal through the little things that allow us to treasure those who we have lost. We never loose loved ones, and those we have lost. They are within us, in our hearts. 

     As I close my eyes and be grateful and thankful for the precious lands, our people, our nation, the ones who have served, and are serving, the families, the ones who have passed, and the ones who are with us, I take a moment to thank God. I thank God for the breath I breath, the heart that beats, and hope that on the day that I am finally laid to rest, that I have outworked every limb, and performed every duty and desire of the heart. So that this land, nation, our people, and family will feel that my body, my heart beat was worthy to live upon this Earth, our World, and our Planet. 

Happy Thanks Giving! :) 

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
​with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on 22nd November 2017.
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Eternal Forgiveness Is From God. Shazi! :) 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that we often hear of forgiveness we humans have been wronged. It happens and this is true. We can forgive others who have hurt us, but we must also remember that we are human's ourselves, and also prone to error. We ourselves make errors. So for the one who has asked for forgiveness, and for the one who is one the receiving end, both should know that error can happen on all sides. Yet, how we pick each other up from the errors on this path of forgiveness, what we do, and the words that we share will effect, and impact this journey towards forgiveness. Ultimately we are humans, and imperfect. The truest forgiver is the higher being, or what we can also name as God. 

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Related Reading:
No Child Left Behind

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I was taking the time to think about my previous thoughts with regards to race. I think that it is sad that I have to write about race and the fact that racism occurs to this day. As mentioned previously, I really don't think that individuals don't know that racism exists, it is more to do with ignorance, and ignoring this thinking that it will go away. Or doing or saying nothing because you don't want to get involved etcetera.

     I then related these thoughts to the classroom, where a teacher is confronted with many different issues, of course these vary depending upon the physical make - up of the students in the classroom. What happens when a teacher decides to act or not act when there are disruptions, or even decides to teach, or not to teach material that explores or unpacks the topics of racism? when we leave topics or questions left out, it is another contribution to the status quo. 

     Sometimes educators want to teach, and do their job. Some will go further to explore and unpack the topics. At the end of the day not everyone will engage further with the topics at the level of disruption, because as an educator this does not mean that you can do, or say as you please. The field of course is regulated, as are the rights of teachers that are protected through unions. Who wants to put their body or voice on the line? Not every teacher will want to. So here we are confronted with another issue - even if the teacher desires to teach or explore issues that are sensitive, it will require care and consideration, because there are particular curriculum that must be adhered to, and also the governing of the field of education. So how far does one go?

     Educating is a political act, weather we think it is or not, because what is taught is political, because there are constants, and there are also constraints. Often these factors of what is taught is not because of the teacher, but because of the larger issues regulation. With this also comes the question of exposure, how much do we want our students to be exposed to the controversies? But the redundancy of this question is that students are being exposed everyday through various social media, and also life experience. And of course it is these factors that cannot be ignored if there is disruption, or the students need to discuss issues, topics, or have questions in the classroom. So who really gets to decide what is taught in the classroom? 

     I think that it is the student who gets to decide. Of course the teacher prepares the lesson or materials, how the students engage with those materials will determine the direction of the lesson, or the learning. We all know that there is more to learning than the learning of knowledge, through the process we cannot ignore the processes of socialization that take place in the schooling environment, which will impact what and how students learn. 

     I argue that educators should not sway away from controversy, or topics of sensitivity because there is a wealth of teaching that can occur, often it might mean that the teachers re-learn or understand why the topics of race or racism need to be explored, even if they have not experienced these themselves. These thoughts can be transferred to any topic that discusses minorities, or where there is sensitivity.   Sometimes the teaching of topics means to have a supportive group of teachers, and also leadership that is committed to equity.

Below is a diagram that I have created to assist with the understanding of my thoughts.

How far are you willing to go to challenge boundaries / status quo?

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Dedication: The thoughts of this human being are dedicated to all human beings. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on November 19th, 2017.
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We are proud of our Houston Astros who continue to win the Major League Baseball Player awards. Well done team, thank you for supporting your team mates! :)