And although the rain passed through, saving Halloween for trick or treaters, we only had one small group visit.
I'm always drawn to reading about learning and education, and two recent books that I've read (How We Are Failing Our Brightest Kids and How Children Succeed) have mentioned Martin Seligman's research--so I ordered Martin Seligman's Learned Optimism. If the authors of the other two books thought Seligman's book was important, I wanted to give it a shot.
Whew, I'm still slowly reading this one.... I've been through stages of denial, thinking and rethinking, and acceptance about some things concerning myself (yeah, I was reading the book to see why it was so important to innovative educators--not to have to learn about me). Truthfully, I have been--sort of peripherally--aware of certain elements about my thinking process, but have avoided giving it too much consideration. Kind of that "it is what it is" attitude.
The book includes a test. Oops, that is when I began the process of denial and eventual acceptance. Not only a pessimist, but an almost off the chart pessimist.
NO! Well, maybe. OK. But, at this late date, can I change?I often read a book a day, but this one--I'm slowly, slowly digesting, reading only a little at a time. Mostly because I digress into my own situation. Not only about my passivity and reluctance to make decisions for which I might be held responsible, but also about how I can change my internal dialogue.
Just when I was successfully dealing with my pessimistic "explanatory style," Seligman shakes it up and discusses the role of pessimism, mentioning that pessimists/depressives often evaluate situations more accurately than do optimists.
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Don Williams songs have been in my head so frequently lately (Lord, I Hope this Day Is Good and Good Ole Boys Like Me).
I woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago with "Lord, I Hope this Day Is Good" running through my head. I wasn't at all depressed (certainly, "not feeling empty and misunderstood"), but rather hopeful, and it seemed auspicious. Then a few days later, a blogging friend asked if anyone remembered Wolfman Jack--and I was off to listen to "Good Ole Boys." If ever there was a song that symbolizes a literary and musical Southern reminiscence--it is "Good Ole Boys Like Me."
Then I discovered that he will be appearing here November 14! I ordered tickets immediately as an anniversary gift for Fee (& uh, me). Our anniversary was Thursday, Oct. 29--44 years! OMG!
