lemondrop

My Mom is a high school music teacher (and a great one at that). She returned home beaming late last night from her Christmas Concert, but not because the kids rocked it out on the trombones and clarinets, but because of an e-mail she later received from a proud parent. The e-mail was a very simple thank you for all the hard work she had put into the program, and the patience she had with the kids - it a was a short, thoughtful e-mail… but it made my Mom’s night. 

So, here’s where I propose a resolution. I don’t really make New Years resolutions, because quite frankly, I rarely follow through with the gusto I had in the beginning and that frustrates me. But, this year - here is my resolution - the one I’m starting today, on December 21, 2011, that doesn’t end in a year, or two years, or twenty years: Be the person who sends the e-mail. Be the person who takes an extra 2 minutes to make sure that somebody feels appreciated for their hard work. Just be that person. 

Happy Holidays, everyone. I appreciate you & I wish I could give you all hugs. Keep it up  & smile extra. 

<image via: Doug Aitken.>

A excerpt from my notes of the most memorable lecture of my University career. A passion-infused discussion on how to defend ourselves when people ask “Humanities? What are you going to do with that degree?”

Humanities as my major is what I will become. $80K, maybe not, but a well rounded dreamer? Certainly. There is a relationship between the humanities, and being a critically informed citizen. We are not simply our job! We are citizens with responsibilities! The exact years in which we have grown up have showed the most elemental changes to our world & it’s structures… ever. As humanities majors, we slow things down, and make people think! We make them think “why?”

We, in humanities are DREAMERS. 

Tuition well spent.