Traffic lights are big. Bigger than you think. If you’re driving on the road, the traffic lights and street signs look like they might fit in the palm of your hand. When one comes down, or you get to see it close up, you realize that they’re much bigger than you think. It makes me reflect on the nature of problems, and how they seem to appear out of nowhere. Problems only turn into problems when they’re right in front of us.

The average male is about 5 ft 10, and I stand at a meager 5 ft 6, which makes me short. The interesting thing was that I never really noticed my shortness until it was pointed out once, in my 20’s. Ever since then, I identified as a short person. But I often wonder what would’ve happened if that person hadn’t pointed out my shortness, causing me to acquire a new piece of identity.

+++ title = “10” date = 2018 +++ Maybe you’re a doctor who watches medical shows and throws the remote against the TV. Or maybe you’re a reporter who watches shows like The Newsroom. Hell, maybe you’re even a barista getting frustrated by watching the coffee-making employees at Central Perk on Friends. I can’t imagine what astronauts and scientists think about sci-fi shows. For me, it’s being an educator and watching TV shows about teaching.

+++ title = “10” date = 2018 +++ About a year ago, I was in Orland for a work event, so I found some time with my colleagues to sneak off to Universal Studios. Mostly, I was interested in seeing Harry Potter World. Walking into the park, I felt the exact same way I did as a kid: completely excited and ready for some kind of adventure. I remembered, in the back of my mind, how huge the rides felt… how it felt like you were actually in whatever movie was being modeled, how there was actual fire, and water spraying and…

Sanity is fleeting these days. I feel it. You probably feel it too. Most of this discomfort seems to do with a certain balance between certainty and uncertainty. On one hand, predictability and routine make us feel safe and comfortable. Maybe it’s the 30-something in me, but I love waking up and feeling like I can predict what will happen in my day. In fact, one of the first things I learned when I became a teacher is how much kids love routine.