Educational Excellence

Happy Hump Day, yeah!

It seems lately that I have been taking on some serious stuff, handling most of it pretty well … and with no complaints … and a little help from my friends! Just yesterday afternoon, after handling some issues with Bank of America and my checking account, I felt helpless … somewhat frustrated … and wanted to talk to my mother! Has that ever happened to you? It happens to me occasionally and I interpret that as her overseeing my carefulness in making decisions … especially those that frustrate me. People act “strange” sometimes … On my day job yesterday, I had one potential client telling me how special I was as we talked about her recovery from an illness and how she feels that the ONLY way she is here today is because of her Creator whom she chooses to call God. Then, I had one guy just answer his phone yelling and cursing as if he had “Ebola” or something!! No, this is not an “Ebola” joke … I wonder how people get so upset over a phone call … and what would happen if they had a REAL problem and how they would handle THAT! Say, on a battlefield in Afghanistan … would they still talk so much?! “Making something negative out of nothing … hmmmpfff!”

I have been “doing” Educational Excellence since like 2002. It has always been close to my heart as I try to make it something relevant … mostly to myself … but happy when other people find good things in EE that they can use in their lives! It is not about being “famous” or making lots of money. It keeps me humble, perhaps, so that if one day, I make a lot of money, I will know exactly what to do with it … as well as other resources that I share. It is easy to share love and peace … even happiness or humility. But these things aren’t so popular amongst most people or “the media”, if you will, so … we don’t value “them” much! What a travesty. That is why I keep doin’ what I do. I don’t want to be popular and I don’t want to be liked … though I like being appreciated for what I do. If those things come to me, I will humbly accept them and continue to be who I am. Yet, if those “things” don’t come to me, you can bet I will still be who I am.

On Friday, I will be doing a talk at Parkway Middle School here in Fort Lauderdale to a group of “at risk” boys. Now, this came about not because I know someone rich and powerful (ie – Trump). This came about because one of EE’s readers, Solveig Kirker, also a long time friend of mine, was at her son’s school for a meeting. She met a teacher, Patrick Cure Leon, who stated to her that he works with a “tough crowd”, so to speak. She told him that she had a friend – that would be me – who had a small business working with “at risk” youth. She gave him my information, she called me and told me, he called me … and we’re on for Friday morning!! Thank you Solveig, who, by the way is from Norway … super “Mary Kay” mom and a great cook! It is also Halloween, and the last day of an important month focusing on “breast cancer awareness” as well as domestic violence. October is almost over and “Oktoberfest” celebrations are closing and we embrace the Autumn season. Can we embrace each other as well? Can we embrace love , peace and happiness in its simplest forms while we “do ourselves”, so to speak? I think so!

Have a great Hump Day, y’all! I love doin’ what I do!

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Monday, All!

Here’s to hoping your weekends went well and that you are ready for another wonderful week. I know that I am … full of gratitude … and peace. You know, it’s been a while now that I have been referring to myself as “Peace Boy” just to offset that little “angry guy” that used to come up way more often than I would like to admit! Yes, while I always tried to keep a smooth demeanor, certain things would really set me off like lying to me, and in the case of women, cheating on me. I could never understand why people did either, and, I even “tried them on for size” several times. Neither fits me well! Then, one day “we” learn that what other people do, is not necessarily a reflection on ourselves … it is a reflection on THEMself!

Yesterday, I had the fortune of having a full day! Yes, I even went downtown Saturday night where they had a beer festival … I don’t drink beer … but I had a great time looking at all the costumes as the street had been blocked off for the “block party”! After yoga at 11am Sunday morning, I met up with a client, a gent from Brazil, and we worked on accent reduction and proper pronunciation of words since he is a barber and needs to constantly talk to people. It went well. Afterwards, I drove down A-1-A in Fort Lauderdale, stopped by a few places I know, including Beach Place, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of a sunny Sunday afternoon on the Fort Lauderdale Strip!! Not many places like it … that I like so much, anyways!! Soon, I headed to Hollywood, FL to ArtsPark where the Brhama Kumaris hold their monthly “world peace meditation” in a beautiful area with trees, well kept foliage … and even a few colorful fountains as night comes on.

The topic was “finding peace within yourself”. As Roz did opening remarks and the music of a softer nature without lyrics played in the background, we all gathered in a semi-circle to begin the meditation. We also did some “Qui gong” breathing and stretching as a group to cleanse our inner organs. Sister Shirleen, a Brahma Kumaris now living in Jamaica, directed our thoughts to embrace peace. Her question was: “If we are peace, why are we always looking for it … and love and happiness?” The answer lies within . . . she had us discover. Once she finished, we again listened to some very soft meditative music as Kevin took us on a guided meditation “around the world” to different cities, where he spoke about how the people were “getting along” in these major cities in a peaceful loving fashion. This is what meditation is … quieting yourself … finding that peaceful place within, developing it, and learning to return to it with ease, time and time again. It was very fulfilling, uplifting … and yes … peaceful.

May we learn to value ourselves, what we are in our most natural state of peace and love and happiness. May we learn to share that with others ….

Peace,

John I. Cook

T.G.I.F.! … for starters!!! So, now Canada gets to test their terrorist preparedness. You all can see that people are losing it … from ALL walks of life. I mean, folks are doing some bold near “boundless” things today … and to each other! Harshness is almost cool in the most interesting moments of some discussions. Now, I don’t have a problem with sharing and sharpening knowledge amongst friends and associates because there is a tactful way of doing that … even if one is “right”!

Did any of you see the news clips on this character in Ottawa? Wow!! I mean, to convert to Islam … or whatever … and then attack the people of the very country you are LIVING in … I don’t get it!! I know for some, it seems logical. It’s like when kids run away from home … for real or for a prank … and they always come back. Of course, if their Creator is willing, they will escape harm and get back “home”! These guys (and gals as with the girlfriend of the Marathon bomber) hang out “here” in this country … eating the food, drinking the water, driving the cars here (or there, as in this case in Canada) and then want to harm innocent people who haven’t directly harmed them?! What a perspective in life!!

The latest incidents that have shocked me are the ones here in SoFlo where high school kids are “tweeting” stuff about attacking fellow students and teachers AT school! Several students have been arrested in Coral Springs in the recent past for threatening “posts” on Twitter ranging from coming to “shoot up” the school to bringing weapons and exploding pipe bombs!! Half of these “kids” don’t know how to make pipe bombs nor have they seen or possess an “AK 47”! So, what are they talking about? Is “terrorism” becoming the new “cool”!? Are you “kidding” me? I mean, we had issues when we were in school, too. Yet, no one … and I did say NO ONE ever threatened to come and shoot up Rochambeau Elementary School or Highlands Jr. High School, even though there was a “race riot” at White Plains High School. The issue was “racial tension”, which was real and had to be dealt with since kids from diverse backgrounds were coming to attend WPHS! We are witnessing some seriously troubling times, and, I hope that we can deter these kids from acting so ignorant. Law enforcement officials are locking them up to demonstrate that “Twitter” is no place to try to pretend to be a terrorist, and, one can easily be discovered as the culprit! The “kid” at South Plantation High School was discovered as Twitter tipped off authorities as to the origins of the tweets! The authorities met him at school the next day and arrested him! He will be in court this morning … not in school!

Have a great Friday, reach out to the young people and listen to what they’re saying. Help them figure out some of the confusing thoughts they may have in response to “fun” or “anger”. Each one, teach one . . .

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Hump Day, Y’aaallll!

Nothing like a good challenging experience to help one get re-focused and re-motivated! Did you ever notice how a challenge seems to give us a bit more depth of personality, perseverance even, perhaps more discipline … and self evaluation? This is one of my pet peeves, so to speak, to be able to accept my OWN criticism of myself! Now, I listen to others; but I have gotten “beat up” a few too many times being “honest and open” with folks, that I prefer to find my own errors, do some soul searching, re-direct my efforts, even ask a few close friends for advice … without being too obvious, and once again move “forward”!

So, the vehicle has been repaired to beyond my liking, so far. I got a new grill on my 2009 Compass that is white like the car. The front grill used to be silver colored plastic that had paint chipping. The repair shop got me this serious front grill and bumper and new “Jeep” logo in silver for the front of the hood. Yeah, I know, it’s all plastic but it looks really nice and fresh! Now, the ride … this thing has been aligned so well that it rides smooth, very smooth … and steady!

So, Tuesday, I hit the phones at work. It was a tough day for most of the best agents and I hovered around 4th place for most of the day. Now let me tell you … I got to talk with one possible patient who said, after my pitch,”It sounds like a “boiler room””. So, I told him, “Yeah, that’s what we do here … we would rather work than sit home. Make a little money … Have a good day!” I hung up. Then, after I closed a few deals, tough ones, I got this guy who told me, “Get a real job!” …. as he was home, too, “talkin’ smack” to me ….. and his mother whom I heard in the background … maybe his wife!!! I couldn’t get this comment out of my head. So, on my way to tutor my elementary school student in West Boca, I called my sister and told her that I needed a quick “meeting” or support group to clear my thoughts …. I was letting the devil get the best of me. I knew what to do but just needed some quick support. We both laughed as she told me NOT to call the guy back and to let it go, and, I agreed. Testing my patience, self discipline …. yes …. and humility!

The class with Stone was great, and, it also gave me an opportunity to feel a bit better about “things”, especially that darn comment. Sometimes, people can be so cruel … usually because they are lacking something in their own lives. It could be that they are just jealous of some of the self-control and discipline of the person whose buttons they are trying so desperately to push. Be careful, is what I have learned to tell myself, because when things are tough, the forces of evil aka “the devil” seek to destroy ones self confidence and self love. Appreciate the opportunity to learn yet another lesson … that’s what I do! Have a great day!

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Early Monday morning … if you are reading this around 7:30am which is the time I am expected to pick up my Jeep Compass from the repair shop. Organizing all of the business locations for the repair shop and Enterprise, who provided me with this incredible SUV/Truck 2015 Chevy Traverse as part of the insurance, to drop the rental off required a bit of attention … and help! I had a little help from my friends! Thanks!

Needless to say, as one goes through an accident, small fender-bender, the paper work and costs for everything and filing and completing claims with ones insurance company and repair shop, I wondered how I would do it. I spent hours trying to get money into my account so the rental could be set up on it which finally came from one of my bosses at the call center. He transferred the funds into my account needed for the deposit to hold the vehicle once he learned of my need. Interesting enough, yesterday was his birthday, young kid who served in the Gulf and is IT coordinator at the call center. I am grateful he offered that urgently needed help because I need a car to go to work!! Grateful for “Kimo” as the boys call Nik at work, … he’s a Greek American. He told me to pay him back when I’ve got it …

“A little help from my friends . . . ” So, last Friday, I was trying to get the e-mail done the night before and had saved it in my “draft” file so that when I got up in the morning, like today, all I had to do was finish it and send it. Well, I finished it, copied and pasted it to the blog at Educational Excellence … but forgot to send the e-mail out!! So around, 2pm Friday afternoon, I noticed a “missed call” from Vetalle Fusilier out of DC but since I work on the phones, I couldn’t answer nor return the call. Shortly afterwards, I got a text from “Vee” asking me if I was alright because he hadn’t gotten the e-mail from me and EE!!! I quickly replied that I had posted my link on Facebook but thought I had sent it out. When I checked, it was still “saved” in “drafts”!! So, I went back into my e-mail … from work … and hit “send”. A little help from my friends, I’m telling you!! Rafael Ventura Rosa usually hits me up when he doesn’t receive his e-mail from me and EE, and … not only do I appreciate it, but it makes me feel pretty good inside!

So, also Friday morning, I was coordinating with Robert “Bobby” Schulman, my old elementary school class mate from White Plains, since I had asked him if he could help me with this $500 deductible which I need to pay to the repair shop as soon as I finish sending this out. He agreed, “my brother from another mother”, and I sent him the information and received a confirmation that the funds had been placed in my account!! (This is the same friend who, two years ago, when I had mentioned that my mother didn’t have a plaque on her grave-site in the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY, told me he would cover the $1,500.00 cost to create, produce and place the plaque … then fly me up for an impromptu ceremony at the Cemetery where Mom, Dad, my sister Barbara and grandma Mattie are buried!) We are in touch again, though we had lost contact like “Zack” and me had for like over 25 years … still friends …

The simplest prayer ever, which I say to my Creator each morning, is “thank you” …. I am truly blessed … with a little help from my friends! Thank you all … you know who you are!

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Friday, All!

Every time I look around each day, I am inclined to see the marvels of the universe. Where do we humans fit in? Now that we’ve … er uh … “we’ve” created our own “world”, so to speak, what will we do with it? Is there an end to “progress”? That’s what “they” say about heaven … that is our final stop!! Believe it … or not?! Reincarnation theorists and believers say that we will come back as something … or someone … else! What do you think. Should our “next” experience be something that shapes our everyday adventures? Are WE all related? It’s the kind of thing that makes me go “hmmmmm” … so …. T.G.I.F.!

Have we truly already entered the “space age” … right here on Earth?!? We have drones now that can do nearly anything, fly almost anywhere. Rockets and space crafts land on the Moon and orbit the Earth …. even landing on “space stations”!! I got into this 2015 Chevy Traverse last night that GEICO provided for me as part of my insurance benefits, and the thing has so many “bells and whistles” that I couldn’t figure half of them out!! Even lights and fancy designs, mobile device connections … not to mention safety features like air bags everywhere!! I heard that Michael Jackson has earned an awful lot of money DEAD that people can’t even make while they are alive. Am I rambling yet?!? Of course, y’all!! Is it all relative? I mean, if you are rich or poor … fat or skinny … happy or sad … it is relative depending on what you are used to … where you are coming from … and … where you think you or “we” are going when we leave “here”! I know I am rambling now … just trying to make a point!!! Still not sure of what it is, heh?!

When I was younger … like in elementary school, my hopes and dreams were very simple. Get home from school without losing my books or getting into a fight. Then, in junior high school, I was concerned with being “first” trombone in orchestra or the best football player or basketball player! At prep school, I was concerned with “losing my identity”. College was even more different because I wanted to keep my GPA high enough to continue to receive my scholarship monies while I worked, too! It’s all relative to where you are in life, and, what you think about your life … or “life” in general, not to mention “life after death”! Don’t worry, I am just philosophizing … not contemplating ending my life … ’cause I am enjoying the journey. Even last night in yoga, Leiza, our instructor/yogi kept saying, “It is not the destination, it is the journey that counts!” Philosophize on THAT one … if you will!

Are “we” all related somehow? My friends with the Brahma Kumaris teach that we are each spirits of light and energy in our most basic form … and that, indeed … this is a journey. That’s why I like them. The spiritual foundation of “the church” talks a lot about peace and love and helping each other along this journey … regardless as to where we are in our individual journey … and regardless of our destinations. Or … do we ALL have the same destination?!?

‘nough said, enough philosophizing. Thank you all for reading, passing me and EE on to others … and for just being yourselves … Thank you! Have a great weekend.

Namaste

John I. Cook

It’s Hump Day, y’all!

A tropical storm called “Gonzalo” hit up Antigua yesterday. No threats for us in SoFlo yet. Just a couple of days ago, a grandmother and her grand daughter lost their lives when the little girl slipped on the side of a canal in their backyard and fell in. Her grandmother, who cannot swim, jumped in to save her ….

So Tuesday, a father was watching his children – a 2 year old girl and an older little girl – and stepped inside the house for just a moment to get a glass of water … When he came out, the children had disappeared and somehow … fallen into a lake at their Miami neighborhood! It only takes one second … to NOT appreciate someone or something …. and then … they are gone!! Neighbors say that they have NEVER seen the children left alone! Both parents are devastated.

Is it true that we humans don’t appreciate what we have … as little as it may be … until “they” are gone?! So, here’s a tip … appreciate what you have today … you may not have “it” tomorrow. There are so many things to be grateful for that we often take everything for granted. Family members … a father or mother … a daughter or a son … How about your OWN life? Are you grateful for that, too?!? I hope so. In today’s world, people seem to take friendship and kindness for granted. Why? Are we becoming less civilized as a result? Do you say “Thank you!” when someone holds a door open for you to pass through?! I hope so … though I have witnessed many a person walking through as if somebody “owes” them something? How awkward is that moment when you say “Hello!” to someone and they don’t respond?! Don’t lose your appreciation for “kindness” just because someone else does! Keep pushing the “good stuff” … ALWAYS!

Have a great Hump Day!

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Monday, All!

It has been a much needed weekend to regroup and relax and continue with my regular routines of hitting the gym, tutoring and enjoying friends downtown. This weekend was cool, driving a rental car from Enterprise, which was a component of the excellent insurance coverage that I have with GEICO. Have you every wondered … especially when something unexpected happens … “Why me?!?” Don’t spend too much time on that one … bad stuff happens to good people, too! Don’t you ever forget it, please. Several friends have responded when learning of my challenges and I appreciate your concern, kind words, help and support. It is so nice to have friends like many of youse guys!

So, naturally, my first thoughts were: “What could I have done differently to avoid what happened?” Not too much, especially since the past is most often designed to teach us something. I got a nice dose of “patience” thrown at me as well as a touch of “figure this out!” I tried to stay focused on what my life is all about … my health, my work and my spiritual development …as I do everyday. These all help me get through the tough times. Trust me, I plan on sharing it in the near future once some of the “volcanoes” erupting in my life subside. Then, I read an e-mail from one of the readers, Rafael Ventura Rosa, a recent and long time friend since I have been here in SoFlo. He’s the kind of guy, with a background in law, who knows the things that are important to me as it seems we share similar passions. The article was about the Nobel Peace Prize winners, Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi. This is their time as they EACH dare to step out and talk about “peace”! Yes, this is close to my heart and has become a passion of mine as well.

Malala is a seventeen year old Pakistani school girl who, when a Taliban soldier asked for her on a bus and shot her in the head, not only survived but is still able to tell her “story”!! Amazing is the correct word here! Has your time “come” when your “claim to fame” is revealed to YOU?! I think hers has! The second recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize 2014 is an Indian gentleman who is a children’s rights campaign activist, Kailash Satyarthi. These two, while not contemplating their “destinies” as peace prize winners, have been thrust into the limelight of peace-workers on an international scale! Their time has come … are we each working on our “times” … or will it surprise each of us, too? We need to believe that our blessings are coming; we each need to believe that we have a divine purpose in our lives; and we each need to encourage each other so that our blessings continue to flow.

Have a wonderful day …

Peace,

John I. Cook

Happy Friday, y’all!

I’m about to yelp it into the skies above … T.G.I.F.!!!

What a week it’s been … but it’s over!! A lot of work at my day job … phone work is tough … gotta let stuff “roll off your back” ’cause people get cranky when you call them. I always try to be on time … and … yesterday, since I was rushing at a traffic light with the right on red, I accidentally bumped a lady in front of me! I was late to work for sure and … there is all that stuff that goes into an automobile claim, especially time and money!!! Still, I rise … Thanks for all your help and support, y’all!

Okay, yeah… there was a cop there who pulled over. The woman was a senior who was on her way to the bowling alley which is right next door to the office where I work. Nothing wrong with bowling at 9am … if you’re a senior. She was so cautious at that intersection, that I was in shock to see her move into the intersection … then STOP! I swerved to miss her vehicle, which she stopped because she said she saw an “unexpected vehicle”, but clipped her rear left bumper with my front right one! For all practical purposes, I was in the wrong …

So, I saw on the news just a couple of days ago, that outside of Chicago an African American man with his “babies’ momma” was stopped by police. Somehow, the focus went from the woman, who was driving, to the man who was a passenger in the front seat … kids were in the back. The police begin by telling him to get out of the vehicle … which he refused! He hadn’t done anything wrong, and, in my opinion (cause it’s happened to me) this was a power play on the part of the “cops”! Now, some of you may remember that my father worked in law enforcement with Pinkerton Detective Agency (armed guard unit) as well as was an auxiliary officer for the White Plains Police Dept. So I am NOT against “cops” or law enforcement. I believe that we MUST hold them accountable since many of them have proven time and time again to NOT be so trustworthy!!

Last story … it was in Brooklyn a few days ago … caught on videotape. Two cops are “stopping and frisking” an African American male and one cop draws his hand away from the man’s pocket and pulled his hand back from him. You could hear on videotape the man saying, “Give me my money back!!! Give me my money back!!!” The Brooklyn officer refuses, and, instead … takes out his pepper spray and sprays the man in his face!!! Then the man’s girlfriend steps forward and tells the cop to give the man his money back. He pepper sprays her, too!!!! This is a clear case of “Cops Gone Wild!!!” Be careful out there, ask law enforcement officials appropriate questions, like the aforementioned (Give me my money back!) But be prepared for consequences and be prepared to put it on video! Here in South Florida, they have begun to require police officers to wear cameras so that they may be held accountable for THEIR actions, too!

Peace,

John I. Cook