Educational Excellence

Happy Friday, All!  Hit me with a TGIF, if you’ll be so kind!  Boom!!

It’s a very special weekend for me … and my daughter … and my grandson!  We are meeting up in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl … so that my grandson Caleb Isaac and I can spend some time together … in Costa Rica!  So, join me in a TGIF, please!  “Dale!”  “Gracias!”

Life has a way of teaching each of us things we really need to learn … if you want to be a good person or even a better person.  I mean, we all think that we are “unique” in our own way … which is cool.  Everybody is different and if we each try our best to “be the best that we can be”, things usually turn out alright.  If not, there is a lesson to be learned.  It is a process … this thing called life!  I’ve encountered many different types of people in my life and each person is not only unique but is also playing a “role” in this drama of life.  I can’t wrap my head around any “satanic cult-like organization” because I believe in the “power of love”.  As I observe our World today, we can see an awful lot of destruction.  I hope that humanity can LEARN that this planet is our “home”.  I mean, would you drop bombs on ANY part of your own home?!?  Most people I’ve met in my life seem to have some degree of self-worth.  In other words, they are not intentionally sabotaging their own lives …  Now, they may not have all of the “t’s crossed” and “i’s dotted” but there is usually something inside of them that they are proud of …  like compassion or cooperation, art even.  We have to try to bring “the best” out in each other while protecting our own “personal space”.  Yes, there are “invaders” out there who unfortunately have not learned to respect each other’s talents and skills.  You may remember that I had referred to the concept of “4 ages” and we are in the last … the age of corruption.  People actually think that corruption is cool … it’s not.  In fact, it is very destructive as anyone interested in “world affairs” can see.  So, try not to nurture the concept of corruption, nor include it in “our” lives.  I am no better than anyone.  But after living more than fifty years on this planet, I have seen the deleterious effects of corruption on ANYTHING.  Yet people ranging from personal associates to a few world so-called leaders seek to implement the use of corruption in their affairs.

So, I believed that my daughter and I could pull this off for her little Sun, “Caleb Isaac” and my new grandSun!  I am excited to have the privilege of spending time with him sharing our lives and learning a few things as he seems to have an interest in Spanish.  I prepared some flip charts with the days of the week, and numbers, and I “plan” to implement the use and conjugation of a few basic verbs in Spanish, depending on his level of interest.  I have had people tell me that they want to learn English and they even go as far as to get my attention.  The “classes” seldom take place but the interest is there.  Perhaps it is not the right time in their personal lives to spend time and energy learning a second language … or whatever!  I don’t take offense nor feel disrespected if their lives or lifestyles don’t permit them the opportunity.  Some people actually don’t have the skills to learn another language, perhaps, or another discipline like engineering, science, mathematics, etcetera.

Right now, I am going to close this message as this part of my journey unfolds.  Here I am in Ft. Lauderdale, my second home in the States, in a hotel looking out at the pool and jacuzzi, which I will enter before checking out, hanging out with the same buddy who picked me up at the airport when I flew in Wednesday.  Joel Valencia, aka “Colombia”, is at an important meeting this morning where he is helping a friend.  Then he will come back and we’ll hang out a bit before he will transport me to an AirBnB that my daughter has arranged for me and Caleb to stay until we fly out to Costa Rica early Monday morning.  We have been planning and talking early in the morning, later in the day, and sometimes late into the night for the past three months.  She and Caleb flew into Orlando from Connecticutt yesterday and she and her partner are planning to come to Ft. Lauderdale, meet up with me at the AirBnB and deliver the “precious cargo” to me!!

Wish us luck in continuing our individual processes together and nurturing the life of a new human being.  I am so proud but more grateful!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

Happy Friday, World!!

While the madness continues in the States (Summer Camp Shooter in Texas), things look a bit hectic worldwide, too!  I can’t believe the seemingly medieval images of war being shown from Kyiv and Ukraine!  OMG!  I can’t even talk about the “war crimes” ranging from the sexual battery by Russian soldiers on civilian women to stealing grain from Ukraine and the world!!  TGIF, right quick, okay?!?  Thank you!!

This weekend holds the celebrations of “Juneteenth” where participants embrace the concept of “freedom” as well as “Father’s Day”, so take your pick … or do BOTH!  A royal shout out to my Dad, “BIG Ike” r.i.p. who got me started with just a glint in his eyes!!  Most of my pieces entertain some ideas of spirituality as well as “history” since I do still hold a Master of Science Degree in Education, with a specialization in American History.  Life is interesting from my perspective because I can’t seem to get away from it … that history stuff! But, we have to be careful, of course, if we bother to care at all!  There are some characters who try to rewrite history.  Others go as far as to claim that none of it matters anyway!  Picture that ostrich with its head buried in the sand!!  I don’t even think the ostriches really do that … but anyway!!

After watching some of the January 6th Special Committee segments, I was kind of shocked … but not really.  #45 is a bully of the worst type.  Those kinds of people are extremely dangerous! Direct Quotes: “I’m telling you … if Pence caved, “mofos” are gonna be drug through the streets!”  “Hang Mike Pence!”  That’s when a bully HAS to be checked!!  Former VP Pence and his family members’ lives were physically at stake!  One of the Proud Boys said, “If we had the chance, we would have killed Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, too!”  Meanwhile, the classlessness of #45 propelled him to call his VP on January 6th, who had praised him when no one else would, a “wimp” and “the p-word”!  So, even after 4 years of being the president, this is the best he could do!?!  Attempt to re-write American History and kill a few citizens while he was at it, heh!!!  Damn shame!!!  VOTE WISELY!!  Hopefully, Pence NEVER communicates with that mofo again!  Talk about throwing someone under the bus!?!  Damn disgrace!!

Personally, I prefer NOT to deal with liars and bullies and I don’t want to wrestle with any “pigs”!  All of these types of behavior are toxic!!  Keep in mind now that some folks prefer not to live WITHOUT toxicity!  These people are so toxic that they will never be able to see the errors of their ways.  They would rather heap all of that “bs” toxicity on others than try to “be the best that they can be!” These people should never be trusted with any kind of leadership position.  Followers of these fools are more dangerous than their “lying leaders”!!  One of the reasons I wrote three books is not only to share my journey of overcoming obstacles but to set the record straight.  Thanks to my Creator and my parents’ insistence that I “be the best that I can be”, I don’t NEED to lie.  Overcomers don’t lie to themselves as that would thwart the process of overcoming obstacles!  As my Father used to say, “Use your common sense, Son!”  Unfortunately, too many people don’t care about their own “truth” and lack common sense.  Thusly, they become stuck, unhappy, and lash out at others!  Be aware of your surroundings and the people you are around.  Toxicity is contagious unless you really “know thyself”.  Don’t trash your own life, please!  I definitely won’t let you trash mine.

Have a great day, enjoy your weekends, hug your “Dads”, and celebrate the freedom of “Juneteenth”!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

Get a copy of any of the three books by visiting the “Publications” section of excelwitheducationalexcellence.com

Happy Friday, “cruel world” … in my Bugs Bunny voice …  It seems that way more often than not … so … TGIF!!  Get with it, eh?!?  Thanks!!

Just a reminder to the readers and followers on Word Press of Educational Excellence that I say things that most people are even afraid to discuss!  After years of being a “learning manager” in schools both public and private as well as in corporations like American Express, I am not afraid to state something controversial like racism is a mental illness.  I mean I have been called stuff that was mean and nasty, even hurtful.  But if I do the same thing, people’s feelings get hurt!  Shucks!  They might even feel uncomfortable!  I say “GOOD!”.  And that’s just a smidgen of what many people have been referred to for one reason or another, not to mention the inhumane treatment of some Americans to other Americans!

As I watched the “January 6th Hearings” coupled with the horrifying inadequacies of the police representatives from various law enforcement agencies in Uvalde, TX, I could see that America is in trouble!  The country lacks professional leadership on all levels from local representatives, to state and federal representatives.  If you will, “America” is catching up during this age of corruption.  While the country and its experimental constitution are still “intact”, parents, doctors, actors, and even children have to literally beg these elected officials to do something other than to permit police to stand outside of a classroom door while innocent children were being decapitated by a “lone loser” with an AR-15!  They (police) were afraid for THEIR lives but not too concerned for those helpless innocent children.  Then, the police spin lies like the door was blocked or all of the children … damn … have been killed!! WTF!!!!  Enter the pediatrician of Uvalde, TX who described in detail the injuries inflicted on these innocent children.  Can you see the dearth of humanity that allowed a complete inhuman to mercilessly kill OTHER PEOPLE’S children while they were sitting ducks ….  Peace be still …  Do Americans NEED another Emmet Till Moment?  Have we become so numb to such violence?!?

Many Americans feel that there is no reason to be concerned anymore … just grin and bear it!!  NOT I!!  I am one of those who are intelligent enough to want to save one of the last bastions of democracy on Earth.  I don’t want to live in a country with a dictator or anyone who is not concerned with the civil rights of ALL!!  Selfishness permeates the attitudes of politicians who have lost track of the FACT that they represent “the people”!  Please … don’t vote for these self-styled autocrats who can’t lead sh@t!!  It makes me feel so disappointed in America …  Some people don’t even know how to recognize a “leader” …  Others don’t recognize that the democratic experiment can survive in America when we elect quality leaders!  That’s our job as voters …  We can SEE that “others” are NOT doing their jobs!  Don’t emulate them!!

Enjoy your day, your weekend, and your LIFE!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

Thanks for reading!!

Hello Friday … Glad you came to see us today!!  So, I will complete the ritual of gratitude and TGIF for ALL the WORLD!  DONE!

I know that I am not alone on this one … if you’re living, breathing, and able to think.  You DO realize the state of the world today …  Nobody has any answers that “others” will accept without a debate, a “new theory of some sort”, or just a plain old LIE!  The truth seems to be a concept that we humans can no longer fathom nor agree on.  It seems that we each want to be the author of our lives … as we enthrall, defame, corrupt, or just kill “others” in our “constructs of reality”!  Far OUT, right?!?  That’s what I’m saying!  I can’t believe the level of depravity (showing a lack of civility) to which humankind has fallen!  No matter where we observe human life on the globe, there is tremendous drama, a dearth of spirituality, decadence, and decay!  I heard one law enforcement official in the United States after the latest spree of mass murders call the state that these “shooters” are in as I eluded to before … a state of depravity, a la Professor Leonard!

When I hear arguments supporting the sale of AR-15s to 18-year-olds because they are drafted at 18 years of age anyway, I see the “loopholes” and excuses building up to illuminate this decayed state of humanity.  Finally, we have the true morons who have forgotten that we ALL are humans and have the right to our God-given lives who say, “No!  It’s NOT the AR-15s fault… it’s that we need better programs to treat poor mental health in the citizenry!  Protect the 2nd Amendment!”  My jaw drops … and I wonder … who is going to protect the children … humanity’s future?!  Or do we think the 2nd Amendment deserves our unconditional love instead?!?  Don’t make me say it!!

Yeah, I am mystified at the level of ignorance that many so-called leaders and their followers display to cover up OBVIOUS wounds in our social organizations, our economic systems based on capitalism and greed, and our physical planet – Earth!  I don’t know how much more oil drilling, fracking, earthquakes, coal excavation, diamond and gold mining Mother Earth can withstand!  Has someone studied THAT?!?  I mean we only LIVE here?!?  Depravity at its worst!  I find it difficult to sleep at night, too, as some of the Ukrainian survivors of the Russian invasion of their land have stated.  How about the eerie silences in the homes of those 19 children lost at the hands of yet another depraved individual who fell through the cracks until … The End …

Well, I recall a course I took with a Sister Ganga from The Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University some 10-15 years ago at her home near Pembroke Pines, FL.  I had attended a few of Brahma Kumaris’s “Peace in the Park” gatherings held in Young’s Circle in Hollywood, FL every third Sunday.  I found the “singing bowls”, reiki activities, group meditations led by the Organization’s experienced meditators, and fabulous gatherings of folks at Ganga’s house for guest speakers followed by a vegan lunch quite uplifting!  In fact, The Brahma Kumaris of Miami gave me an opportunity to do a book presentation and signing of my first manuscript, “From the Projects to Princeton”!  The organization whose headquarters are in Mount Abu, India, also has spiritual centers worldwide including a lovely retreat location in Upstate New York as well as in places like Costa Rica.

Their belief system focuses on spirituality and meditation.  We are spiritual beings who have become so enveloped in our own physical trappings that we have lost contact with our spiritual selves.  That’s more my interpretation of things rather than what someone told me to think!  I don’t do “group think” which is why I was attracted to this group.  Basically, the workshop I took with Ganga explained that humanity basically has four ages, if you will.  The first is the Golden Age (Spring Time) followed by the Silver Age, Summer Time where life is less pure.  Next, we experienced the Copper Age (Autumn), when the “God” if you will, sent prophets to help end idol worship and answer humanity’s calls (prayers) for direction in the midst of extreme human suffering, negative personality traits, and perhaps depravity on that level.  My studies illustrated that we Humans are in the Iron Age (winter), the age of corruption.  Yet, before this age blossoms into the Golden Age again, the Universe permitting, there is a special time of “confluence” when the Iron Age gives way to a rebirth, perhaps, of humanity.  It was at this time that I embraced whole-heartedly and passionately the practice of yoga as well as meditation.  They bring me to focus on my “peace” which I in turn get to disperse to interested souls!  I hope to be an integral part of aiding in this rebirth!  And you?!?  Any thoughts or paradigms??

Okay, so when you’ve time and perhaps a notion of how “you” might aid in this experience, give it a whirl.  “Know Thyself!”

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

ps – Thank you for reading!