When I was a child, living in Tehran, Iran, our family had a concrete swimming pool.  Each year, we emptied the pool and put a fresh coat of paint on the surface.  The first few weeks after we filled it with fresh water, it was icy cold. After experimentation, I concluded that the most efficient and least painful way to get into the pool was to dive in rather than go in bit by bit.  Now, as an adult, I approach almost every new challenge with the same strategy.  In an ever changing world, we encounter new experiences all the time.  If we hesitate, and just go bit by bit, we will be left behind.  So go ahead; jump and dive in, and experience the challenge. ​

​We all have antagonistic recollections from the past.  We cannot return to the moments, but our memories take us to the thoughts and feelings that remain in the aftermath. Some uncertainties, fears, and struggles we may want to leave behind. They make us cringe and wish we could go back and make a better decision. However, the triumphs, joys, and accomplishments become our best friends.  These lifelong companions make us confident and secure.

In the movie, Tomorrowland, Casey asks, "There are two wolves who are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. The question is: which wolf wins?" Nate answers, "The one you feed."  All of us have those memories that distress us, we must conquer the thoughts that would make us believe we cannot repair the damage.  We may have the scars to remind us of the pain, but we also have the reminder of the healing that takes place when we refuse to pick at the wound. 

Our memories carry us forward. The mistakes make us cautious... mindful. The triumphs give us hope and resilience. We need these two companions because they honestly ensure our hope for future contentment.  

In a TED Video, Zach Beattie gives valuable advice about decisions, creativity, and mistakes.

Rules:
1. Everyone is a genius and creative
2. Say, "Yes, and..."
3. Play
4. Let yourself fail 

What if students and teachers went to school each day knowing that blunders and triumphs would not be publicly displayed on a behavior management board? What if teachers talked to children quietly about their mistakes and worked with them to help them succeed? What if children knew that they are allowed to play because playing helps them learn.  Can you imagine this type of school?

I'm reading The Book of What If...? Questions and Activities for Curious Minds. "What If?" inspires a fun game for children of all ages. Yesterday my grand-daughters were playing "Would you rather...?"  Then I recalled the question from the book "What if You Could Teleport Anywhere?" So, assuming you could teleport, would you rather go to someplace on earth or somewhere in outer space?"  As a Science Fiction fanatic, I like to imagine the possibility of travel in the blink of an eye to anywhere in the universe crossing both time and space. While dreaming of the "What if", I thought of a short little glimpse of a place I would like to go. It is a place from my childhood. 

Last night I visited my childhood home by the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea.  It looked to me, as I peered over the white picket fence, that the door was much smaller than I remembered. The weed-strewn path spanning the short distance to the house echoed the thoughts of childhood games and taunts.  I ran up to the door and peered into the window. The dwelling, empty and bare, transformed, like a spirit recollecting the memories of a simple childhood.  I opened the door, then, visions flooded back with the vibrancy of sunlight shining through the clouds after a summer rainfall. As the echoes called me back, I was likewise aware that time had changed the small house, it was unkept and bare. It was not the same. Still, I wanted to stay a while in that uncomplicated little place by the sea.

Would you rather visit a place where you have lived before, or would you travel to an entirely new destination? Please post a comment about that place.   

  

A few days ago, my daughter sent me something new... I am intrigued and enchanted! So, I want to share my new fascination with you... It's a book called Hello, Ruby.
On the website you will find many ideas for children who crave challenging, fun, and worthwhile projects. In the process, children of all ages can learn about computers, technology, and programming. 
This is my favorite quote from Hello, Ruby: 
"The programmer, like the poet, works only slightly removed from pure thought-stuff.  He builds castles in the air, from air, creating by exertion of the imagination." Fred Brooks (1975 - Essays on Software Engineering)
Even though the book is not published yet,  It is available for pre-purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound. 
Enjoy!

Also, If you want to learn basic programming/computer code, check out Studio Code.

My students enjoyed making brush bots today.  They used a toothbrush, motor, and a battery.  Once they finished the basic design, they created and placed a character on top of the brush bot.  I hope you enjoy the little video.  

I learned something new today. I recently read the quote, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply.  Willing is not enough, we must do."  When I discover something new, I like to implement it right away.  It helps me transfer short-term learning into long-term knowledge.