I Asked for a Compliment and Gained Inspiration

A young man I taught in the early 1990s at G. W. Carver Middle School joined my Facebook network this week. I remember how quiet he was and how interesting his writing was. He sent me a message that included something about me being a good influence on him in life. I asked him what every warm-blooded, compliment-seeking human being would.

In what way was I a good influence?

He answered, "How have you influenced me you ask? Well mainly you encouraged me to write and gave me confidence in my abilities. Though not as often as in school, I continue to write when the mood strikes me. My writing may never be seen, but just getting my thoughts on paper is somehow therapeutic. I think mainly you gave me an outlet and during a time I hardly spoke, that's a lot. After that I always liked English and excelled at it. 


In the past decade I thought why not try another language? So I decided on Creek or Muscogee, whichever, you prefer to call it. I'm in no way fluent as I seldom get the opportunity to speak it. However, I can read and write the alphabet so as long as I have my dictionary I can practice. In the past I held language classes so that I could speak and practice. Of course I seldom broadcasted that info. I thought that a teacher who has students to keep himself from getting rusty didn't inspire much confidence. 


Anyway, all of this had an unfortunate side effect I sometimes catch myself writing English in muscogee and vice-versa. It leads to a lot of typos that drive me crazy. I can give both direct and indirect credit to you on all of this. Just thinking does that mean you're in some strange way responsible for my typos? lol. But I'll keep in touch, you do the same. Oh Thank You!"

Living is not in vain. Teaching is a valuable effort. I am relieved and inspired again. Maybe you, too?

... Connect with me on Linkedin at http://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannebowen, Facebook, Youtube, TMC at http://blog.tmcnet.com/monetizing-ip-communications/, iTunes channel or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/suzannebowen, or at global events face to face to develop business, innovation, and good influences.

Seize the Moment by friends of Suzanne Bowen

Suzanne is not able to type for at least a week which must feel like one of the worst punishments she could have. She is a good writer and loves to write. She thrives on accomplishment, doing the right thing, and getting as many right things done as possible with quality performance. She's her worst critic, too; believe us on that one. (One of us typing this post for her is her ex-student Teonia Burton.)

But since she can't write this week (the doctors say), we will write for her, her friends. Her husband Michael Bowen just gave her a wonderful book for Christmas The Last Lecturer by Randy Pausch.

The book's words remind us very much of Suzanne.

You will often hear Suzanne say things like:
"Time is more important than money."

"All we have is time."

"Seize the moment."

"When you write, write as if you want everyone on earth to understand the meaning, not just the intelligentsia or the morons, but those and everyone in in between."

"When all hell breaks loose, smile and think of your mom and dad or your new grandchildren."

"Look for the best in everybody."

"Don't let them see you sweat. In other words, care but don't care too much."

"Stop wasting your time complaining and get to work."

"Make friends with your competitors and collaborate with them in business."

"If I have to talk on the phone, I might as well be walking around the park (for exercise and fresh air) at the same time. This way I will give the guy or gal on the other end my complete attention. Yikes, but they will probably wonder why I'm breathing so hard."

Perhaps we'll write for her again this week in as close to her "voice" as possible. "Grab that there moment, y'all," as we say in the Deep South.

* She has a business travel injury that resulted in tears in her shoulder muscles and dislocated right shoulder. But, believe us, she'll be back at work Monday Dec. 29, 2008 sharp at 7 AM or earlier when her doctor says that she can.

... browse some of our team's other blogs at http://blogs.didx.net and http://blog.tmcnet.com/monetizing-ip-communications/. You're welcome to comment, contribute, and collaborate any time.