Books

A Hero’s Journey or Path to Mediocrity?

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The Importance of the Journey

THE HERO’S JOURNEY

Joseph Campbell’s book, “Hero with a Thousand Faces,” sets up a system that many stories follow. The protagonist:
1. gets a call to adventure,
2. has a mentor appear to help him,
3. leaves the known for the unknown,
4. suffers through tests/trials/traps/temptations,
5. suffers through a crisis,
6. is reborn,
7. gets the treasure (or result they are looking for),
8. and return to the known world to their old life but in an upgraded form, where they are ready for the next adventure.
(TEDed has a great video titled, “What makes a Hero?” by Matthew Winkler)

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Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler – Flow Theory

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When I first started listening to “The Rise of Superman” by Steven Kotler I was really hesitant to continue. The tagline for the book is “Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance”. I was a little put off by the story after story about surfers, rock climbers, skiers, and skateboarders. I didn’t think it would be what I was looking for at all. I’m so glad I kept going!

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The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

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The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews

This little book has changed my life!  I have purchased over a dozen of them and given them away.  I want everyone to have it. 

My family and I have been following the Leadership Education homeschool philosophy for over 12 years.  When I was first introduced to it by reading Oliver DeMille’s book Thomas Jefferson Education, I was immediately drawn to it.  With a quote –

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Mission or Legend? Vocabulary Makes a Difference

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Do you have a mission or purpose?
Or a personal legend?

I’ve heard throughout my life that we each have a mission or purpose. I’ve taught the Hero’s Journey – Campbell’s classic deconstruction of almost every story ever told – and how to apply it to your own life. I’ve seen the power of teaching this and believing it. But I’ve also seen its problems.

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I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING…

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Twenty years ago, when my oldest son turned five and I had to take a look at the educational system available for my kids, I found it sadly lacking.  I ended up homeschooling my five sons for that reason.  But now I am really in the thick of it.  I’ve got my teaching credential and I’m being confronted by this system in another way.  I no longer just have five kids I’m responsible for… I have 40+.  And I’m seeing the results of the traditional educational system and I want to do what I can to change it because I know there is another way that is so much better.

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When I had to take a class on Common Core…

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When I study or teach a topic I like to make sure I also study something contrary to it.  For example, when I teach the Declaration of Independence I also like to touch on the Communist Manifesto.  While I am not equating Common Core with the Communist Manifesto,

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Winnie the Pooh and The One Thing

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My son and I went to see the new Christopher Robin movie last night.  It was so much fun!  On the drive home, we talked and laughed while we went through all of our favorite parts.  And thoughts came to me… and I had to write this down.

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The Big Leap into the Zone of Genius

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Have you ever read a book and felt like… “OMG!  That’s it!”  These type of books give me words to what is going on in my life… and help me change it.  A book I read recently that impacted my life like this was “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks.  He has a very engaging writing style with many examples to explain his points.  The “Leap” he talks about in his book is taking your life to the next level by overcoming your hidden fears.  You do this by understanding your “zones”.

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A REAL Solution

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Everywhere in the news these days there is talk about school shootings.  Students are walking out of school to protest.  Others are joining marches and waving signs.  While all of these bring notice to the topic, it’s not enough.  Most of them want to get rid of guns.  Unfortunately, that won’t solve the problem, it is much deeper than that.

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