learning challenge: coloring and happiness

I chose to read an article about attention for this week's learning challenge. I read an article by Dr. Kerry Petsinger titled, "People Who Love Coloring Are Happier And More Creative."  

I definitely knew about the fact that coloring decreases stress due to the overload of coloring books in Barnes and Noble. But, this article provided my some information as to why which I appreciated.

I didn't even think about how reading can aid in dexterity. You don't think about that much on a daily basis, but it's such a huge part of our lives and could always use improvement!

I want to try using coloring to increase focus for myself. I am going to try printing out some free coloring sheets to work on in-between assignments I do at home. I think this could both destress myself and improve focus and dexterity. 

(Photo from Flickr.)

growth mindset: how to get better at the things you care about

This week, I decided to listen to a TED Talk by Eduardo Briceno titled, "How to get better at the things you care about."

Right away, I was drawn in as I just assumed this talk was going to be about work or school. It also applies to things that truly mean the world to you such as your family, religion, passions, ect. This made me thankful that I clicked this topic because this is something I have been struggling with and working to improve. After have a semester of 20 credit hours and 20 hours of class, I forgot how to grow my relationships and relax. I am hoping to get some guidance as I continue the video.

Although I didn't have the exact words to tie to it, I definitely have realized how much we live in the performance zone. I noticed this yesterday when I had to make a graphic for Class Council. I realized that I haven't gotten any better really since freshman year. I actually took some time to learn from someone more skilled than myself and it helped exponentially!

One thing new that I learned was the power of breaking things down into components during the learning phase. Even though we were trained to do this all growing up through revising papers and such, I have not applied that concept to my life in a while. This will help me a lot!

My goal for this week is going to be to focus on improving tutoring so I can practice the techniques with something tangible, but I plan to then apply the concept to improving my relationships. I plan to improve my tutoring by reading or creating at least one new way to make information stick for students. It can be creating an acronym, reading about a clinical story, or anything else that will help both myself and my students grow.

(Meme made by me.)

famous last words: practicing to relax

This week my goal has been to focus on relaxing more. I tend to just go-go-go on the regular and begin to feel anxious anytime I have time to relax or am trying to take a study break. I know that this is not healthy and I want to start making changes to decrease the amount of stress I feel.

What I found this week is that I need to literally plan what I am going to do to relax and for how long. It seemed silly at first, but it worked wonders this past week. I planned either a show to watch or made dinner plans for 4 days this week which is 4 more than I usual do during the week.

I ended up going to dinner once and I planned to watch 1-2 episodes of "This is Us" each other night. This is Us is a show on Hulu that I just started. I really enjoy it because they are just long enough to destress and they keep me engaged more than any other show I have watched. 

(Photo from WikiMedia).

One way I have been making sure that I don't just get stuck watching the show is I make goals. For example, I may have to read a chapter of my physics book before I can watch an episode. Depending on when I finish and how tired I am, I would watch either 1 or 2 episodes. I even fell asleep during an episode one night which I haven't done in forever!

I am hoping to continue this trend until I finish this show. After I finish this show, I hope I can find another one that is just as good...but that may be difficult because this show is off the charts! If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to send them my way! 

tech tip: quote

week 6 story: the wolf in good company

Today, what I thought was going to be just my average hunt turned into a little situation. My wolf pack and I were getting ready for our nightly hunt when things got a little tricky...

My grandpa always tells us what areas to avoid and what areas to focus on for our hunting trips, but sometimes he is just plain annoying. When you are barking orders at me and I am starving, I can't help but to block you out...sorry grandpa!

Anyway, as usual, I zoned out during our pre-hunt meeting and was on my way through the dark woods to find some dinner.

Everything was going great. I heard some hefty footsteps and decided to get in the zone. These footsteps sounded like a fine meal for me.

As I got closer and closer, my heartbeat grew louder and louder. I finally crept up to my favorite part of the hunt -- the reveal. Quickly, I threw back a large branch and met my prey...or what I thought was my prey.

Standing in front of me was a lion with paws as large as my face. Immediately, I scanned my brain for a plan. 

"Great lion, I am so sorry to cross paths with you. My dad has told me what route to take, but I am just a young cub and I must have taken the wrong turn. Please don't eat me. I will do anything" I said in the cutest baby cub voice I could make. 

As this lion didn't know any better, he thought the wolf was innocent and invited her to his den.

After they arrived, the lion left to go on an errand, and while he was gone, the wolf wiped out his whole kitchen. Before her left, he put a note on the door, "tell your father I saw hello," and off into the woods he went. 

Once the lion got back he said, "man, I should've listened to my grandad and not trusted the wolf!"

(Photo from WikiMedia.) 

Author's Note:

This story is based off of The Lion in Bad Company by Ellen Babbit. It starts out with a wolf running into a lion and begging for his life. The lion goes against what his family has told him and gives into the wolf. 

Later, The wolf talked the young lion into going to the river and killing a pony for him and the wolf to eat. The father reminded the son that those ponies belong to the king and that lions that steal from the king don't live long. 

The pony tasted so good that the lion continued to kill ponies until the king found out what was happening to them. The king had a tank built in the town, but the lion was so foolish that he followed to the tank and continued the killings. Then, the king had the ponies stay in their stables, but the lion continued. 

Finally, the king ordered an archer to shoot the lion. Once the lion was shot, he yelled out to the wolf and realized that he had been tricked. The wolf was following all along just to get the lion killed so he could return to his normal life back in the woods.

In my version, I told is more from the wolf's point of view and did not have the lion die. In the end of my story, both the wolf and the lion have learned a lesson as well.

Indian Tales Unit: The Lion in Bad Company by Ellen Babbit.

reading notes: the turtle who couldn't stop talking, part b

For this story, I chose to read The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking. This is another story from the Indian Tales Unit from a book of Jataka Tales by Ellen Babbit.

This story is about a turtle that befriends two geese. They become such good friends that the geese invite him to their living quarters.

They both hold a stick between them and tell the turtle to hold on by his mouth and not to speak a word. 

Once they flew over a village and people began to talk about how outrageous is was that the turtle was in the air, the turtle forgot his only task -- to not talk. He began to talk to defend himself and the fact that he had great friends but, before he knew is, he fell dead to the ground. 

The turtle had to talk, so he lost his life.

(Photo by Flickr.)

I see many connections in this story as I did in, "The Lion in Bad Company." Although the lion was tricked, the two animals do not listen to other more wise than themselves. Both of their mistakes led to the loss of their lives. 

I can use this in a story of my own by changing up the point of views. I think that I may either use the lion story from the point of view of the wolf or use this story and add in more details. 

Both are great options and I feel as though these stories give me lots of room to become creative. This is one thing I really enjoy about shorter stories. I get the main point across and can then add in my own detailing. 



Indian Tales Unit: The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking by Ellen Babbit.

reading notes: the lion in bad company, part a

This week I am reading The Lion in Bad Company from the Jataka Tales.

I am not sure if this is just fate, but almost every story I have come across (and even some of my classmates) have included a wolf in some way or another. I was trying to avoid that today and branch out to new topics, but I guess the wolves find me when I am not even looking for them!

This story starts out with a wolf running into a lion and begging for his life. You see the lion's characteristics when he goes against what his family has told him and gives into the wolf. His family warned him not to ever listen to a wolf. The young lion thought he knew better than them and still allowed the wolf to come home and stay with his family in their den. 

The wolf talked the young lion into going to the river and killing a pony for him and the wolf to eat. The father reminded the son that those ponies belong to the king and that lions that steal from the king don't live long. 

The pony tasted so good that the lion did not listen to his father. He continued to kill ponies until the king find out what was happening to them. The king had a tank built in the town, but the lion was so foolish that he followed to the tank and continued the killings. Then, the king had the ponies stay in their stables, but the lion continued. 

Finally, the king ordered an archer to shoot the lion. Once the lion was shot, he yelled out to the wolf and realized that he had been tricked. The wolf was following all along just to get the lion killed so he could return to his normal life back in the woods.

(Photo from Flickr.)

Indian Tales Unit: The Lion in Bad Company by Ellen Babbit.