RE: ECONOTRAVEL: How I only spent $20 in my first 41 nights in Hawaii and LOVED it!
This is really something everyone should experience, in one way or another. A friend of mine and I discussed heading into the mountains and trying to live off the land. We had all our plans dialed in, including an emergency stash, but never did it. I think it would have been a great adventure and learning experience.
I don't remember learning much in high school, though I suppose I did. One piece of advice as always stood out. A business prof said that the best education we could get would be to just hit the road and travel the country, without a car. He said to hitchhike or take a bus and stay in one town after another, doing odd jobs here and there. I wish I had taken him up on it. I think I'd be much more resilient if I had.
Keep it up tralawar, and keep sharing.
Your professor made a lot of sense. This kind of experience takes you out of your comfort zone and a lot of things emerge in yourself, some good some bad, that you may never have known. I surely felt like I have grown from it in a net positive way. It is can be hard when you have no car, no phone, the sun is setting and you have no idea to camp. When I arrived in Maui it was night time and we weren't allowed to camp anywhere in the city area. We (Shane and I ended up traveling together for a week or so) met a homeless man on the beach who told us about the salvation army. Long story short we ended up getting beds and slept with about 40 other homeless. It really opened up my eyes and assured me I that I would do everything possible not to be homeless, even if it meant camping in the jungle and calling that home =)
He was a cool guy. You know, when you're in high school it seems like adults don't connect well. Here's a very successful retired businessman teaching kids because he wanted to and telling them to hit the road rather than jump into college. That was (gulp) over 30 years ago.
@anotherjoe The reply option isn't appearing on your comment. Great words, I agree that I would like a doctor or and engineer to have a proper education. My grandparents remember how there used to be an abundance of trade schools sponsored by corporations like Ford Motor Company that would give a practical education producing opportunities to make a decent living. I am happy to see the emergence of that today with some new solar companies. As for myself, I am fortunate to work at home and share every minute with my child!
As for teaching I alway find I learn the most about what I am working on when I try to teach someone something. If you can't explain it simple enough for everyone to understand you must not understand it yourself.
Yeah, reply stops working when it gets this far into levels. I just use the next available one above.
That's awesome that you can be at home. I was able to be home a lot too, which, to me, was priceless. I could have made more money, but I wanted to be home with the family, doing stuff, spending time with the boys, etc.
Teaching - it's not just when you purpose to teach. It's that you ARE teaching, no matter what. What did you do at that moment? How did you react? What words did you choose? How did you speak about that person?
Without recognizing it, we can sometimes fail to realize how much we're influencing the little ones. Well, we're influencing everyone around us. And it's much more influential than we realize. People watch and emulate, or at least assimilate, without realizing it. Some folks have learned how to manipulate others through this. It is, at least, something to be cognizant of so we can bless those around us in ways they may never know.
@anotherjoe and @tralawar I really enjoyed your comment thread.
Guessing your 49? Haha. Yes, I do know what you are talking about. I have a few friends who have followed the same teaching path just show them how broken the system is. Change from within. I would like to teach as well if only I had finished my degree. I am happy to say I am doing fine without it :) Now I have my daughter and a chance to nurture and her mind! None of my many adventures even comes close to this feeling!
We didn't stress college for our sons. Both are raising their families now and doing well, without degrees. It's over-rated, except in some cases where the academics actually prepare you for the job at hand. Mostly, it's bloated nonsense though.
Kids are great. Congrats, and enjoy the ride. Three quick thoughts, for what it's worth.
-Every minute matters. She'll be gone before you know it, so make them count.
-Daughters look for love. If they don't get it from dad, they'll find it elsewhere. I don't have daughters, but a friend who does shared that and it's stuck with me.
-We are always teaching. Everything we do teaches something. It's a really powerful observation.