tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66269391829189907272024-03-12T20:48:20.965-07:00The Amazing Adventures of Amy CaseyAmy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-44352045194247619362023-02-21T20:41:00.003-08:002023-02-21T21:28:13.200-08:00I'm Not Retiring...I'm Launching! <p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5-Bq6oZzc_wWdeH8LYWWwUtBPAo6oV2CCivnL5bxr87dJMSU-9lOk9QFGKBipja18bbqxfjpw7SRby-j5Bh06oMmJf0UMIkeaKyjoESnh0GjHKXU_9n49nxlpNoGxtzAQ6-CB-4PeBkuGWdyQpTF9kfYDRbc4_pWaxVFF7H5AYmn3azZDqTUJLqQ_Q/s4032/IMG_1003.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5-Bq6oZzc_wWdeH8LYWWwUtBPAo6oV2CCivnL5bxr87dJMSU-9lOk9QFGKBipja18bbqxfjpw7SRby-j5Bh06oMmJf0UMIkeaKyjoESnh0GjHKXU_9n49nxlpNoGxtzAQ6-CB-4PeBkuGWdyQpTF9kfYDRbc4_pWaxVFF7H5AYmn3azZDqTUJLqQ_Q/s320/IMG_1003.HEIC" width="240" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p><b>Launch</b> <i>intransitive verb</i></p><p><i> </i>a: to spring forward: TAKE OFF<br /></p><p><span> b: to enter energetically</span><br /></p><p>How do I put into words my feelings about launching into a new phase of my career? How is it that I have been in education for 30 years?! This final stage with Ravenwood has been the most challenging (cue pandemic), most rewarding and most liberating! </p><p>If you haven't heard yet, I am retiring from North Kansas City at the end of this school year. This is such a bittersweet decision. I love this district with all my heart! I have spent 21 of my 30 education years here growing as an educator! I have experienced so much tremendous training with people like Geneva Gay, Deb Miller, Matt Glover, Jeanine Hastings, Greg Tang, Sam Bennett, Kate Roberts, Cornelius Minor...to name a few! This district has invested so much into me as a leader, and I am forever grateful. </p><p><b>Beginnings</b></p><p>I started my career in Des Moines, IA in 1993 as the music teacher of Lovejoy Elementary. I remember working until 8pm most nights and crying a lot my first year. I had an amazing assistant principal, Wilma Gajdel, who invested in me and helped me to believe in myself. I lived up to her expectations. I put on music programs our school was proud of and even received an Arts grant to bring an artist in residence into our school.</p><p>I moved back to St. Joseph where I taught one year in a private Christian school and then went on to be a part of St. Joseph Public Schools. (I had worked for the district offices all through college, so it was a really easy transition back)! Interesting facts - it is here that I first met our former CFO and current Board member Paul Harrell, as well as our very own Superintendent "Dan the Man." :) </p><p>In 2000, I moved to Kansas City as a single parent mom, and took a job at a technology charter school. I was working on my Master's degree in Educational Technology and was excited to put my learning to work! I worked at the charter school all summer, they went bankrupt, and I never received one paycheck. Not one! It was September so I took at job at another charter school, Della Lamb. Not only did I teach music here, but I also taught reading and art. I was not certified in either of those areas, but I sure learned a lot, and the kids did, too! In February, budget cuts came. I was the last to be hired, so the first to go. </p><p><b>North Kansas City</b></p><p>It was then that I applied for jobs in North Kansas City. I was so fortunate to be hired for the 2001-2002 school year to teach not only music, but to also provide music tech support for the entire district. In the meantime, they hired me as a contracted sub for the rest of the year. I would take any music jobs, and any elementary jobs three days a week, while the other two days I traveled across the district installing sound cards in the computers for music teachers and hooking up their midi. I also taught them how to integrate music technology into their classrooms. Interestingly enough, it was during this time that I also joined up with Natalie and Gene as our cover band Cherry Bomb was taking off! We were founding members.</p><p>My first job in the district was at Davidson where I was their music teacher for 3 years. By this time, I knew I wanted to make a difference for not only students, but for teachers as well. I had begun my Education Specialist degree in Administration and knew that I wanted to become an elementary principal. I also felt that if I wanted to be a strong leader, then I needed to know what it was like to walk in the shoes of a classroom teacher, as well as an encore teacher. So my principal Victoria Miles allowed me to move into an open 5th grade classroom to get this experience. </p><p>I thought I would do this a few years, but to my surprise, an assistant principal position opened up at Gracemor. I applied and was hired to work with the amazing Cynthia Kupka! Oh the things I learned in this position! I am forever grateful to this wonderful woman who took me under her wing and MADE ME DO EVERYTHING! LOL! I truly had a gamut of experiences! She made sure I didn't just handle behavior as her assistant principal. I engaged in supervision of teachers, handling parent concerns, attending IEP's, dumpster diving (for important paperwork I accidentally threw out!), dressing up to motivate students and staff, creating and leading professional development, planning fun activities for families...and the list goes on and on. We were an incredible team and I am forever in her debt. </p><p>In 2007, I became the proud principal of Oakwood Manor! I really thought I was ready, and to be fair, I was as ready as I could be. I had no idea the tremendous amount of pressure I would feel leading an entire school on my own. However, we had fun learning and growing together. We were one of the first schools, along with Northview, Ravenwood and Briarcliff, to bring Reader's and Writer's workshop to the district. We implemented the Daily Five to support our workshop model. We looked at student work together and used our data to guide our decisions. One of the things I found myself saying over and over again was, "If you can't live it, it is hard to teach it." So we began having our own author's chair in staff meetings and shared our writing with one another. </p><p>We created a beautiful courtyard space and an incredible community garden that was a partnership between us and the city of Gladstone. Cherry Bomb did a fundraiser concert for the school allowing us to purchase several smartboards for our classrooms before they were provided by the district. We were committed to innovative practices for our students!</p><p>It was here that I fell in love with special education, my special education students and their families, as we housed three cross categorical classrooms at Oakwood Manor. I learned so much about the processes, challenges and joys of special education during my 8 years as the Head Owl. </p><p>I was very spoiled by my Oakwood Manor family when I became Dr. Casey in 2013 with a celebration I will never forget! The students and staff were so special to me and they kept a piece of my heart as I transitioned to my next gig. </p><p><b>Ravenwood</b></p><p>In 2015, it was time for me to spread my wings and become a Raven. It was so difficult to say good bye to my Oakwood Manor Owls that had taught me so much about being a principal and a leader. </p><p>Entering Ravenwood, I had a confidence that I did not possess when walking into Oakwood Manor. I had experience behind me. The staff embraced me and showered me with enthusiasm as I took the helm. I listened, watched and learned from them. We dug into math. We dug into literacy. We dug into deep equity work. We dug into positive relationships. We created an incredible culture and climate where everyone felt like family. I always said, "We spend so much time together, this must be a good place to be!" Other things I found myself saying included, "Seek first to understand and then be understood," "Be nice to kids and be nice to each other," "Balance grace with accountability." I would often share <i>The Four Agreements</i>: Be impeccable with your word, always do your best, don't make assumptions and don't take things personally. </p><p>During our time together, our students designed and created an amazing outdoor classroom under the guidance of their teachers. Our staff championed for an accessible and inclusive playground. We created one of the largest Walk-To-School events in the entire Kansas City Metro area. We were recognized as a Gold status PBS (Positive Behavior Supports) school for 5 years, while also being recognized as bronze and silver in previous years. We more than survived during a pandemic. We created beautiful learning spaces and we embraced restorative practices. Equity and inclusion became our heartbeat. We were mindful together. We worked hard, we played hard. We laughed and grew together. </p><p>Ravenwood is such a special place. I couldn't possibly let go...our hearts are connected. As I launch, I honor this work we have done and instead, look to empower my staff and students as I see my leadership multiplied in them. I guarantee they will mold their next leader as they have molded me. </p><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5ZFful4ZmtaT6HRjJVFR15ptQym6Xo1uw2GWu2GaAjHiRAjlLg-MLqCXSFo2Zto9UpRLjJ-0AZnUSiWPTgdE0pOu4cKFHpsAZ4WlwCH5oo4sl292aclAszbzw6t2kLQlCMYtmlg6EBt_p4dI-XJpKxNhVrKuaxBiz6UdV-F9_wv6X9pg_A5rDhdHtA/s4032/IMG_1112.HEIC" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5ZFful4ZmtaT6HRjJVFR15ptQym6Xo1uw2GWu2GaAjHiRAjlLg-MLqCXSFo2Zto9UpRLjJ-0AZnUSiWPTgdE0pOu4cKFHpsAZ4WlwCH5oo4sl292aclAszbzw6t2kLQlCMYtmlg6EBt_p4dI-XJpKxNhVrKuaxBiz6UdV-F9_wv6X9pg_A5rDhdHtA/w150-h200/IMG_1112.HEIC" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa-LCbeyN0qIdhHU72kkAnR7hXUTQj0jONLS5H3miYAbNshoOISRop7k3WOg0avNq86ScU4HTe4lYa0LZJUslLPyb68bmkoHZP5_A7XsDHaHfPqT0MrQT0QwADluv9KfcL9LPbuYxifSWhDXkjLzTrL-nZLfQSyy-GkH8Fcq1ZqjPk6rbPx_9UAWrBw/s4031/IMG_0413.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2562" data-original-width="4031" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa-LCbeyN0qIdhHU72kkAnR7hXUTQj0jONLS5H3miYAbNshoOISRop7k3WOg0avNq86ScU4HTe4lYa0LZJUslLPyb68bmkoHZP5_A7XsDHaHfPqT0MrQT0QwADluv9KfcL9LPbuYxifSWhDXkjLzTrL-nZLfQSyy-GkH8Fcq1ZqjPk6rbPx_9UAWrBw/w320-h203/IMG_0413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk To School Day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4qVUWnvbWMyNuZWZ69xscK07z_VMVTwLyTtQAsiQtXRzAbsqO2dbMv3NLlqIjQ2OyiF8NE_8jJOJkvMLPWoS550dwVAf8vHany6lYpT1r1od2yIAPKEvY_1GXPP99IwA5lHyT6jQql8mdTTMk3t6VyZc6A0BTWQLNOums3m5O_1P1_A5hnqFZjbssg/s4032/IMG_1428.HEIC" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4qVUWnvbWMyNuZWZ69xscK07z_VMVTwLyTtQAsiQtXRzAbsqO2dbMv3NLlqIjQ2OyiF8NE_8jJOJkvMLPWoS550dwVAf8vHany6lYpT1r1od2yIAPKEvY_1GXPP99IwA5lHyT6jQql8mdTTMk3t6VyZc6A0BTWQLNOums3m5O_1P1_A5hnqFZjbssg/w179-h238/IMG_1428.HEIC" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You Belong Here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaeP2FI3Q3KSgBM03oAPlY4TJJ3hRen1uQbTv-06JauWKfRgBxRO362Aban8k_Umxi0xHwMEGeGWku6hmFdbO5OIuWl26e8VQOpMpmHN1AyyuxPMxwszV67y6vuktrPpKODQCPUvcYwFM827Fhksm99bBv74Gnw6jWh4p0vpL8F4fqXDWIpSn5teLMA/s3090/IMG_8095.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="3090" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaeP2FI3Q3KSgBM03oAPlY4TJJ3hRen1uQbTv-06JauWKfRgBxRO362Aban8k_Umxi0xHwMEGeGWku6hmFdbO5OIuWl26e8VQOpMpmHN1AyyuxPMxwszV67y6vuktrPpKODQCPUvcYwFM827Fhksm99bBv74Gnw6jWh4p0vpL8F4fqXDWIpSn5teLMA/w320-h163/IMG_8095.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future Griffins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>Launch Vs. Retire</b></p><p>So why launch instead of retire? With 18 years of administrative experience under my belt, I have the principal role down to the best of my ability. If you know me, you know I can't stand still, I keep going back to school because I love to learn, and trying new adventures is integral to who I am as a person. Retiring is not for me. I am ready to launch into a new phase of my life. </p><p>Over two years ago I had a vision. An idea. A dream. </p><p>I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT EDUCATORS. I believe with my whole heart that educators are some of the most incredible humans on this planet. They are constantly giving more. They serve. They love. Then they give some more. I saw them do near miraculous things during a pandemic. Then I saw them get tired. They kept giving. Then I saw them get criticized. They gave anyway. Then I saw them being asked to create a plane while it was flying in the air. They did that...and kept on giving, serving, and loving. Then I saw them begin to lose a little of the light in their eyes. Then I began to see them question if they could keep going. Then I got concerned. </p><p>We have been sold a lie that if we are a truly good human, we will put others ahead of ourselves. We have been told we must sacrifice for others and that this is virtuous. The truth is, in order to truly serve others, we can't continue to put ourselves and our needs last. If we do, people start getting our leftovers. Then we get our own leftovers, we fizzle out, lose our enthusiasm and lose our hope. We can't fill from an empty cup and there is a reason we are told to put on our oxygen masks first when we travel on a plane!</p><p><b>eduThrive®</b></p><p>Enter eduThrive®. My vision, my idea, my dream. eduThrive® is nourishment for your educator heart, mind, body and spirit. Through eduThrive® I have been coaching and mentoring educators (and others that have been interested) in taking better care of themselves through nutrition, movement, mindfulness and meditation. As my clients have learned these principles, they are finding themselves not only less burned out, but full of joy, learning they truly can be of service to others. It seems like a paradox. The more they take care of their own needs, the better able they are to tend to the needs of others. They are thriving and this is having a positive impact on them, their families, and those they serve. </p><p>Upon my launching (rather than retiring), I plan to expand this work and increase the number of educators I can reach and impact through full-time coaching and consulting. I can give a person a fish or I can teach them to fish. Stay tuned for how that will unfold. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hTTwizv3e2w6ppqvQ80Bu1FMzxEEg48iD9k7xLq0drxF2SP_IBjbI29FHoxJY6Ode43uFrUINURCaqyqVaPUaxmefucZYy-0_85kD4qKnFHB-D1h0hC4YXYy9unLGs02ytBJinRR40yacproBAP-_s6QWbckw_Pe0WMfenBcTZrtP5Yqd8fpuaB1Kw/s820/eduThrive_FB_Banner_820x360-yellow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="820" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hTTwizv3e2w6ppqvQ80Bu1FMzxEEg48iD9k7xLq0drxF2SP_IBjbI29FHoxJY6Ode43uFrUINURCaqyqVaPUaxmefucZYy-0_85kD4qKnFHB-D1h0hC4YXYy9unLGs02ytBJinRR40yacproBAP-_s6QWbckw_Pe0WMfenBcTZrtP5Yqd8fpuaB1Kw/w400-h175/eduThrive_FB_Banner_820x360-yellow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>Gratitude</b></p><p>If you have been a student, a family member, a staff member or a colleague on this 30-year path with me - I thank you, I honor you, I love you. Thank you for being my teachers on this journey. You all mean the world to me and it has been my great honor serving you. Here is to more of that as I launch into my next season! Namaste! </p><p><br /></p>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-82700554203104074392022-10-26T20:09:00.003-07:002022-10-26T21:00:27.676-07:00My First Marathon - The Race (Part 3 of 3)<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH84asvWYXfwcAXMqM6qL6l1KK2EweQt1LwXWTt1PW690ShkV4gH0UPBRkK_cJy8G5fo0v2mOAZDWrQdfQD3NHDNbe5FY8DhL_hqulsxR0jmT2foVGXa3J-VMSo23UojvV5nEl6afgdjFkmvKygnJ-dIhSzLtW6oW7YOeE7MBF2ZfeGOvFI6qmC6v3A/s2810/IMG_0197.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2645" data-original-width="2810" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH84asvWYXfwcAXMqM6qL6l1KK2EweQt1LwXWTt1PW690ShkV4gH0UPBRkK_cJy8G5fo0v2mOAZDWrQdfQD3NHDNbe5FY8DhL_hqulsxR0jmT2foVGXa3J-VMSo23UojvV5nEl6afgdjFkmvKygnJ-dIhSzLtW6oW7YOeE7MBF2ZfeGOvFI6qmC6v3A/s320/IMG_0197.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So many people have asked me about how things actually went the day of the race, so I thought that would be a good end to this series. The night before, I had a meal of zucchini with pasta sauce, veggies, chickpeas and walnuts along with three generous portions of homemade sour dough bread! After enjoying this delicious meal, I went to my friend's hotel room because she had a bathtub and we did not in our historic boutique hotel. The reason this is important is because I took an ice bath! This is not the most pleasant experience in the world, but I have done a few now, and it truly helps with inflammation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After that invigorating experience, I went back to our room and began setting out my racing gear. I then did some yoga poses and headed to bed around 10pm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczis4m8nCavN5FXVvbL8EEVMUNnXz1CuF9V6ycnJWiaAkQnTKp77TxiylFk7LDZH3WWoOvkk6875oWA3KDz1AWiE4GVGIPlMTJzOWbyW1_UezDzF4EYDfxmer9Qn6B21dV_bdAqn-IUGG8aACtfXfIfbLm-vWfpyBc36UDm-D-40T9IKLgeHEEtcM9A/s4032/IMG_1611.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczis4m8nCavN5FXVvbL8EEVMUNnXz1CuF9V6ycnJWiaAkQnTKp77TxiylFk7LDZH3WWoOvkk6875oWA3KDz1AWiE4GVGIPlMTJzOWbyW1_UezDzF4EYDfxmer9Qn6B21dV_bdAqn-IUGG8aACtfXfIfbLm-vWfpyBc36UDm-D-40T9IKLgeHEEtcM9A/s320/IMG_1611.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I set my alarm for 4:45 am but turned it off and slept for another 15 minutes. I then got up and put on my clothes, followed by warming up my knees with heating pads and moist washcloths for about 20 minutes. While I did this, I engaged in meditation. Once again, I visualized what it would be like to cross the finish line. I imagined how I would feel and sat with that for awhile. I then ate my normal banana and peanut butter for breakfast! My body is used to this routine and I was able to eliminate before the race! Super important! :) I headed out and arrived at 6:30 am with the race to begin at 7:30 am. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anne' and I warmed up with some morning yoga by the river as we watched the sun rise. It was absolutely beautiful! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNJIN1RcbnvNIG5QO6RlLeel-DyAD2WQQGBTx0Y8yCJx7M06caXQ1vRB10Ic5UmUR8RiXj-5bkApQ_b72XU8hLouDYTYUJcLWeLpmYIQuWjCj5mu_Dxb9dNgFSSPoqzANLatKRCAmhUril1gxOM_EAIHv2XPZAv-lOIAJCngY36kbfrWGWU1S-OBQlg/s3953/IMG_0181.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="3953" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNJIN1RcbnvNIG5QO6RlLeel-DyAD2WQQGBTx0Y8yCJx7M06caXQ1vRB10Ic5UmUR8RiXj-5bkApQ_b72XU8hLouDYTYUJcLWeLpmYIQuWjCj5mu_Dxb9dNgFSSPoqzANLatKRCAmhUril1gxOM_EAIHv2XPZAv-lOIAJCngY36kbfrWGWU1S-OBQlg/s320/IMG_0181.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I packed the things I take on every single run --- I did not want to deviate from what I was accustomed to having on my runs. So I took my handheld Nathan water bottle with the pouch holding some Stinger Energy Gummies, three ibuprofen, my earbuds, and a maple syrup gel. I also wore my belt that holds my iPhone. I stashed a Noka Superfood Smoothie in the pouch of my shorts for my nutrition. I have not done very well with GU and Gels. They make me nauseous and I have even thrown up before after having a GU. The Noka works well for me when I am on my long runs. It is real food that I am used to having. I highly recommend! They are quite a bit larger than a gel, so you have to have a way to stash it on your run. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzm-8S85CvEwjnTSxGNw8vu6aXlDKijvZvVhM4_EbB6c4hPEP7wrpPF6W-jtIYzHyCCthQXSHOp35i7eE0ZkLdYIByYTC7Qd1ein0JqrSjkvfIXZaRLKkzuURi4TJadjrzIzBv4Gp3ivkmbjb3Tex7cFYi_1trSROo4BoZ_YXNFZLp2xo2QzSHN5OEQ/s4032/68731499045__413DE1C4-2291-4E20-9173-E6A933E71266.fullsizerender.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzm-8S85CvEwjnTSxGNw8vu6aXlDKijvZvVhM4_EbB6c4hPEP7wrpPF6W-jtIYzHyCCthQXSHOp35i7eE0ZkLdYIByYTC7Qd1ein0JqrSjkvfIXZaRLKkzuURi4TJadjrzIzBv4Gp3ivkmbjb3Tex7cFYi_1trSROo4BoZ_YXNFZLp2xo2QzSHN5OEQ/s320/68731499045__413DE1C4-2291-4E20-9173-E6A933E71266.fullsizerender.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before I knew it, it was time to line up at the gate! Oh how I love this energy! Anne' and I pushed forward. I felt confident and a sense of exhilaration! We took off and Anne' and I enjoyed the course! We passed corn fields and then went into the cutest neighborhood. The support of this race is incredible and we appreciated all the cheers, high fives and signs along the way! One couple even provided Mimosas for the runners! I loved the humor! I had some of my superfood smoothie at about mile seven. This is also where they had GUs available so I went ahead and snatched one just in case! Additionally, I had water in my water bottle that I sipped along the way and was careful to make sure I drank gatorade at each station that it was available in. We kept a great pace and suddenly we were running up the hill that signaled we were getting close to her half marathon finish. We walked quickly on part of the hill and picked right back up with our running. In what seemed like no time at all, we saw the sign for me to split off from her and we said goodbye as we parted. The first half just flew by and I was feeling very strong! In fact, I thought to myself, "the best way to train for a half marathon was to train for a marathon because it wasn't nearly as difficult for me this year." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was afraid my husband would not know where to find me since we split off, but my fear was in vain as I rounded a corner and saw him standing there with our dog and the signs my students from school had made for me! This gave me a jolt of energy and filled my heart with such love and appreciation! It just meant so much to see him there and to see their signatures and words of encouragement! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2ZFeiWJiKX1wT4fa_KFjwa1T1Ne99HGMjotKtT_l9X5MipFK2TsJeG0rpi9iH6zFXYEDCl4d_EIJD2EdpR0sGREz08uKPIrCFYNjUwoY9DR8NXKk1FytoJKakujOGnUJPiwWgZpJBCbZtb82uYAX_qJ2RbC6ZnEGys1cw4FEFxyt49gXs5pLW4VmIA/s4032/IMG_0183.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2ZFeiWJiKX1wT4fa_KFjwa1T1Ne99HGMjotKtT_l9X5MipFK2TsJeG0rpi9iH6zFXYEDCl4d_EIJD2EdpR0sGREz08uKPIrCFYNjUwoY9DR8NXKk1FytoJKakujOGnUJPiwWgZpJBCbZtb82uYAX_qJ2RbC6ZnEGys1cw4FEFxyt49gXs5pLW4VmIA/s320/IMG_0183.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this point, I had more of my superfood smoothie, a stinger gummy and put in my earbuds. Now one of the things I love doing on my long runs is listening to audiobooks and podcasts. So the book I decided to listen to for the second half of my marathon was the book <i>Endure</i> by Alex Hutchinson. This was very much on purpose! I was listening to a book about how people can endure more than their minds are willing to accept. It was awesome and kept my mind occupied with the research on precisely why I could finish this run! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This part of the race was very quiet. We were off the roads and onto the Katy Trail. The runners thinned out significantly from the half marathon. The trail was beautiful and I enjoyed the peacefulness. I came to the bridge crossing the river and that was another hill to conquer. I had taken all of my Noka Superfood Smoothie and knew that I needed more fuel for that hill. This is when I had my maple syrup gel. It was definitely nice running down that hill, but I knew that meant I would also be going back up again! When I got to the turnaround at mile 19, I thought I should go to the bathroom since I had continued to sip my water and stop for Gatorade, and I needed to fuel again. Good thing I snatched that GU, because that is all I had left besides my Stinger gummies. As much as I hated to take that GU, I did (and it did make feel a bit nauseous, but I worked through it). Sadly, stopping at the bathroom was unnecessary as I had been sweating everything out. Rats! I wasted time on that! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to walk up part of the hill and back over the river. I was a bit tired, but I never hit a wall, and nothing cramped up on me. At mile 20, I told myself, "this is just a Saturday morning run left! You've got this!" When I hit mile 22, a surge of emotion hit me and I got very teary-eyed. At this point, I actually said outloud --- "I'm really going to finish the marathon! I'm F-ing finishing this marathon! This is just a Monday night run left to go! Easy!" At this point, I switched from my audio book to my inspirational music playlist. It includes songs like Brave - Sara Bareilles, Times Like These - Foo Fighters, This Is Me - Keala Settle, Good As Hell - Lizzo, High Hopes - Panic At the Disco, We are Warriors - Avril Lavigne, What If - India.Arie, Love Myself - Hailee Steinfeld, to name a few. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At Mile 25, Anne' and her daughter Theron came running up to me with hugs and they ran a few feet with me! That was an amazing boost! I got to what I thought was the end, only to have to make a turn and run some more! LOL! I then caught a glimpse of my husband and that finish line and began to book it! I was ALL smiles! I felt amazing! What an incredible feeling that is so hard to put into words! I finished in 5 hours and 3 minutes. I was hoping to finish in 4 hours, 59 minutes! But man, I will take it! I did not think this was bad at all for a person who has only been running 2 1/2 years and completing their first marathon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then after the exhilaration, I limped to the stretching tent and got some ice for the knees. I got hugs from my crew before they took off, and then slowly walked over to ring the giant cowbell while eating my banana. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">WHAT. A. RUSH!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not wanting to cramp my legs up for four hours on a ride home, we stayed another night and left in the morning! Once I got back into Kansas City, I went to have some bodywork done and promptly left to make it to our parent teacher conferences that began at 4:30pm that night. I walked (not limped) right in, a very happy principal! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">People ask me how it felt to finish. My reply is "Accomplished, sore and hungry!" The next question they ask me is, "Would you do it again?" My response? "Absolutely!" :) </div><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-22792875183243130632022-10-17T20:14:00.004-07:002022-10-19T17:27:48.335-07:00My First Marathon - The Mindset (Part 2 of 3)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGMnoNp7QSMeg1s4gXWcohvkNNDueK-ludmVQR1Qz6d-gc3l473c6rKd9DK-NfI_AZVWN2cyUp0YPaSPq4BtxbViKiMZdE1lwNttc-FEX-oxjUDUea38XHpX24gWxSxiiAMmR1eNPT0Ftwgn0G7hetO3oiVxUms1rpUeA3PKeQ3ycy3dOkPaLj5ygobw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGMnoNp7QSMeg1s4gXWcohvkNNDueK-ludmVQR1Qz6d-gc3l473c6rKd9DK-NfI_AZVWN2cyUp0YPaSPq4BtxbViKiMZdE1lwNttc-FEX-oxjUDUea38XHpX24gWxSxiiAMmR1eNPT0Ftwgn0G7hetO3oiVxUms1rpUeA3PKeQ3ycy3dOkPaLj5ygobw" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we left off at the mind/body connection in Part 1. I neglected to share a couple of important components regarding my training. Along with all the things I wrote about, I was also taking very good care of my body with bodywork. I was going twice a week to F.I.T. Muscle and Joint and getting soft tissue work, blood flow restriction therapy, dry needling and exercises assigned by the awesome Alex Beltrame. He also let me use these incredible recovery boots after my runs! They are the bomb diggety! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrQ4JbKZYzt8PBHsR-n-EIg9RRY5PmcZ2LjOnJ-8wbpxrvbcUS6DzQfMgoOxPw_nWV_eO2FM8lJjne0MNcEAHLGGgnfvLy-FjUtDXW9NqwiRdNLoQJserbLbQ7zhsCDC4MZ843K2F8xoEoPgjatt1SsqQzlfpcNAexbb_rxAPOzMW7nOxW3ERbaytofA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrQ4JbKZYzt8PBHsR-n-EIg9RRY5PmcZ2LjOnJ-8wbpxrvbcUS6DzQfMgoOxPw_nWV_eO2FM8lJjne0MNcEAHLGGgnfvLy-FjUtDXW9NqwiRdNLoQJserbLbQ7zhsCDC4MZ843K2F8xoEoPgjatt1SsqQzlfpcNAexbb_rxAPOzMW7nOxW3ERbaytofA" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Additionally, I got some massages along the way from the beautiful Jocelyn Costa, visited my amazing Sports Doc Isaac Combs, in Lawrence and saw my chiropractor, Dr. Taylor Phipps! I engaged in strength training sessions three times a week with my long time friend and trainer, Denise Sarver and used the heck out of the Sally McRae App. I wanted my body to be in the best possible health! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having confidence that I was taking the very best care of my physical body that I could, helped me to approach the marathon with a positive mindset and spirit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I began my mindset work by going into meditation and envisioning myself as a marathon runner. Having read all the books I shared in Part 1, I knew that I was doing everything possible to have my body physically ready, but I also knew the most difficult work would happen in my mind. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I engage in daily meditation. Sometimes it is just a few minutes, and sometimes it lasts for 30 minutes or more. During my meditation as I was training, I would see myself crossing that finish line. I would practice feeling what that was like. I could see the facial expression I would have, and feel the accomplishment I would feel. I would practice in my mind what it might feel like to want to give up along the way, and how I would overcome that. I gave up my negative self-talk about my ability as a runner and began telling myself that I was an excellent runner and that I had been a runner all along, and just didn't know it. I gave myself kuddos for meeting my goals, increasing my mileage, and hitting new times. Similarly to Deena Kastor, my positive self talk and flipping negative beliefs about myself helped me to better handle disappointments and tough runs. She explains in her book, <i>Let Your Mind Run, </i></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"By identifying a thought that was holding me back and replacing it with a new one to help me </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">forward, I undid years of self-destructive thinking patterns that had left me unhappy and injury </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">prone. And I built better mental habits that not only propelled my success but also prepared me to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">handle setbacks and challenges."</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></div></blockquote><p>The crazy thing about this process is that it not only increased my confidence as a runner, but it increased my confidence in other areas of my life and I have just been happier! Running makes me happy! :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1KMshfI4bh4E9jgJLoFY9NvK5FAW6rDd5lIdEGZmhhsFuex7UoYqGsExXFrrnwRmLQDgg4CjwrukXiNdgHyegUJOr9U7_hX2TbuLz3egiHgSa1LB29yfdXm23IEBI-sjd7tRMrGqVrjfVH4ZbsENKW7JjnxNHkydnshjO_k9YKZZlc2v_WLLEfBy0Q/s2164/IMG_1867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="1170" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1KMshfI4bh4E9jgJLoFY9NvK5FAW6rDd5lIdEGZmhhsFuex7UoYqGsExXFrrnwRmLQDgg4CjwrukXiNdgHyegUJOr9U7_hX2TbuLz3egiHgSa1LB29yfdXm23IEBI-sjd7tRMrGqVrjfVH4ZbsENKW7JjnxNHkydnshjO_k9YKZZlc2v_WLLEfBy0Q/w261-h482/IMG_1867.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">(Screen shot from Bank of America Chicago Marathon Facebook Post, that includes Deena Kastor along with the incredible Emily Sisson, Joean Benoit Samuelson and Keira D'Amato) </p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another part of this mindset work revolved around the concept of pain. I know that our brains can play tricks on us and I had read the research regarding pain. In fact, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">I used to think the saying, “No pain, no gain” was just horrible! However, through the process of training for this marathon, I now have a new appreciation and understanding of pain. Last year as I was training for my first half marathon, I was terrified that if I felt pain, something in my body was broken or damaged. This caused me to stop doing what I was doing...running. Now that is kind of the purpose </span><a style="background-color: white; color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">of pain, right? To make you stop? You put your hand on a hot stove, you get some pain, and you stop putting your hand on the stove. That is one way our pain protects us. But having the strength to endure pain can also produce something beautiful. For example, the pain of childbirth. Honestly, through the pain of my divorce, I gained my life back and eventually gained the husband I kept. ;) There was a price to pay, but it was worth it. Similarly, training for this marathon was not easy and there was definitely a price to pay, and it definitely involved some level of pain. With the help of my medical and running experts, I learned to recognize when it was ok to run with the pain of my runner's knee (inflammation) without doing any damage, and I learned when I should let my body rest. Through this entire marathon experience, I came to understand my body more intimately and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">came to understand my mind/body/spirit connection in an entirely different way.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"> It is SO POWERFUL. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">My only regret is that it took me so long to realize I am a runner. The good news is, if I make it to my goal age of 103 years, I have 51 years left to keep running! I am absolutely hooked, and cannot wait for my next marathon. Heck - who knows what else might be next? My marathon experience taught me there is nothing holding me back. I got out of my own way. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT0bMPcbjf5qfuJNdwCYgN-kKlxzkhiMddtlIhy1gWBd3x4IfZodFw-REsHF-PptCXpCWsk-0hwf9uMiEbe04mu5EOwhjH6cnnyQWfjfeYQbsj-fIoKes5J8vlIGX4VqPtr6z0ED8cysxy1tAiKnyI2gTA51qVqry3qwQyTOvMIF2tpXRpCcHZKQXqg/s3943/IMG_1885.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3943" data-original-width="2439" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT0bMPcbjf5qfuJNdwCYgN-kKlxzkhiMddtlIhy1gWBd3x4IfZodFw-REsHF-PptCXpCWsk-0hwf9uMiEbe04mu5EOwhjH6cnnyQWfjfeYQbsj-fIoKes5J8vlIGX4VqPtr6z0ED8cysxy1tAiKnyI2gTA51qVqry3qwQyTOvMIF2tpXRpCcHZKQXqg/w315-h509/IMG_1885.heic" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-1747525520985345852022-10-09T18:38:00.004-07:002022-10-18T05:23:14.281-07:00My First Marathon - The Training (Part 1 of 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT10vcyBugX8VdQP8Lw8bf3J_C-U41ulsZIg17aNfG1M-c3447FXjlyUhAO6INilRBsJntisZqeeHpHg4VFZJ10Off3v2wFVHU7nKITLi_P0FZDDCWSU_pDuBftWxZ6FDaftD1Z1bP7fRsPKu2_8I5GuTCd4i1t-6--mlgAk1Vfk2C_Z3pv5okRTVR_w/s640/Marathon_7485.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT10vcyBugX8VdQP8Lw8bf3J_C-U41ulsZIg17aNfG1M-c3447FXjlyUhAO6INilRBsJntisZqeeHpHg4VFZJ10Off3v2wFVHU7nKITLi_P0FZDDCWSU_pDuBftWxZ6FDaftD1Z1bP7fRsPKu2_8I5GuTCd4i1t-6--mlgAk1Vfk2C_Z3pv5okRTVR_w/w480-h640/Marathon_7485.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Let's get this straight right from the start. I am 52 years old and up until I turned 50 years old, I never saw myself as a runner. In fact, I would make jokes saying that the only time you would see me running was chasing children down Brighton (the road in front of the school where I am an elementary principal). </p><p>I turned 50 years old on February 6, 2020. Just a little more than a month later, the Covid pandemic hit, and a month earlier, my mother passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 66. I was at a crossroads in my life. I was overweight, overtired, oversad, and over it. I had lost many loved ones the previous five years and I came to the realization that nearly half of my life was over if I were to make it to my goal age of 103 years old. I was deeply contemplative about losing my loved ones, studying their life choices, their health and looking at a sick and unhealthy version of myself in the mirror. </p><p>I was changing many of my nutritional habits (based on research) and I had made a commitment to working out regularly. I had been going to Orange Theory for about six months when the pandemic hit, causing that to no longer be an option. What was a 50 year old, trying to get to a healthy version of herself supposed to do?! I did the only thing I could do. I starting running. We bought a nice treadmill that came in super handy, but I also began running on the Trolley Trail near my house. I started out telling myself, "I will do this Orange Theory style. I will walk fast for a base pace to that pole, then I will run at a push pace to the next pole. Then I will do a 30 second sprint and after that, go back to my base fast walking pace." </p><p>I kept challenging myself to run farther and pretty soon I could run a mile without stopping. Before I knew it, I could run three miles without stopping. At that point, I was hooked and I joined the Kansas City Running Club. I figured I had a lot to learn and could use some company on my runs. I signed up for training and track practice. I will never forget my first track practice. I was so embarrassed. People were lapping me like crazy. The voice inside my head told me "You are never coming back here! You suck and who do you think you are to join a group like this?!" Then Principal Casey came out and said, "Really? What would you say to one of your students or teachers who talked like that?! You would tell them that comparison is the thief of joy and that you are not comparing yourself to others! You are here to learn and grow and to get better!" </p><p>In October of 2021, I ran my first Half Marathon in St. Charles, MO. There were many obstacles along the way, including runner's knee, but I finished with a great time and lots of smiles! I definitely was ready to do it again! </p><p>I ran through the winter and began training for a spring half marathon. This time it was Rock the Parkway in Kansas City and I improved on my time. I was so excited about this that I begin to wonder if I could pull off a marathon. I visited with some of my friends who had done marathons and got mixed reviews. I was warned about how much time and commitment was involved with the training. I decided to train as if I were doing a marathon, reserving the right to do a half marathon instead. I didn't make a public announcement. That was too much accountability! LOL! And quite frankly, I didn't want any pressure.</p><p>I began doing work outs by Sally McRae --- an ultra runner that was a former teacher. She inspires me so much! You must check out her podcast! I read all the books I could get my hands on about running! I LOVED <i>Let Your Mind Run</i> by Deena Kastor, <i>Eat and Run </i>by Scott Jurek and Steve Friedman, <i>The Plant-Based Ahtlete</i> by Matt Frazier, <i>Running Your First Marathon </i>by Grete Waitz and Gloria Averbuch, <i>Running Your First Ultra </i>by Krissy Moehl, <i>Yoga for Runners </i>by Christine Felstead, <i>Older, Faster, Stronger: What Women Runners Can Teach Us About Living Younger, Longer </i>by Margaret Webb, and <i>Chasing Excellence: The Remarkable Life and Inspiring Vigilosophy of Coach Joe Vigil </i>by Pat Melgares. </p><p>The books fulfilled my quest to understand and got my brain involved in the process. Next was getting my body in the best shape possible. My training schedule included strength workouts three mornings a week before school on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. I did a group run on Monday nights that were generally 4 miles long. I did my track workouts on Wednesday nights that included all kinds of drills and new terminology I knew nothing about prior! Thursday morning I got up before school to run three miles with my neighbor and dear friend, Anne', and Saturdays were dedicated to my long runs. I tried to make Sundays a day of rest and yoga! </p><p>As the mileage increased, this became very challenging. I had to set aside 3-4 hours on Saturday for running and then would often go do a Cherry Bomb show in the evening! Sometimes this just did not work out and I would have to get a long run in on Sunday which really threw everything off! I was deeply grateful for the many Running Club members that offered to run with me so I could get all my miles in! Huge shout outs to Anne' Erickson, Nick Pettit, Mark and Ben Stallbaumer, Mike Faulconer, Maya Kamen and Elizabeth Campbell. I can never thank our coach enough! Brett Guemmer has taught me so much, and though he has coached Olympic runners, he never made me feel "less than." He always took time to visit with me and answer my plethera of questions, helped me to set goals, and even cheered me on during my marathon via my Garmin! </p><p>My nutrition was vital to my training and I had NO idea how important this was, especially for the race! I have been following a whole foods, plant-based diet for over 2 1/2 years now! My body LOVES this and reacts well! While training, I paid special attention to my gut health and besides drinking my protein rich, green smoothie, I added a wellness shot of turmeric root, ginger root, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic and honey/dates. This was incredible for inflammation and my immune system. Ok - so now the one thing that had to go...all alcohol. My body did NOT like this for running! AT ALL. While I have enjoyed some since the race is over, I am contemplating if there is really room for it in my life. It negatively affects my sleep, which is CRUCIAL for recovery and the bottom line is, it is just poison, no matter how much I enjoy it! Ugh! </p><p>Speaking of sleep - this was vital for my training. If I did not have adequate sleep, those long runs were brutal. I valued my sleep so much that I had to make a temporary bedroom downstairs so that my hubby's snoring would not keep me awake. I didn't like it...it felt weird. That also meant Friday nights were not that exciting! LOL! Watch a little TV, without at drink (Friday's are Whiskey Friday around here), and go to bed about 9 pm so I could get up at 4:30am in order to be ready to run about 5:00 or 5:15 am. </p><p style="text-align: left;">All of these pieces came together to set the stage for my training, however, the most compelling training happened with my mind. The mind/body connection is absolutely fascinating! And that, my friends, is for part 2 of this blog! </p>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-5264984572217917712020-09-06T12:31:00.000-07:002020-09-06T12:31:05.507-07:00In Search of Common Ground<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5ZVYui2aB8/X1Un9PtrBvI/AAAAAAAABF0/3tA7lcUP4z0aMS2giYGcVt7IxgO3y60_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s225/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5ZVYui2aB8/X1Un9PtrBvI/AAAAAAAABF0/3tA7lcUP4z0aMS2giYGcVt7IxgO3y60_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />My heart is heavy. We are so paralyzed by polarization across this country and this polarization is a breeding ground for hate and "otherness." As humans, we find ourselves trying to find the balance between finding our own identities, and belonging and being accepted by our various collectives. It is an intricate dance between finding our own voice, and living out the values and beliefs of our people. Our people could be our our families, our churches and religious affiliations, our schools, our communities, and people who look and think like us. While we have engaged in this intricate dance, we have forgotten that it takes place on the stage of our common humanity. And this is precisely how we find ourselves divorced from one another. <p></p><p>We can't seem to find common ground. What would happen if we truly approached one another with the idea of seeking first to understand before foisting our stories and opinions upon one another? What would happen if we took a moment to consider the other? What would happen if we ditched our insatiable desire to be right? What if we actually talked to one another with respect and dignity? What if we at least <i>tried</i>?</p><p>I definitely have my own opinions on so many issues that face us as a nation. I can live in those opinions to the extent that they don't rob others of their unalienable rights which include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I understand this. It is one of the beautiful things about being an American. But let us consider how many of our people have the opportunity to truly experience this? WHO gets the opportunity to pursue these things? And before stating our opinions on how EVERYONE can, what would happen if we just LISTENED? What I am observing across our nation is the refusal to listen. The absolute knowing that "my" way is right. The need to be powerful. To be all-knowing. To exclude others and point fingers. To find absolutely nothing the other says to be important or significant. Even amongst those who claim to be open...even these shut others out and mock people for their perspectives. This mocking, this meanness - is what breaks my heart. I believe we are deeply connected to one another and what I do to others, I am doing to myself. Therefore, the lies and untruths that are perpetuated from each side cause the divide to be even greater. </p><p>What happened to finding common ground? I KNOW there are things we can agree on. And from this place, the healing begins. WHY do you see things that way? WHY do you feel that way. Have a conversation with me. Do you really hate me because of my opinions? Can we come from a place of love and compassion? Help me to understand. </p><p>I will conclude these thoughts with the words of New York Senator Robert Kennedy addressing a crowd after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He wrote: “In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls
drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.” </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not
hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; <u>but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still
suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.</u>
So I shall ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther
King, that’s true, but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us
love—a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.
We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we’ve had difficult times in the
past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end
of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder.
But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country
want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all
human beings who abide in our land.
Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.
Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people.</p></blockquote><p>This statement is from 1968 and leaves much room for a deeper understanding of the plight of my black bothers and sisters. However, it is my hope that in the <i>spirit</i> of these words, we might search for love and wisdom and compassion for one another. What is your experience? Let's build on common ground. </p><p></p>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-14652013195976120312020-06-13T11:07:00.000-07:002020-06-13T11:14:42.076-07:00To My White Friends and Friends of Color<div class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
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Dear White Friends - </div>
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I have been deeply contemplative and reflective regarding the brutality towards George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. I know everyone has a host of opinions, judgements, concerns and ideas and are sharing them rampantly. I, however, have had such a sense of despair and overwhelming sadness that I have been unable to find adequate words to express this until now. I realize that even this is a luxury of my white privilege. I am conscious of my white fragility as well as the concept of white tears, as I began the journey of truly examining and confronting my white privilege around 2002. Being aware of white tears, nonetheless, does not stop tears from flowing down my white face and from my heart. I do not wish to be consoled at all, as my tears and pain cannot compare to the suffering of my black brothers and sisters. My heart is breaking for all people of color. </div>
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For those of you who would like to judge our black brothers and sisters for their anger - please stop. Please stop pointing your fingers. Please stop the judgement. Stop for a moment and consider where that anger stems from. Instead of trying to make yourself right, just listen. What are the messages behind the anger? Has quiet protest gotten anyone's attention? Has anything really changed since the civil rights movement? If so, why then, do we keep coming back to the same issues? Please don't take these statements as a broad sweeping sentiment that all police are bad. We know that is not the case. That is ridiculous. So just stop. When you do that, you are diverting attention away from the real issue, and white people get to take center stage again. We have had center stage for far too long. </div>
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Attacking individual people and arguing with one another is not going to get us anywhere. Sure, we need to hold individuals accountable for their actions, however, it is more powerful to examine policies and practices of our institutions. The individuals making horrible choices are a product of our social constructs and institutional racism. We will continue to have individuals making horrible, racist choices as long as we allow current policies and practices to continue. We also have to stop acting like everyone is equal and has an equal chance to be successful. That is a convenient lie we like to tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better. If we want to dismantle racism, our black brothers and sisters need to do the talking, and us white folks need to do the listening. </div>
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If you are interested in having an open, honest conversation with me about what I have said here, I invite you in. I will not judge you. I will not attack you. You can say things that may feel forbidden or taboo. If you are truly committed to making our United States a better, safer place for all, where every, single citizen has a chance at the pursuit of happiness, and you are grappling with what I have said here - I invite you in. It is uncomfortable. So be prepared. But we never grow when we are comfortable. We only learn and grow when we lean into our discomfort. </div>
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To my Dear Friends of Color - </div>
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Try as I might, I will never be able to fully understand your experience. My daughter is black. We work through the pain of her reality and grapple with the fact that I have no point of reference from which to guide her. We are honest with one another. She speaks, and I listen. In my white ignorance, I thought I would be able to rescue her from a rough experience. Instead, she rescued me. Our love is deep and I am learning from her every day. </div>
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To my friends of color - thank you for your patience with me as I learn. I will, and have, stumbled along the way. Please know that I am fiercely committed to this work. I am boldly committed to dismantling racism in all of its ugly forms. </div>
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Malcom X was so right.</div>
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<b>“I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.” – Malcolm X</b></div>
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Would you allow me to join hands with you in order to dismantle these systems of exploitation?</div>
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Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-69748707668757959312020-01-21T20:06:00.004-08:002020-01-21T20:13:05.332-08:00In Memory of My Mother - Lola Maertens Dragoo<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>In memory of Lola Maertens Dragoo - June 14th, 1953 - January 16th, 2020 </b></div>
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<b>I wrote and shared this message at her memorial on January 19th, 2020.</b></div>
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Our mom's story is one of reconciliation, forgiveness, and love. You see, her life was one full of strife, abuse, and survival for much of it. And it was also full of joy.<br />
<br />
Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, Carrie and me, and Tayler and our mother, were often apart, more than together. We did our best to stay in touch through visits, phone calls, letters, emails and texts over the years.<br />
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Our mom is one tough, stubborn lady. She found out in 2002 that she had breast cancer. She beat the breast cancer and participated in many Relays For Life, and became an advocate for others who were fighting cancer. She was often a source of inspiration and hope for others facing the same battle. I learned this during our unexpected stay here in Monte. She also served as a source of hope and inspiration for her friends who might be going through difficult relationships. She was always ready to give a listening ear without judgement.<br />
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When mom got laid off from MTI, she was devastated. But in true Lola fashion, she turned it into an opportunity. She spent the next few years making visits back to Missouri. During this time, Carrie and discovered many loves that we shared with our mom. Visiting wineries, wearing Lula Roe leggings, sipping on lots of hot teas, and shopping for shoes amongst long talks!<br />
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In 2016, our mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. This was unrelated to the breast cancer she survived. She faced the lung cancer relentlessly, driven by the fact that she had beat lung cancer before and she would beat cancer again. I was able to take off work and come to be with her during her recovery. It was my first true glimpse of her life in Monte. Friends checked in on her, I went daily to Java to pick up her extra hot, chai tea latte with soy, and experienced some quality one on one time with my mother.<br />
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Fast forward to April 2019. We received the devastating news that our mom had pancreatic cancer. Our mom faced this diagnosis with the same optimism and ferocity that she faced her other diagnoses with. Little did we know that we would receive some of the greatest gifts from our mother during the next nine months.<br />
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We were given the gift of seeing our mother through her friends' eyes. A woman who was always there for her friends. She was the one to lift others up and she was often called a gem. Everywhere we went, people talked about how much they loved our mother and what she meant to them.<br />
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The gift that none of us saw coming, was the gift our deep friendship and love for one another. You see, while Carrie and I have spent most of our lives together, we did not get that time with Tayler. Mom, in her ferocious battle with cancer, gave Tayler, Carrie and me, the gift of time. We love one another deeply and have committed to keep our relationship at the forefront. In fact, Carrie and I have bossed our "little brother" into coming for Thanksgiving each year and we have committed to come here...NOT in the winter. :)<br />
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Another unexpected gift we have received is our new group of friends in Monte. Words are inadequate to express our gratitude to all of you. You have kept us fed, hugged, and loved during a very difficult time in our lives. I am not sure how we could have gotten through this without your outpouring of love and support. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.<br />
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Reconciliation, forgiveness and love. Being human is messy business. How beautiful would the world be if we could practice reconciliation, forgiveness and love?Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-12756986020779054792018-09-09T17:55:00.001-07:002018-09-09T17:55:34.146-07:00Mountain View - A Poem about White Privilege I just finished two powerful days of equity and inclusion training with 56 of my colleagues in the North Kansas City School District. I have participated in several equity/diversity trainings and I have led numerous trainings on the topic. My dissertation is on this topic. It is my area of research. It is close to my heart. And yet I was transformed further after these honest conversations with people I hold dear. Let me just place this poem I wrote, right here. More to come on this.<br />
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<b>Mountain View</b><br />
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Sitting so pristine in my whiteness at the top of the mountain<br />
A mountain I didn't even have to climb<br />
I get the luxury of feeling comfortably numb and I have permission not to cry<br />
I'm looking at white faces reflecting back to me more whiteness<br />
While my friends of color listen in, watch, calculate and consider our suitcases and how we unpack them<br />
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As we deconstruct our White privilege and all our dirty laundry<br />
I wonder<br />
My heart breaks open and I have been here before<br />
Grappling with my white skin that I didn't even get to pick<br />
And I am yearning for your trust, begging for your trust<br />
Please trust me<br />
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You don't know it, but my heart aches, and loves and yearns<br />
Hoping you know<br />
I SEE YOU<br />
Oh, I see YOU<br />
You in all your beauty, anger, and hope<br />
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Please take my hand, and we will hike up that mountain together<br />
And after the mountain, we will move mountains<br />
And I will be your accomplice, friend, sister<br />
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~ Amy Casey 2018<br />
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Note - <span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: #282828; font-family: "Chronicle Text G1 A", "Chronicle Text G1 B"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;">An ally will mostly engage in activism by standing with an individual or group in a marginalized community. An accomplice will focus more on dismantling the structures that oppress that individual or group—and such work will be directed by the stakeholders in the marginalized group.</span></h4>
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https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/ally-or-accomplice-the-language-of-activism<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-48561948289631309022017-12-31T11:15:00.001-08:002017-12-31T11:31:16.476-08:00Dr. Amy Casey - Principal - Lover of Her People <div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I must write a biography as a MAESP Distinguished Principal
Honoree. Of course I have writer's block and the biography is due on January
8th. I thought if I blogged about it, it might come easier. So bear with me and
thanks for your help! :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who is Amy Casey as a leader? What do I want the world to know
about me? The following are things I find myself saying to others on a regular
basis. Maybe if I explore these sayings with you, I can introduce you to Dr.
Amy Casey. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Be present. Love your people. Seek
first to understand and then to be understood. Be the change you wish to see.
Celebrate diversity. Embrace a growth mindset and the power of 'yet.' Have an
attitude of gratitude. If we can't live it, it is difficult to teach it. Give
110%."</b></span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be present ~</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you walk into my school, you might find that I am the
"gingerbread woman." Catch me if you can. I do my best to be in the
trenches. My absolute favorite thing to do as a principal is to be in
classrooms observing how what we have been working on in professional
development time comes to life with our students. I love conferring with
students and asking them, "what did your teacher teach you today?"
There is nothing better than hearing the student responses that are a tell-tale
sign of the incredible teaching and learning taking place daily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to be there during difficult times to support my staff. I
want them to know that they are not alone and that we are in this together.
When my teachers lose faith and feel they can't do something, I want them to
know that they can, and I believe in them. I want to support my teachers and
grow them as leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want my students to know me. From "good morning"
greetings, to classroom visits and lunches with students, or crazy dances in
the hallways, to lots and lots of hugs, Dr. Casey is here. She is here when you
need that hug, she is here when you celebrate your academic growth, she is here
when you are so overwhelmed with life and unable to control your emotions. She
is here. She is present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love your people ~</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"> </span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">I love my school and my people. And yes, I tell
them that. I tell teachers that I love them. I tell students that I love them.
Because I do. And this love is not a fluffy, surface level, "puppies and
rainbows" kind of love. This love is the kind that holds people
accountable, while lifting them up…not tearing them down. This love is the kind
of love that says, "you may not have gotten it today, but I believe you
will get it tomorrow." This love is the kind of love that says, "I am
not looking for perfection, but I am looking for the best you can do."
This is the kind of love that nudges people to fulfill their potential rather
than pushing them over the edge. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Indeed,
love is patient and kind. It is not rude or arrogant. It does not insist on its
own way. While I have not reached mastery in this endeavor, it is how I strive
to lead. I am a human being and on occasion that humanness just comes right on
out. However, when I have done my best to lead from this place of love and have
a human slip up, I find that my staff and students are much more inclined to
forgive me. In love. Because what goes around…comes around.</span></span></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">This love that I have for my learning community
is all about connection. I feel connected to my staff, students and family.
They are my "village," my "tribe," my
"family." </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">My top two "rules" as a </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">principal</span><span style="background: white; color: black;"> are - 1)
Be nice to kids. 2) Be nice to each other. This is how we begin to show our
love for our people. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seek first to understand and then
be understood ~ </span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People have different ways of seeing things and
that is ok. But if we are constantly trying to make our way known, we aren't
really listening. We are exercising a fixed</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">mindset, rather than a growth mindset. If
we are constantly trying to defend our point of view as the "correct"
way, we have closed ourselves off from others and have closed opportunities to
grow together. We put a wedge between us. Some of my best ideas weren't my
ideas at all! They came to me from listening and trying to understand others'
points of view. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have also found that as I am willing to listen to others first,
and truly embrace what they are saying, they are more likely to reciprocate.
This is the stuff that true Professional Learning Communities are made
of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be the change you wish to see ~</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"> </span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is huge. If I don't like the way things are going, as a
leader, I must take a look at myself. I am a mirror of those I lead. Are my
teachers completely stressed out and overloaded? What have I done to cause
that? Am I giving off stressful energy? Am I expecting them to be all zen when
I am a mess? Then it is up to me to make that change in myself, first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I want others to be inspired, then I must be that inspiration.
If I want others to be innovative, then I must be innovative. If I want others
to be committed to our work, they must see my commitment. If I want our
students to see adults who look like them at school, then I must be committed
to diverse hiring practices. If I want staff to remain calm when students are
dealing with trauma in their lives and are acting out, then I must remain calm
and understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my greatest responsibility as a leader.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><u>I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u></b>must be the change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Celebrate diversity ~</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not embrace. Not tolerate. Celebrate. I see myself as a champion
for diversity, social justice and equity. Diversity encompasses race, gender,
abilities, religion, sexual orientation, age and thought. How boring would it
be if you went to color a picture and every crayon was the same color? It would
be very difficult to create a picture of a sunset. How boring would it be if
everyone thought exactly like you? There would be nothing to discuss. However,
because some people are a certain color, a certain gender, a certain religion,
etc., they experience advantages and privileges that others do not. This gets
in the way of an equitable education for ALL students. It has been my life's
mission to ensure equitable education for ALL of my students. But that begins
with the attitudes and beliefs of the adults who work with our diverse
students. Want to know more? Here is a link to my dissertation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/35258/CaseyEffCulRes.pdf;sequence=1">https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/35258/CaseyEffCulRes.pdf;sequence=1</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Embrace a growth mindset and the power of
'yet' ~</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can't, you
won't. This is how powerful our mindset is! Before all the buzz of growth
mindset came along, I was pretty sure I learned the most from my biggest
mistakes, and there were no wasted life experiences. Now we have research to
back this up! We actually learn more from our mistakes than we do from getting
a "right" answer. It is not that I am not good at division...I am
just not good at division, YET! Perseverance and embracing the "power of
yet" are vital skills for us to teach our students if we want them to be
successful. And not just for them to be successful academically, but successful
in all areas of their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have an attitude of gratitude ~</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you ever been around a person that complains about
everything? It just sucks the life out of me. It is very difficult to move
forward in a productive manner when people are grumpy and negative about
everything. To the best of my ability, I try to find the positive in every
circumstance. It doesn't mean that horrible and sad things do not happen, and
that you shouldn't feel the emotions of being sad or angry at injustices. But
how long do you stay in that place? Can you shift your attitude to think about
the things you are grateful for? (This takes me back to being the change you
wish to see...) See how much better that feels than being in a perpetual state
of complaining?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we can't live it, it is difficult to
teach it ~</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This feels a little bit like "Be the change you wish to
see." But it is more than that. When I decided that I was going to pursue
becoming a principal, I had been a music teacher for 12 years. The reason I
wanted to become a principal was because there were things happening in education
that I wanted to change. I was not able to to make those changes as a teacher.
I needed to be in a position where I could make those changes possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had experienced a successful career as a music teacher, but I
realized I didn't truly understand what general education classroom teachers
faced on a regular basis. How could I lead as a principal if I didn't truly
understand the challenges of my staff? I was actually advised that it didn't
matter. I was told I had strong leadership skills and that I would make a fine
leader. That was not good enough for me. I felt that if I was going to be a
good leader, I needed to understand what faced the people I was leading. I
needed to walk in their shoes. So I became certified to teach elementary First
through Sixth grade. I ended up teaching 5th grade for a year before I became
an assistant principal. This was one of the best decisions I made as an
educator. It gave me such insight that I never would have had, had I not
pursued this! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This happened again when I was given my first principalship and
had to oversee district special education self-contained programs in my
building. I did not have a lot of experience with more intense special needs. I
reached out to our special education director and asked him to send me to
trainings and help me to be a better special education leader. Another great
decision I have made as an educator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This comes to play in our teaching as well. If we want to teach
our students how to be better writers, we need to have a writing life. If we
want them to be better readers, we need to share from our reading life. If we
want to help them become better mathematicians, are we utilizing the 8
mathematical practices in our own lives? It feels hypocritical if we are not.
How can we ask others to do something we are not willing to do? This is
why doing our own assignments before asking students to do them is such a
powerful practice. 1) We have walked down the road before them. 2) Our
metacognition about our own experience will be helpful as we understand the
mental path we took to understand the concept. 3) We can anticipate mistakes
and misunderstandings that might occur with our students. This practice of
"living it before we teach it" makes for powerful and authentic
learning experiences for our students and staff alike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Give 110% ~</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"> </span></b></span></h3>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realize this is mathematically impossible. My point is, always
give your very best at everything you do. Show up. Get it done. Persevere. It
works better if you are having fun. Love the thing you do, or don't do it. Or
if you must do it, at least pretend to love it. (Stop complaining and see
"have an attitude of gratitude.")</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it ~</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my essence. I have
accomplished several things along the way, such as presenting at numerous conferences,
serving on a number district committees, getting my Ph.D., while being a wife
and a mother, a bandmate and a Pound instructor. But I don't know that
people will remember any of those things. I do know that my people will
remember how I made them feel. And I hope you have left your encounters with me
feeling valued, loved and cared for. Now please pass it on. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-26090867471273283392017-01-14T16:53:00.001-08:002017-01-14T16:53:11.405-08:00Fit As A Fiddle...or a Dedication to Denise SarverI had a lot of fun at the gym today. No really. I had FUN. I even got up at 6:30am on a Saturday to experience said fun. But there was a time when gym and fun were not words I ever said in a sentence together.<br />
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I used to HATE exercising. I hit my late 20's and thought to myself, "Well, I better start taking care of myself." So I began sporadically getting exercise in. I went through my Tae-Bo phase, maybe-I-can-try-tennis phase, racquetball-was-fun-in-college phase, 20-minute workout phase, Richard Simmons phase (seriously), kick-boxing phase, step aerobics phase...you get the picture. But all of these things were CHORES. Not something I would call "fun." </div>
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Finally, in my mid-30's, I decided to work out with a trainer. I went through a few until I found Denise Sarver. She challenged me with a variety of weight training exercises along with other fitness challenges. By the way, this was not really that fun either. I liked TALKING to Denise. She knows way more about my life than most people do. I liked that I was getting stronger. I liked that I was seeing results, but I still only did it because I PAID FOR IT. It was painful for my pocket if I did not show up. I also went to a few of her exercise classes...Body Pump, Cycling, TRX. These were KIND OF fun. I mean, I get claustrophobic and don't like when people are territorial. But seriously, if I didn't show up for those, it didn't hurt my pocket. They came with my membership. </div>
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I barely hung on to working out while working on my PhD. There was only so much time in my day. But I knew my health was important. Then something magical happened. I found an exercise that had me written all over it! Pound! It is kind of like putting on a rock show! The music is fantastic and Denise tricked me! She gave me a taste of Pound on one Saturday morning at a respectful 10am. Then she only taught it at 6 in the morning! What?! I was totally hooked. So for the FIRST time in my life, I got up early and went to exercise. And then I had fun doing it!</div>
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The next thing that happened was crazy! Denise convinced me that I should get certified to teach Pound. Now I had all kinds of qualms. I do not have the perfect physique, I didn't feel like a "real" fitness person, I have a muffin top. She would not accept any of my excuses. </div>
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So I did it! Then I began teaching! And love it even more. And by gosh, Denise did it again! She insisted that I start going to her boot camps. They are difficult, but I found myself having fun. I made friends at Boot Camp. We were all miserable together! We shared common goals! We came in all shapes and sizes! We were all at varying fitness levels. This felt real. This felt genuine. </div>
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Why am I telling you this? Because our health is everything. Our bodies need to move. They were designed to do so and we don't do it enough. (P.S. - you should TOTALLY read the book Spark, by John Ratey & Eric Hagerman...it is fascinating!) If you are like me, you can ABSOLUTELY talk yourself out of going to the gym (or walking on that treadmill at home). You can find 100 things that you really need to do. But that was then. Now, if I have to miss my workout, I REALLY miss it. My body wants it. My heart and mind want it. And I miss my friends. (The bonus I received from this working out thing.)<br />
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So all those articles you read about working out and the tips to make it happen? They are true. Find exercise that you love, and do it. Every day. Find friends to work out with. Better yet, make friends by working out together. Sometimes you have to pay for it. If you do, you will be more likely to go. Give it 21 days to become a habit. Ok, it took me like, 21 years to make it a habit...but don't be a dirty judger! ;)<br />
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So finally, I really need to thank Denise. Yeah, sure. I pay her to hang out with me. LOL. But she inspires me. She truly believes in me. She forgives me when I do stupid things health wise, but she also gives me a dose of reality to help me get back on track. Most importantly, she has truly become my friend. Thanks Queen D! :)<br />
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Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-28347413566620045742016-11-09T19:07:00.001-08:002016-11-09T19:40:42.200-08:00Being An Elementary Principal the Day After"Hillary is a moron!" "Hillary is a baby killer!" These words rang out through the halls this morning as I was greeting students before the bell rang. Several staff members over heard the pronouncement at the same time and looked at me with a sense of dread written all over their faces as the students filed into their classrooms. Their body language pleaded for me to do something. Anything.<br />
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It was time for the morning announcements. I stuck with the regular routine. "Today is wonderful Wednesday...our lunch choices are...Celebrating a birthday today is...tomorrow for United Way we are...Boys and girls, let me remind you of our school expectations. Be nice. Be safe. And work hard. Today in the halls I overheard some remarks that were not very nice about the the election. This is not ok and if you choose to not be nice, you will do a think sheet. Now please stand for the pledge of allegiance."<br />
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I continued my morning by conducting some observations as well as helping with a couple of students who were struggling with good behavior in their classrooms. I then went back to my office to try to catch up on some email. I received a message from a parent that was very concerned because their student was told on the bus (the day before) "I hope Trump gets elected because then you will have to go back to Mexico." Really? Really.<br />
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When I talked to the child who had experienced this, she was in tears. She related the story back to me through her tears and said, "Dr. Casey, my family is just trying to work. We are here legally. This boy does not always talk to me like this. He goes back and forth. Sometimes he is nice and sometimes he is not." I assured her that she was not going anywhere and that I appreciated her hard work and the work of her family. I told her I loved her and gave her a hug. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and proclaimed, "you are the best principal."<br />
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Not thirty minutes later, as I was getting ready for a post observation conference, I got a call in the office. Could I please come down to 5th grade? Several students were crying and upset about the election. The teacher reported to me that some students were just having a hard time in general, some were afraid they would wake up and be deported, some were saying hateful things...the teacher wondered if they should have a class meeting...how much could she say? But the look in her eye was pleading with me to conduct a class meeting. I had ten minutes.<br />
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I asked the students to come to the gathering area on the floor. I noticed there were several swollen eyes and sad faces. I looked around. Such a beautifully diverse group. Some with families from Mexico, Sudan, South America, South Korea...They had written beautiful poetry together. They had shared intimate facts about their lives together. I bowed my head for a moment and prayed that I would have the right words that these frightened children needed to hear.<br />
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"Boys and girls, today on the announcements I reminded us of our school expectations. Be nice. Be safe. Work hard. And safe means more than new sidewalks, so we don't trip and fall and break something. It means more than keeping our hands to ourselves and solving our problems with our words, not our hands. It means our feelings should be safe, too. You have all been friends for a long time. You have shared about the world you hope for and the kind of humans you want to be. You have shared about the world you dream of. Remind me of that again."<br />
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Students shared that they wanted to be respectful, compassionate, caring and kind. I then went on to explain, "One of the greatest things about America is that we can all have our own opinions. Yes, we have freedom of speech. But that freedom of speech does not mean that you can hurt others. As a matter of fact, we practice this all the time. How many times during number talks have you said, 'I respectfully disagree?' You are all so good at this! There is a way for us to disagree with one another, in a respectful manner."<br />
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I went on to share, "Some of you are worried that as a result of the election, you won't be able to stay here. Well you are here legally and you have nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact, nothing here at our school is different than it was yesterday. I still expect you to be nice, be safe and work hard. I expect you to treat one another with respect and kindness and I expect us to be compassionate humans."<br />
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I saw the corners of mouths begin to turn up and eyes betrayed a sense of relief. I gave them the heart sign from the bottom of my heart and they laughed as they took solace in my words. I then promptly told them to get to work...and I loved them.<br />
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Today my heart is broken, but as I look at these children, my heart is full of hope. And even when a few parents came in the office spouting off their politics as if everyone would be in perfect agreement with them, I remain in that hope. "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them." No, we will not hinder them. We are their champions. And I still believe in a world where kindness, compassion and love win out.<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-15863737569970497202016-08-07T19:33:00.001-07:002016-08-07T19:41:20.364-07:00European Adventure Day 5 (July 5th, 2016)This was an incredible day! We spent most of the day at the Tower of London right by the River Thames! It was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was used as a royal residence as well as a prison. Even though it was besieged several times, controlling the tower has been important to controlling the country. And while it is often known as a place of death and torture, most executions were held on Tower Hill. Perhaps the saddest story was that of the disappearance of the little princes, Edward and Richard. It is said that they were locked away in the Tower of London by Richard III as he took the throne for himself and the boys disappeared. It is assumed that the boys were murdered so he could take the throne.<br />
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It is just so hard to explain the feeling of standing in something so incredibly old! I was so grateful that we had our history professor, Diane Boldt! What she could not tell us about the Tower, the Beefeaters were able to. The beefeaters are ceremonial guards who are responsible for ensuring the safety of the Crown Jewels... Which are incredibly amazing and it feels like you have stepped right into a fairy tale when you finally make it through the long wait to see them!<br />
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The beefeaters actually live in the Tower of London and they have a curfew! We discussed this with a couple of the beefeaters. In order to assume this post, a person must have at least 22 years of service in the armed forces. They also must have earned the "Long Service and Good Conduct" medal during their time of service in the armed forces.<br />
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Many wonder why they are called beefeaters and the story is that they were allowed to eat as much beef as they liked from the King's table. Beefeater is actually a term used to differentiate the Body Guard at the Tower of London and other Royal bodyguards working at various locations.<br />
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The Beefeaters have been in service at the Tower of London since 1485 when they were formed by King Henry the VII. The beefeaters are traditionally men, however, Moira Cameron of Argyll, Scotland became the first female Warder in 2007 and remains the only female Beefeater!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the Tower Bridge from the Tower of London!</td></tr>
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We spent the entire day exploring the wonders of this tower! If you go, you must devote the whole day!<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying on the armor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a legend that if the Ravens leave the castle, the tower will crumble and the monarchy will fall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is the Traitor's Gate entry off the Thames River into the Tower of London complex. Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and other famous condemned got their last glimpse of freedom here.</span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The armory is impressive and much belonged to King Henry VIII. It was easy to observe how he gained weight throughout the years as his armor grew with him. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon Sculpture</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being Silly</td></tr>
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Just a few extra photos from the day. The first one is a view of our apartment from the street and the second one is of Shawn, Bill and me in front of the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.<br />
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We completed this beautiful day by sitting in the grass, taking in the sights in the park by Westminster Abbey and then enjoying a spectacular cruise down the River Thames. The only thing that could have made this day better would have been to NOT take the Hop on Hop Off bus. LOL! </div>
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Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-82977930613982755362016-07-29T09:56:00.002-07:002016-07-29T09:56:48.552-07:00European Adventure Day 4 (July 4th, 2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What an interesting way to spend the 4th of July. This day was a scheduled travel day to London, but it ended up being a long and costly day! We thought that the train system was such that we could just buy tickets at any time. WRONG! When we looked at the Sail and Rail prices before leaving for Europe, they were around 40 Euros a piece. When we got on the internet to book our trip once here, they were MUCH more! However, after digging around, we finally found tickets for just a little more than what we were expecting.<br />
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COMPLETE SIDEBAR - I forgot to tell you that I had a huge mishap with my blow dryer in Dublin before we left. Shawn bought this really cool electricity converter with all the adapters for each European country. We were set with our electronics! He spent about $60 on the thing. SO I plug my hairdryer in and put it on low, like I am supposed to. I am blowing my hair and then the thing starts sparking and smoke is billowing out! I promptly turn it off, but the converter thing is toast! :( I felt HORRIBLE. Moral of the story is <b><u>don't do that! </u></b>Suffice it to say, my hair was pretty crazy for most of the trip. However - my dumb $19.99 hairdryer still works! Below are a couple of pictures of our view from our flat and the beautiful neighborhood we stayed in while enjoying Dublin!<br />
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Back to day four…We had a very sociable and delightful taxi driver that took us to the port for the ferry ride to Wales. The ferry was lovely and was like a large cruise ship. We snatched seats with windows and enjoyed the lovely views! I also enjoyed reading the book I brought along, while Bill and Shawn took in the sights from the deck above.<br />
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Once we arrived at the train station in Wales, we tried to get on the train only to find out that our tickets were only good for the FERRY! The ladies apologized that the website had messed up, but…oh well…did we need a train ticket or not? And that will be another 125 Euros a piece. Grrr…really? Yes, really. So off we finally went.<br />
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I really romanticized about how lovely a train ride would be traveling through the English countryside! I hardly got to see it because most of the time I was looking at a wall or a hedgerow! And where was the dining car?! Oh, we are in the budget seats. Good thing we gathered the tidbits of cheese and fruit we had leftover in our Dublin flat! The landscape did finally open up a a bit and Wales was quite beautiful! I was grateful when we arrived in London, and a sympathetic London taxi driver saw us lugging our bags around. He motioned us in and it was like a clown car as we tumbled in! We were practically sitting on one another's laps! He spoke of Brexit and Trump! He likes Americans! He went on to share with us that he doesn't live in London - he commutes. But then no one really lives in London anymore. It is full of tourists…like us. Ha! :)<br />
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After grabbing a few groceries and enjoying an inexpensive dinner in our lively neighborhood, we settled into our new flat that boasts 52 steps to our rooms! I was feeling out of my exercise routine and there was a gym right across the street. So at 8:45 pm, I made my way across the street to enjoy a vigorous workout after my sedentary day of travel. Our flat is wonderful with lots of room and a washer right in the kitchen. Our host has thought of everything! Including a hair dryer! I am exceedingly grateful for my travel companions, the Boldts. Mr. Casey has been a joy! Can't believe we are experiencing this together! :)<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-74685016197452083902016-07-23T15:59:00.002-07:002016-07-23T16:03:58.010-07:00European Adventure Day 3 (July 3rd, 2016)This day was one of my absolute favorites! We went on a guided tour to County Wicklow. Several movies and TV shows have been filmed here, including Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, P.S. I Love You and Vikings. Our tour guide was very cheerful but a little lackluster. This tour took the entire day and I was in awe of the beauty of Ireland. It is so GREEN. I know people are aware of this already, but I mean, it is really green! During the tour we were able to see the Mountains and bogs. We visited a beautiful stream and the spent time at the bridge from P.S. I love you. Diane and I touched the water. This is really her thing when traveling - she likes to dip her hand in the waters, and I adopted this practice myself!<br />
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We were also able to visit Guinness Lake. It was a spectacular view! The water looks black because of the run off from the bogs which have a high iron content. The lake is near an estate that belongs to the Guinness family. They imported some white sand on the edge of the dark, peaty water and as a result, the lake looks like a pint of Guinness! The lake's actual name is Lough Tay and is fed by the Cloghoge River. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; white-space: nowrap;"></sup></div>
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Next we visited Glendalough (Valley with two lakes). There is an upper lake and a lower lake in this glacial valley. Glendalough is home to ancient medieval, monastic ruins and is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It has several trails that run from the ruins to the lakes. Diane and I especially loved walking through the forested areas on our way back from visiting the lower lake. We touched the water here, as well.</div>
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As we were waiting for our tour bus to pick us up for the last leg of the tour, I felt compelled to take my shoes off and walk barefoot through the Irish clover here. I was completely charmed by the abounding loveliness of Glendalough and I will return again in this lifetime.<br />
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We ended our tour in the little village of Avoca (Below is a photo of a lovely church in the village). We had a scrumptious late lunch at Fitzgerald's Pub that included lovely desserts (Diane really loved her apple tart with fresh cream, warm custard and raspberry coulis).<br />
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On the way back, we caught a glimpse of the Irish Sea where scenes from Saving Private Ryan were filmed, but we were unable to snap a picture. We leave bright and early in the morning for London! We will take a ferry to Wales and catch a train for London. I am looking forward to seeing the countryside!<br />
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(Side note - I was freezing most of the time in Dublin/Ireland as it was typically 62 degrees and drizzly. The lovely green scarf I am wearing was a bargain I snatched at the Jameson Distillery. I think it is the perfect Irish souvenir! I shall always think of Ireland as I am wearing it.)<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-19226366254707488012016-07-20T20:58:00.000-07:002016-07-20T20:58:31.686-07:00European Adventure Day 2 (July 2nd, 2016)We allowed ourselves to sleep in a little after our big day yesterday! We woke up about 9:30 and decided we needed to go back to Violet's for coffee and chai tea. We also decided to take advantage of our hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that came with our Dublin pass. (Our feet were tired from our 9 hours of walking the previous day.) The weather in Dublin is absolutely crazy! We can no longer joke about the weather in Missouri changing! In Dublin they say they have all four seasons in one day and that is no joke! When we began our trek in the morning it was about 60 degrees and sunny. By the time we made it to our stop for the hop-on hop-off, it was raining and I was freezing my patootie off!<br />
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Our tour guide was very knowledgable and quite funny as she made sure we knew she was "Anne-with-an-e" in case we wanted to mention her on Trip Advisor. We were excited to make our first stop at the Guinness Storehouse. We were greeted by Irish Dancers at the front doors. We were very excited that our Dublin Pass allowed us to skip the line for tickets so we could get in straight away.<br />
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We enjoyed learning about the process and tools used in making this fabulous nectar of the Irish. We were delighted when we entered the room that allowed you to experience the different aromas created by the hops and indulge in our first tiny taster of Guinness.<br />
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We then made our way to the top floor known as the Gravity Bar to enjoy our complimentary pint (Shawn was most definitely having a spiritual experience) and to take in the view of Dublin from this perspective.<br />
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From here, we hopped on our bus again for our next destination - the old Jameson Distillery. We booked the last tour of the day but had a couple of hours to kill before our tour so we headed off to enjoy some dinner at Ireland's oldest pub, the Brazen Head. This pub was established in 1198. Yes, you read that right! Dinner was wonderful, but Diane's meal was the most heavenly! She enjoyed the Atlantic Chowder, but was kind enough to share with the rest of us. </div>
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After dinner, it was back to Jameson. I learned that Jameson is triple distilled. I was able to taste what that meant as they put before us a taste of Jameson (triple distilled Irish Whiskey), Johnny Walker (double distilled Scotch Whiskey) and Jack Daniels (single distilled American Whiskey). The Jameson was palatable to me, the others were, in a word, nasty. We ended with a lovely Jameson Ginger and Lime cocktail at the end of the tour and earned our Jameson Tasting Certificates!</div>
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After dropping the boys off at our flat, Diane and I stopped in a local pub for some dessert and wine for the perfect finish to a perfect day. On our way back to the flat, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few items and giggled at the description on the orange juice cartons. What we call "pulp," the Irish call "juicy bits." What fun! </div>
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-17627744665095757872016-07-18T20:20:00.008-07:002016-07-18T20:35:54.965-07:00European Adventure Day 1 (July 1st, 2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our first stop on this European Adventure with the Boldts began in Dublin. We arrived at 5am after a very long day (night) of travel. Since it was so early in the morning, we could not check into our flat, but we could drop off our luggage. We had a lively conversation with the bus driver who gave us great tips on what to do and where to go. As it turns out, he was right on the money! We spent the next 9 hours exploring Dublin. We began our day at a lovely little neighborhood cafe called Violets. We were greeted with a very inviting smile by a sweet lady who talked up a storm and shared her own fond travel memories of her trips to America with her son. They love WWE! She whipped up a proper English breakfast for Shawn and the Boldts while I enjoyed a lovely scone with a delicious cup of chai tea. As we continued to visit, we discovered that this kind woman was Violet herself!<br />
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After snapping a picture with Violet and promising to return, we took to the streets and stumbled upon the Garden of Remembrance, a lovely garden that Violet recommended we spend some time in. Next we visited the GPO - the General Post Office. The building opened in 1814 and a major refurbishment had just been completed before the Easter Rising of 1916. We enjoyed the exhibition and stopped to mail a postcard to our families as the GPO is still in use as a fully functioning post office today.<br />
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Next we went to Trinity College and joined a guided tour of the college before visiting the Book of Kells and the Old Library housed at Trinity. The Book of Kells exhibit was breathtaking. The Book of Kells is a 1200 year old manuscript of the Gospels of Christ and is held as one of the finest national treasures of Ireland. It was illustrated and decorated by Irish monks and is a work of art. To see examples of this work, <a href="http://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/home/#folder_id=14&pidtopage=MS58_007v&entry_point=25" target="_blank">Book of Kells</a>.<br />
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As if that was not enough to take my breath away, walking into the Old Library was very emotional for me. The Old Library at Trinity College is the largest library in Ireland and is the home of the Book of Kells. The library began in 1592 with the opening of the college. The "long room" was built in the early 1700's and houses 200,000 of the library's oldest books. It is also lined with marble busts of philosophers and writers, as well as supporters of the college. Emotion welled up in me as I contemplated the thousands of years of knowledge housed in this one room. I considered the philosophers who have influenced so much of western civilization. As an educator and life-long learner, this room symbolized for me ~ my own quest for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.<br />
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It was finally nearing our time to check into the flat so we made a quick stop for some groceries and then set out to find a pub, as we were famished! We had a lovely dinner and enjoyed the live music (we thought we would hear some good Irish music but it was mostly American 70's and 80's music! LOL!)<br />
I, of course, got up to dance! It was a very festive evening because Wales beat Belgium in football this night! A very big deal and much celebrating ensued!<br />
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Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-8579911332890965522016-05-30T18:40:00.001-07:002016-05-31T20:10:36.979-07:00Values and Action…Otherwise known as "Actions Speak Louder than Words"<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Belief</b>: confidence</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">truth</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">existence</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">something</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">not</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">immediately </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">susceptible</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">rigorous</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">proof.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>Value</b>: to</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">consider</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">with</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">respect</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">worth,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">excellence,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">usefulness,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">importance, </span></span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">regard</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">esteem</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">highly.</span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Action</b>: </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">something</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">done</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">performed;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">act;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">deed. A</span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">n</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">act</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">one</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">consciously</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">wills</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">may</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">be</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">characterized</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"></span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">physical</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">mental</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">activity:<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">habitual</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">usual</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">acts;</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">conduct:</span></span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">energetic</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">activity.</span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">So I have been giving a lot of thought to beliefs. I, for one, have held several beliefs in my lifetime. As I have gained knowledge contrary to my beliefs, I have had to examine said beliefs and decide what to do with the fallout. Beliefs are formed early in life and are indicative of one's personal, social or professional truths that have been created by reason, time, education, or experience (Ennis, 1994; Nisbett & Ross, 1980; Pajares, 1992; Rokeach, 1968). The earlier the beliefs are formed, the harder it is to change them (Nespor, 1987; Nisbett & Ross, 1980; Rokeach, 1968). Further, experiencing a belief shift as an adult is a fairly rare occurrence, as individuals tend to hold tightly to their beliefs even when presented with scientific explanations contrary to their beliefs (Nespor, 1987; Nisbett & Ross, 1980; Rokeach, 1968; Ennis, 1994). </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Why do I even bring this up? I have been frustrated as of late as a number of issues regarding belief systems have been brought to my attention. People (not naming names) have in a sense "preached" their dogma, been confronted with conflicting information, considered their beliefs in light of new information and changed their beliefs. This has caused an uproar as other people have called them hypocrites even to the point of death threats. And this has happened in an arena where you would expect love and compassion to rule. I am sickened by it.</span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">This has given me pause to examine my own life experiences. I will be the first to tell you that I have had a number of deep seated beliefs that have been challenged over the years. As I have gained new knowledge, I have had to decide how to reconcile my beliefs with my new found knowledge. My decisions have not always been popular with the masses. So I have decided that <u><b>values and ensuing actions</b></u> are much more important in this thing we call life. It doesn't really matter to me what your beliefs are. It matters more to me what you value and how you live your life. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">What do you value? How do you act in accordance with these values? Again…actions speak louder than words. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">For example, I truly value my health. Therefore, you can expect me to act in a manner that supports my health. For example, you will find me working out 6 days a week, trying my hardest to get more greens and protein into my diet, as well as practicing mindfulness. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">I value teachers. Therefore you will find me advocating for them, doing my best to support new learning for all of us and sticking up for them when society wants to be negative about our education system. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">I value children. Therefore you will find me treating them with respect, cultivating relationships with them and listening to them. And if you are not the type of person to do the same, you probably won't be on my team. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">I value my family. Therefore you will find me hanging out with them, sharing experiences, and time. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">I value diversity. Therefore you can expect me to support gay marriage, black lives matter, organizations that support autism awareness, people with downs syndrome and women. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Are you following me? My actions become the <b><u>rigorous proof</u></b> missing in belief systems. I give energetic activity to those things <b>I value</b>. </span><br />
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">What do you value my friends? And are your actions lining up to those values? Will you pause with me to consider this? Namaste!</span>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-56332490856952214632015-12-16T20:04:00.001-08:002015-12-16T20:04:12.726-08:00Purpose<section class="def-pbk ce-spot" data-collapse-expand="{"target": ".def-set", "type": "def"}" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><header class="luna-data-header" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="dbox-pg" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;">noun</span></header><div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">1.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">reason</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">for</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">which</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">something</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">exists</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">is</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">done,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">made,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">used,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">etc.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">2.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">an</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">intended</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">desired</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">result;</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">end;</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">aim;</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">goal.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">3.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">determination;</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">resoluteness.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">4.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">subject</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">in</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">hand;</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">point</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">at</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">issue.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">5.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">practical</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">result,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">effect,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">advantage:</span></span><div class="def-block def-inline-example" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #979797;">
<span class="dbox-example" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">act</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">good</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">purpose.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="def-pbk ce-spot" data-collapse-expand="{"target": ".def-set", "type": "def"}" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><header class="luna-data-header" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="dbox-pg" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">verb</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">(used</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">with</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">object)</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </span><span class="dbox-bold" data-syllable="pur·posed, " style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: bold;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">purposed,</span> </span><span class="dbox-bold" data-syllable="pur·pos·ing." style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: bold;">purposing.</span></header><div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">6.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">set</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">as</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">an</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">aim,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">intention,</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">goal</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">for</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">oneself.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">7.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">intend;</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">design.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="def-set" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 17px;">
<span class="def-number" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">8.</span></span><div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">resolve</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">(to</span> <span class="oneClick-link" style="box-sizing: border-box;">do</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="box-sizing: border-box;">something)</span></span></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
I have been spending a lot of time contemplating my life and what is next for me, since completing my doctorate. When I was in the third grade, I felt a deep desire to be a missionary to Africa. I can't really tell you why. I just felt it deep down in my heart. This desire returned again in 1995 when I met an incredible family that served as missionaries to Africa. Then once again, while the principal of Oakwood Manor in about 2009, I had a beautiful family that was called to serve in Madagascar. Why am I telling you this? I have been thinking so much about my purpose in life, and whether things in my life are aligned to what I believe is my purpose or dharma. </div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
Being an elementary principal definitely aligns with my purpose/dharma. I believe that education is what causes us to rise above our circumstances. Being an elementary principal also affords me chances every day to show how much I love.</div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
Singing and sharing the gift of music aligns with my purpose/dharma. There is so much healing power in music and dance. So much joy. Yes - I have been called to this, as well. </div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
Bottom line is…my life purpose/dharma is to love, educate, empower and to spread joy. I am looking for ways to ensure that everything I do in my life aligns with this purpose. What is your purpose and how are you aligning to it?</div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="def-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 37px;">
(P.S. - I am sure Africa is in that life purpose somewhere, too. Stay tuned. :)</div>
</div>
</section>Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-55264320402905681752015-09-10T20:12:00.000-07:002015-09-10T20:12:10.503-07:00The Power of Habit for Weight Loss (Part 2 of the on-going saga)In my last post I shared with you the on-going diet saga of my life. Since my last post, I am down another six pounds as well as down several inches in my waist. My body fat percentage is down, too. :) Remember, I have gone over a year without seeing much progress in the weight loss department, so I am celebrating!<br />
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After attempting every diet on planet earth, I am sharing the things that are truly working for me at this juncture of my life. I would like to point out, that one size does NOT fit all! What is working for me, may not work for you. (This aligns with my deep beliefs in the Ayurvedic approach to holistic health...more on that another time.) I have become my own science experiment by journaling and examining my own data, which, in turn, has helped me change my mindset and create new, powerful habits. Let me explain more. <br />
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I am going to begin with how important habits are in our life. Habits are hard to break. Period. Bad habits and good habits. They are much more powerful than any willpower we think we can muster. This is why, for example, I can endure an extreme eating plan for 2 weeks, 21 and even 28 days. But after that time frame has passed, I find myself going right back into my previous ways of eating. This is because I am relying on willpower. It is exhausting, and not terribly delightful. But a good habit...that is not exhausting at all! For example, when I get up in the morning and brush my teeth, I don't even think about it. I am on auto-pilot. Brushing my teeth is a great habit and contributes to my overall health, and it feels easy! I needed to find a way to approach good health, nutrition and fitness in the same way as I approach brushing my teeth.<br />
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During this journey, I have changed a habit that I did not think was possible. And I mean that with all of my heart. For 43-ish years, there was no way on God's green earth that I was going to wake up early to work out. I am a night owl. I love sleeping in. I only get up early for work because I have to. But over a year ago, something happened that changed that. I found an exercise that I loved. And I mean I really love it! It had Amy Casey written all over it. Pound ~ the rock-out, work-out!<br />
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I had been working out with my trainer Denise Sarver (who is incredible, by the way!) for at least six years when this huge change happened. I always felt she was the reason I didn't just completely balloon up over the years, but I could just never seem to reach my goals. I was always maintaining or hanging on by a thread. Then last summer, she offered an introductory Pound class on a Saturday morning (reasonable morning time...you know, 10 am). Then she tricked me! She only offered the full classes at 6 am during the week! Well I had never had so much fun working out in my life! I loved the music, I loved banging on things, I loved the rhythm. It was summer after all, so my schedule was a little more manageable. So I dragged my butt out of bed twice a week at 5:30 am to make this silly class. It was AWFUL. I had an argument with myself EVERY morning when it was time to go to Pound. But I PAID for the classes, so I had to go. I am not going to lie. A couple of mornings, I just couldn't do it. I lost my money. However, I felt so good when I went, and had such a good time that it eventually became easier. (Side note - Denise told me, "You are really good at this, you should go get certified!" And I did just that! Also another story for another blog post).<br />
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Fast forward to today. Getting up for that class made it easier for me to get up in the morning, in general. It became a HABIT. I now get up twice a week to work out with Denise for weight training. (Along with several other workouts during the week at more reasonable times. :) The weight training, which is extremely important for a 45 year old woman for several reasons, is just alright to me. It is not Pound. Are you following me? I created a new habit. I get up at 5:30 in the freaking morning, for something that is not necessarily my favorite, people! That is just slightly short of a miracle!<br />
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The thing about changing our habits is that it is hard to change more than one or two habits at a time. So if you try to change everything, all at once, in the name of "Lifestyle Change," you are bound to fail. For more on this topic and the science behind it, I highly recommend the book, "Foodist" by Darya Rose, and the book "Switch, How to Change Things When Change Is Hard" by Chip and Dan Heath.<br />
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In order to change our habits, our mindset is especially important! In my next blog, I will share with you about Mindset and the other habits I have created slowly over the past year that are finally paying off!Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-9493167206517124672015-07-27T20:29:00.003-07:002015-07-27T20:38:35.380-07:00Diets - They Don't Add Up (part one of an on-going saga!) Let's get one thing straight, I love to eat. I have been "pleasantly plump" since I was a child. I have battled the bulge for as long as I can remember and have only been "svelte" a few times in my life. I have no desire to look like a fashion model, nor do I have the need to feel comfortable wearing a bikini. My desire to lose weight is about feeling healthy, feeling comfortable in my own skin, and having the energy to do all the things I want to do in this lifetime.<br />
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Now, let's explore the number of ways I have attempted to lose that bulge that has ranged anywhere from 10-20 extra pounds at any given time. First, there was Slimfast and simply not eating, in my teen years. Next there was Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers proved helpful for a time. I met my goal and even became a leader! Slowly, the weight crept back on. Then there was a second attempt at Weight Watchers, the Cabbage Soup Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The Atkins Diet, The South Beach Diet (also somewhat successful on this one…but here I am again.), Raw/Vegan Diet, Herbal Life, Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Xingular Products, Fast Metabolism Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Juicing, French Women Don't Get Fat Diet…and the list goes on and on. I have bought a number of gadgets over the years as well. Food scales, Body Bugg, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit. I have joined gyms, and actually even gone to said gyms! Does this sound familiar to anyone else out there?<br />
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At 45 years old, I have decided, "I am a smart woman. I finished a PhD. I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to. So why I am I still battling my weight?! I decided I would commit to a fool-proof plan to lose weight. I ordered meals from a company that uses organic/local foods and creates five meals a day at a set number of calories depending on the amount of weight you want to lose. By getting their fresh meals daily, I absolutely knew I was eating 1500 calories a day. No measuring, no shopping, no worries. I also decided it was time to commit to fitness seriously, but reasonably. I am working out 6 days a week. I do a 30-60 minute cardio-based work out 5 days a week and strength-based training two days a week. In addition, I still do one or two Cherry Bomb shows a week and try very hard to get in at least 10,000 steps a day. There was no way I could fail on this plan! 12 weeks on this plan and I should easily see results! Right?! WRONG!<br />
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After 12 weeks, I fluctuated up and down about 3 pounds. I was devastated. I had invested a lot of money into the food plan, and time into the extra exercise classes. What the heck?!<br />
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At the same time, I was reading a book called "Foodist" by Darya Rose and I made an appointment to see my doctor, Deborah Jantsch (an OB/GYN that also has degrees in Holistic and Functional Medicine - I HIGHLY recommend her!) Nothing in this book was new to me. Nor did my visit to Dr. Deborah prove to be earth shattering. But there are some common threads that run through my successful attempts at weight loss. These threads are shared in the book "Foodist" (among some other really great books on health and nutrition) and became the topics of conversation with Dr. Jantsch. I am going to share those topics with you here and will dive deeper into these topics in separate blogs in hopes that they will be helpful to you, as well.<br />
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1. Habits and mindsets<br />
2. Knowing yourself<br />
3. Processed foods<br />
4. Sugar<br />
5. Good Fats<br />
6. Insulin resistance<br />
7. The role of protein (There are MANY sources of protein beyond meat!)<br />
8. You've got to move it, move it.<br />
9. Being healthy for life, not healthy for 28 days or however long the current diet you are considering claims it will take to give you the results you are looking for.<br />
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I will share this much...in only a week or so of thinking about things differently and ditching the caloric math formula ~ I have finally started to drop some pounds after watching the scale refuse to move for nearly a year. I will also say up front...there is no magic pill, no quick fix, and no detox that is going to help you for the long term (sorry!).<br />
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Within the next week, I will share my continued results (and struggles) with you, as well as share more on the topics of habits, mindsets and knowing yourself, so stay tuned! :) Namaste, friends!<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-73567537857440964492015-07-09T10:11:00.000-07:002015-07-09T10:11:00.299-07:00Finding the Sweet Spot...Suspended mid wall, a bead of sweat rolled into my eye. Right foot planted on a little nub. Left foot planted on a more substantial lip. Reaching upward for the next projection would not only get me closer to the top, but would also put me in reach of that bell that signals to everyone below, "I did it!"<br />
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This was my first climb. It was exhilarating! Richard Lonski had invited me on several occasions to go give it a try and I finally took him up on the invitation. Why did I wait so long?! He was a very patient teacher as he demonstrated how to put on the gear and how to tie a "magic eight knot." I giggled nervously as I accidentally made a "non-magic nine knot," instead. Being nervous was a good thing because that "magic eight knot" is what keeps you from falling to your demise! You must get it right!<br />
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I learned how important my belayer was (the person who keeps you secure during your climb by manning the belay device) and was so thankful to put my trust into Richard! I learned that beta information (helpful hints from your belayer who can see things from a different perspective than you) was important for a newb and that communication with your belayer is imperative. Richard needed to know when I was ready to "climb on," when I needed "slack," when I needed "tension," and when it was time to be, "on you."<br />
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As a life long learner, as soon as my feet hit the ground after my first route, I immediately began to reflect on the experience. I was so proud that I made it all the way to top without falling. There were some tough stretches and I had to make my body get into positions that it really wasn't familiar with. Oh, and I was really thirsty! As I rehydrated myself, I watched Richard climb. That was a fast 10 seconds. Seriously, the man is like a real life version of Spider Man! He didn't even need numbs to balance on…he just shimmied up the wall! I paid careful attention to how he navigated the wall and tucked the information into a new mental file on rock climbing.<br />
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Off to my next challenge. It was named "Udderly Ridiculous." And yeah - it was. I got three fourths up the wall and got stuck…for a minute or two. And here is where I learned my valuable lesson on the sweet spot, even though I didn't know it in that moment. Richard told me to let go and just rest for a minute. I thought I could just hang on for a few, so I held on tightly with my arms and they began to spasm. I finally listened to Richard and purposely let go as I relied on him to keep me hanging there like a circus aerialist. At Richard's instruction, I shook my arms out to get the blood flowing again. He reminded me for about the fifth time that it was all about my legs. "Think about where your legs are going first." I was then able to latch back on and successfully do a rock climbing two-step to the top as that coaching finally set in.<br />
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"On-you!" I cried. Richard manipulated the ropes to bring me back down to mother earth and I was already reflecting on why I got stuck, how I would do it differently, and the importance of my legs and feet in the climb. As I carefully observed Richard negotiating his next climb, it dawned on me! As I considered the moves that went smoothly for me as compared to the ones that didn't, I was aware that there were two ways that I approached each climbing movement. The "easy" way (ha!) and the "hard" way. When I moved almost effortlessly, it was because my legs were working in tandem with my core. My arms only offered an "assist." I explained this to Richard and described it as finding a "sweet spot" for climbing. When I got nervous, I relied too heavily on my arms to do the work and that only paved the way for a fail (or a fall).<br />
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Armed with this recent cerebration, I was ready to hit the next climb. Even though it was more challenging than my previous two climbs, I completed it swiftly, with more confidence and less achy arms! It was a clean climb!<br />
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Under the careful, patient and explicit instruction of Richard, I experienced three successful climbs! The other climbers cheered me on and reinforced my efforts. It was evident that they have created a trusting and encouraging community with one another. They were family and were eager to welcome newbs into the fold.<br />
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After a sweaty hug and expressing my deep gratitude to Richard for allowing me this experience, I headed to my car in a state of healthy exhaustion. As I turned the key in the ignition, I began replaying the whole experience in my mind and I ascertained that climbing was both meditative and a metaphor for life. First of all, I definitely hit a mediative state while climbing. There is a point when you find that "sweet spot" and everything just moves in a natural flow. During those moments, I was completely present and my mind was totally clear. Yeah, those were freaking awesome moments! :)<br />
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<b>All I ever really needed to know about life was summed up in a climbing lesson...</b><br />
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How often do I fight the natural flow in my life as I did when I was trying to hang on for dear life with my arms instead of using my legs and my core during climb number two? I turn things into a struggle instead of trusting my great teacher (The Universe in my life, but Richard, for my climb). I had to PURPOSEFULLY let go. That really smacks right into what feels like the correct thing to do. Climbing caused me to consider what habits and things I am holding onto in my life that are not serving me well. I need to purposefully let them go.<br />
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What "beta" information is helpful to me? I got stuck on the "Udderly Ridiculous" climb because I could not see where to move next. My vision was limited while hanging vertically on the wall. I needed Richard to share some "beta" with me, in order to become unstuck. Sometimes we get stuck in our lives…we can't see where the next step is because we are so limited in our view. These are times we need to consider "beta" information from other people who have a different perspective so that we can become "unstuck."<br />
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There is a "sweet spot" in life. Have I found it? What am I doing that makes life more complicated than it needs to be? "Sweet spots" are not necessarily easy, they are just easier than the "hard way." What happens when I allow things in my life to work together in flow as my legs and core did for the climb?<br />
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What happens when I find my balance, even on the tiniest little nubs as I did on my last climb of the night? When I find a balance between my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self, I feel confident and experience the "aches" of life differently along the way. What happens when I trust my friends and loved ones when I find myself in a pickle or I need help? During the climb, I called out "On You!" and Richard was there to help me down or to give me a break. He assisted me with the burden for a bit. I really needed him for a successful climb, just as I need my friends and family in this thing called life. Interdependence is what that is called. And what happens when I build trust among a group of friends that I can depend on to literally save my life? I create community. What a beautiful thing!<br />
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I am already planning for my next climbing experience. Who wants to come along?!<br />
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<br />Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-69696412896055185672015-02-23T20:33:00.000-08:002015-02-23T20:40:34.430-08:00Letting Flow<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our mom "let flow" today at 1:20 am. She was ready. We were not.</span><br />
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She had a way of always going with the flow. The flow of God's love. You could not be in her presence without feeling this constant stream of love. She freely shared this love with everyone, but she especially loved the children. And oh how this woman loved Jesus with all her heart. She declared this love by embracing the teachings of Christ and living them out every single day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;">Matthew 25:35-36 says, "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 20px;">Our mom NEVER turned anyone away, including me and a host of others. Going with the flow of God's love.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Matthew 19:14 declares, "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 20px;">Our mom loved the children the MOST. Even up until her last breath, she insisted on watching her grandbabies. They brought her so much joy. Going with the flow of God's love. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Matthew 5:8 reminds us, "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." If anyone has seen God, this pure-hearted woman has...Going with the flow of God's love.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 20px;">May I learn to "let flow" and "go with the flow of God's love" as she did. </span></span></span></div>
Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-73137455321064181902014-09-13T12:01:00.001-07:002014-09-13T12:01:47.828-07:00Put the Love in EducationLet's face it. I don't really do anything in the traditional way. Why would I lead as a principal in a traditional way? While it may be customary to not blur one's "professional" life with one's "personal" life, I can't seem to separate the two. You see, I am not two people. I am just plain ole' Amy Casey. My life is an open book and love fills my heart. I bring this love to my school, my staff, my students and their families. <br />
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I love my school and my people. And yes, I tell them that. I tell teachers that I love them. I tell students that I love them. Because I do. And this love is not a fluffy, surface level, "puppies and rainbows" kind of love. This love is the kind that holds people accountable, while lifting them up…not tearing them down. This love is the kind of love that says, "you may not have gotten it today, but I believe you will get it tomorrow." This love is the kind of love that says, "I am not looking for perfection, but I am looking for the best you can do." This is the kind of love that nudges people to fulfill their potential rather than pushing them over the edge. <br />
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Indeed, love is patient and kind. It is not rude or arrogant. It does not insist on its own way. While I have not reached mastery in this endeavor, it is how I strive to lead. I am a human being and on occasion that humanness just comes right on out. However, when I have done my best to lead from this place of love and I have a human slip up, I find that my staff and students are much more inclined to forgive me. In love. Because what goes around…comes around.<br />
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This love that I have for my learning community is all about connection. I feel connected to my staff, students and family. They are my "village," my "tribe," my "family." Heck, I actually get to spend more time with them than I do with my own flesh and blood family. So our school BETTER be a good place to be. Not perfect, but a wonderful place to learn and grow together. <br />
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So while some might possess a leadership style that is much more "professional" than mine, I have found that love is my way. Namaste dear friends!Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-74034510882308182672014-03-16T21:07:00.001-07:002014-03-16T21:14:01.149-07:00The Origin of a GeekI just finished a fantastic weekend! Planet Comicon 2014. It was an incredible weekend and I met some of my favorite Sci-Fi icons. This experience actually caused me to do some self-reflection. How did I tend to this secret love affair with Science Fiction and what caused me to finally come out of the closet? Well, it goes back to the days of the original Star Trek.<br />
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As a young girl, I would sneak in episodes of Star Trek. And yes, I mean sneak. I was absolutely captivated by the encounters of the crew with different life forms and the multi-cultural nature of the crew. I was always hungry for the next episode, but didn't want anyone to know. It really wasn't acceptable for a young girl to be interested in such things. Especially a young girl from St. Joseph, Mo. I remember actually pretending NOT to watch the show while soaking in every single minute. I never discussed the episodes with my family, nor was it a topic of conversation with my friends. There was just something empowering about "boldly going where no man had gone before." But it wasn't just men. There were women, too.<br />
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By the time I hit middle school, I was very proud to be a straight A student, but I was also feeling a little rebellious. I proudly declared a Cyndi Lauper day in which I was promptly sent home to change clothes because I was causing a disruption to our learning. I didn't really mean to disrupt learning…I loved learning. But I also loved socializing. I was able to socialize by being on the yearbook team and through cheerleading. These were quite "acceptable" activities for a young lady to pursue. I easily became friends with people from all walks of life. I particularly enjoyed talking with some of the guys about D & D. I was actually lost during most of these conversations, having no background knowledge of D & D other than what I was taught at church. I was taught that D & D was of the devil, yet I found myself being reeled into their conversations regardless. And while some people might have called these guys nerds, I found them to be some pretty cool friends.<br />
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I participated in honors classes in High School, but most of the people in my classes were much smarter than me! I could not figure out who the heck I was! I was a cheerleader, in Biology Club, Latin Club, Show Choir and the High School Musicals. I was on the school newspaper and excelled with my History and English classes but struggled a bit through my Science and Math classes. Ok, well I struggled A LOT with my math classes. I was working desperately at being who everyone expected me to be. But I left the most important person out…me.<br />
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Many things happened between High School graduation and Comicon 2014. Most notably, I became an avid fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation and did not hide it, I began playing D&D (Pathfinder, actually), completed my Ph.D., binged on every episode of Big Bang Theory, caught up with Firefly, watched Monty Python, as well as several other Sci-Fi shows. I have planned and hosted several themed-based parties (Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Zombie Apocolypse, Secret Agent, Steam Punk, etc.) and dressed all out for every single one. I jumped up and down with glee as I hugged the neck of Jonathan Frakes, and got a tear in my eye as I shook the hand of Marina Sirtis. These people represent a part of myself that I have learned to embrace whole heartedly. It was actually quite spiritual.<br />
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The passing of time has given me the gift of confidence as I no longer try to play the roles expected of me by others. Instead, I have learned to embrace who I am and not worry so much about what other people think. I must also thank my husband for allowing me to evolve. He and I spend endless hours talking about everything under the sun. He is a brilliant game master who has been patient with me as I learn the intricate rules for D & D. He doesn't think I am goofy when I want to dress up (as in costumes) for events. Heck, he doesn't even mind when I make up events just so I can wear a costume!<br />
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I know that some people must look at me and scratch their heads. I am fine with that. I love this part of me…just as I love my "peace, love and happiness" part of me…my performer/vocalist/dancing queen part of me…and my serious educator part of me. Somehow it is just all goofy me. Amy Casey. Boldly out of the closet!Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6626939182918990727.post-87739981639725594792014-03-02T21:20:00.000-08:002014-03-02T21:33:18.943-08:00I Got You Babe ~ The Secrets of My Happy MarriageNothing like a snow storm to give me time to think and write! Today I have been thinking about Mr. Casey and the things that make us work so well together. I thought I would take a moment and share. :)<br />
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1. We don't NEED each other, we WANT each other. When I was younger, I thought I needed a husband to make me complete and happy. My head was full of all those sappy, romantic books that promoted the idea that you could find true happiness if you could only find the right partner. I believed that somehow I was incomplete as just me. I needed someone to complete my soul…blah, blah, blah. After my first marriage of 11 years ended, I was stuck with just myself. I took some time to explore who I truly was and fell in love again. Only this time, it was with Amy Dragoo. I was actually a pretty cool person. I became exceedingly independent and knew exactly what I wanted and didn't want in a relationship (that doesn't mean I always got what I wanted, however). By the time Shawn Casey proposed to me, we both had a good idea of precisely what we wanted in our marriage. We were both independent people who were quite capable of taking care of ourselves and we didn't necessarily NEED another human being in our lives, but we sure WANTED one another.<br />
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2. We don't try to change each other. We dated for two years before getting married. I knew, for a fact, that Shawn Casey loved to play computer games. A lot. He knew that I loved to sing. A lot. There are times that he might play computer games into the wee hours of the night, but I am not going to nag him about it. It is his thing and he really enjoys it. It brings ME joy to see HIM enjoying himself. There are times that I sing into the wee hours of the night. He doesn't nag me about it. He knows that performing feeds my soul. He loves to see me happy.<br />
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3. We bring balance to one another. I am an Aquarius. All the way. My head is often in the clouds. I love a new adventure and I am deeply spiritual. Shawn is a Taurus. He is reliable, predictable and deeply intellectual. That is not to say that Shawn is not spiritual and I am not intellectual - but when we interact with one another, we have a way of balancing each other in the most complimentary way. He is the earth to my air ~ he grounds me and I lift him up. He is my safe haven and I am his thrilling expedition.<br />
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4. We keep our money separate. I know this doesn't sound terribly romantic. It has nothing to do with trust or the lack thereof. It goes back to point number one. He doesn't need my money and I don't need his. We seriously NEVER argue about money.<br />
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5. We laugh. We play. We try new things. Sometimes we chase each other around the house. I have this weird thing about my belly button. I don't want anyone touching it. He acts like he is going to touch it...but he doesn't. Then we laugh. (I know…we are weird). We play "name that tune." I dance and he laughs at me. He dances, and I laugh at him. We use puns, we tell really horrible jokes. We love trying new restaurants. I started gaming (role playing) with him. We go to fun places on vacation. We have great sex! We zip lined. We go on float trips. We go camping. You get the idea.<br />
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6. We spend time together. See number 5.<br />
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7. We talk to each other. And I mean a lot. We talk about religion, spirituality, politics, education, technology, Big Bang Theory, diversity, racism, Network Engineering, vegan diets, books, zombies, Ayurveda, yoga, fitness, Star Trek, Obama, Pathfinders, music, wine, scotch, beer, vacation, Key West, charities, friends, relationships, sex, parenting, the devil, God, chakras, crystals, computer games, gadgets, family, the environment, climate change, gardening, house projects, science, evolution, wellness, heroes, dreams…the list goes on and on.<br />
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8. We have little rituals. Sunday mornings are sacred for us. We sleep late and then partake in numbers 5, 6, and 7! We love cooking together. We go to the Bier Station and he orders the newest craft beer on tap while I order the Malbec wine every single time. We like to game on Sunday nights. We love to watch "Hell's Kitchen," "Master Chef," and "Big Bang Theory" together. He washes the laundry and I fold it. We text each other every single day.<br />
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9. We have left some mystery in our marriage. Basically - we do not perform bodily functions in front of one another. As far as he is concerned, I don't do that. Even after being together 14 years! LOL! :) That may be "too much information" for this blog - but - I am totally serious. I like having a little mystery!<br />
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I am sure there are many more things that I have not thought to share here. Perhaps I will come back tomorrow with number 10. And I am sure if you compare this list with the "research," you will find some similarities and perhaps you will find some oddities. Nevertheless, I am certainly blessed to be married to my very best friend on planet earth.<br />
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[<i>HIM:] </i>I got you to hold my hand<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HER:]</i> I got you to understand<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HIM:]</i> I got you to walk with me<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HER:]</i> I got you to talk with me<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HIM:]</i> I got you to kiss goodnight<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HER:]</i> I got you to hold me tight<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HIM:]</i> I got you, I won't let go<br />
<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[HER:]</i> I got you to love me so<br />
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<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[BOTH:]</i> I got you babe<br />
I got you babe<br />
I got you babe<br />
I got you babe<br />
I got you babe</div>
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Amy Dragoo Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13104666343039511893noreply@blogger.com0