So, for those of you who actually still read this thing….I got into Teach For America’s 2013 Hawai‘i Corps as a middle/high school English teacher!!
There’s so much to reflect on and be grateful for, I don’t even know where to begin. Let me attempt to begin by extending the biggest mahalo I can muster to any and all of you who have offered your love, positivity, and support (even if any of that good stuff was only born from reading this). In your light, the South African concept of ubuntu comes to mind, “I am who I am because of who we all are.” None of my accomplishments would be possible without the sources of love that surround me (and that absolutely includes many of you) and how we all serve as catalysts for one another’s light. With all of it, your love, their love, and mine, I am so honored and excited to begin this chapter of my life. To finally begin applying the invaluable lessons I’ve gained by sharing them with others to initiate the reciprocal experience of inspiration through education that’s so deeply needed in my beautiful home of Hawai‘i. And beyond that, to live for and learn with others as my father did, to make him proud. This is only the beginning.
Ironically, I’ll end this expression here by saying mahalo nui loa ma me ke aloha pumehana.
Pulling out of the old scarred skin
(old rough thing I don’t need now
I strip off
slip out of
leave behind)
I slough off deadscales
flick skinflakes to the ground
Shedding toughness
peeling layers down
to vulnerable stuff
And I’m blinking off old eyelids
for a new way of seeing
By the rock I rub against
I’m going to be tender again
Harryette Mullen (via 2000anhour)
“In my world, you don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and be against common-sense gun control — like banning public access to the kind of semiautomatic assault rifle, designed for warfare, that was used recently in a Colorado theater. You don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and want to shut down the Environmental Protection Agency, which ensures clean air and clean water, prevents childhood asthma, preserves biodiversity and combats climate change that could disrupt every life on the planet. You don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and oppose programs like Head Start that provide basic education, health and nutrition for the most disadvantaged children. You can call yourself a ‘pro-conception-to-birth, indifferent-to-life conservative.’ I will never refer to someone who pickets Planned Parenthood but lobbies against common-sense gun laws as ‘pro-life.’”
I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you. — Neil DeGrasse Tyson
