Woodbury Bulletin - 09/16/2009
As another school year has started, many parents start thinking about school lunch and packing lunches for their kids.
Are my kids eating healthy food at school? Is it better to have school lunch or bring lunch from home? Should I let them eat doubles or triples or should I set a limit?
An article that appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of the Woodbury Bulletin titled “More healthful school lunches moving ahead” also made me think about those questions.
I was glad to know that more healthy choices, more fresh and fewer processed food will be offered at our new middle schools. I hope the Farmer’s Market lunch menioned in the article will be expanded to both elementary and high schools next year.
Giving students choices of healthy and unhealthy food, I think the majority of kids will choose unhealthy food. I know my kids will, even though we eat mostly healthy food and not processed food at home.
So the ideal is not just more healthy food choices, but also fewer choices or no choices of unhealthy food in schools. This is difficult if not impossible to achieve, because Our standard American diet is a SAD, unhealthy one.
In my opinion, it is not only our school’s responsibility to provide our kids with healthy food, it’s also, or more importantly so, the responsibility of each family and the society as a whole to help our kids build healthy eating habits.
I think parents should pay attention to their kids’ lunch accounts and make their kids responsible for their spending. Instead of complaining to the schools that their kids spend too much money on school lunch, they can limit their kids’ spending to one lunch, and not allow doubles or triples.
Once I found out that my daughter spent extra money on dessert, I told her no more doubles or extras. Whenever she questions me why she can’t have seconds or extras like some of her friends, I tell her, she can always get more vegetables or fruit for free if she needs more food. I know well that she can’t usually finish everything the first round.
This is a problem that concerns me - the messy and wasteful behavior in the school lunch rooms.
On a few occasions I visited my kids during lunch, I was not pleased to see what’s going on. Some kids played with food, some kids, including my daughter, ate only a few bites of food and had a few sips of milk or juice, then threw more food away than they consumed.
Since I grew up with the teaching of eating everything on your plate and not wasting food, I don’t tolerate my kids’ wasteful behavior. I make sure that they eat everything they have on their plates. But I can’t control what they do at school.
The lunchroom scene was pretty heartening for me. What a waste and what a mess!
I hate to see food go to waste and money go down the drainage. I think most parents will agree. But some of them might just not know what is going on in the school lunch room.
There are also parents who don't care how much their kids spend and how much is wasted. These kids can purchase whatever they want, as much as they want.
The fact is in our society kids are very spoiled. Many live a life of prosperity and abundance; they don’t know hunger and they don’t know how to value what they have.
As a parent, I encourage our kids to bring lunch from home. But that remains a real challenge.
When my son first started school, he brought lunch from home every day for the whole kindergarten year. Then when he started the 1st grade, he no longer wanted to bring lunch from home. He said most kids eat school lunch. He wanted school lunch too.
If more kids bring lunch from home, that might encourage other kids to do the same.
From the school side, more education and closer monitoring would be helpful.
We need to remind our kids to bring or purchase in the cafeteria only what they will eat, no more and no waste. When bringing lunch from home, use unpackaged food (an apple) rather than packaged food (a cup of applesauce) if possible, and pack lunch in re-usable containers, rather than disposable items.
As we focus on providing more healthy lunch, let’s not forget to also teach our kids to be resourceful with our food and mindful with our environment, and to keep the lunchroom from becoming a waste site.
Qin Tang can be contacted at quin_tang@yahoo.com
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Remembering my favorite teacher
06/05/2009
When my son Andy and daughter Amy came home on the last day of school, I was more curious than usual to find out how the last day went.
“Too bad school is over. Fifth grade is my best year ever. I had so much fun,” Andy commented.
“How did you and all students say goodbye to the teachers?” I asked.
“The teachers lined up and watched us get on the school bus and leave.”
“Did anyone cry?”
“Everyone in my class gave our teacher a hug. Some teachers almost cried.”
Thankful for the wonderful teachers my kids had in school, I couldn’t help but thinking about my own teachers, especially my favorite teacher in high school almost 30 years ago.
The path of my life, starting from my hometown Suzhou to Beijing, the Capitol of China, to the university of Heidelberg in Germany, and then to the Untied States, is nothing but a miracle in my mind, thanks largely to my high school English Teacher Mr. XuangGuang Sheng.
In high school, I was very interested in learning foreign languages. My dream was to pass the national entrance exam and to go to one of the best universities in the country for studying English.
However, the high school I went to in my neighborhood was not the best in town. Passing the national entrance exam in China requires enormous dedication, efforts and preparation from students, parents and teachers. Staying in my own high school would mean I had no chance to fulfill my dream.
It so happened that one day I heard from a friend mentioning a very unique English Teacher at a different high school. His students had excellent exam results.
One year before my entrance exam to college, my mother, who was a math teacher in my own high school, talked the school administration into approving my transfer.
After an interview with Mr. Sheng, he also agreed to accept me in his class. Apparently I had impressed him as a good and sincere student.
Mr. Sheng was indeed very special and unique in many different ways.
He went to school very early, an hour or two before the regular class started, and he didn’t leave the classroom until every student was gone, usually 8 or 9 o’clock in the evening.
Since many students didn’t have quiet space for study at home, they often went to school to study early in the morning or after dinner in the evening. Mr. Sheng was always there ready to help everyone.
Unlike other teachers, he had his desk in the classroom where he spent more time with the students than at his other desk in the teachers’ office.
Mr. Sheng had home visit at least once every semester for every student (we had about 50 students in one class). He kept parents informed about their child at school. And he got to know the families through home visits.
Mr. Sheng was not only a unique teacher, but also a somewhat strange and mysterious person in my young eyes.
He was not married and had no children. That was very unusual in China at that time. He ran several miles early in the morning from his home to the school while holding his bicycle in hand. He wore just a shirt even in cold winter.
During his home visits with students, he didn’t even drink a cup of tea that was usually offered to the guests in China. Yet when students visited him at his home, he offered them treats.
When Mr. Sheng was not at the school, he often tutored students at home who were referred to him by friends and friends of friends. He didn’t have the heart to refuse any young person who was eager to learn. His room was full of books, mostly old books, and his necessary furniture was all very old and worn out.
He spent his own meager salary on English books, note books, pencils or other supplies and gave them to good students weekly as incentive for their hard work as shown on the weekly test results, while he never accepted any gifts from any students or parents for any reason. He spent more on his students than on himself.
His devotion to his students and his selfless acts towards others were incredible, unreal and hard for me to understand at that time. His world seemed like a mystery to me.
Thanks to Mr. Sheng’s teaching and devotion during that one year, and my own hard work, I was able to pass the entrance exam.
The exam was a big annual event in China, because it was the turning point in many young people’s lives. My score was high so I was accepted by the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the best known university in China for its foreign language programs.
Most of the graduates from this university hold positions as diplomats, foreign correspondents, and language instructors at the universities or dealing with foreign affairs in other government organizations. I have an older cousin who graduated from the same university. He worked for the UN in New York and Geneva, Switzerland for many years. It was certainly a dream come true for me.
I was very grateful for Mr. Sheng, yet he never took any credit for anything his students achieved. He always said humbly, “It is due to your own hard work and talent.”
At the age of 17, I left Suzhou for Beijing in 1981. With the long twenty hour plus train ride to Beijing, a new chapter of my life began.
I studied German at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. Only about 40 students were accepted during that time every year. English was my first choice, but due to high demand, there was not enough space.
After graduation I got a position at Chinese Central Television to help start a German Language program. A German program was to be added to the existing programs. At that time three languages, English, Japanese and French, were offered on the TV and were very popular. China was just starting to open its door to the western countries, and after so many years of isolation, people were eager to know more about other countries.
One year later I went to Heidelberg, Germany to further my studies on a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Program.
After almost of 10 years of studying German, fate brought me to the United States.
Meanwhile I had forgotten my English learned in high school and had to start all over again, but I had never forgotten Mr. Sheng.
In fact, I kept in touch with him till he passed away a few years ago. Whenever I sent him letters or cards, he always wrote me back. His handwritten letters could be more than 10 pages long.
Living in Germany and the US opened my eyes for things I was not aware of in China as a young person. One of them was the Christian faith.
Years later, when I heard that Mr. Sheng was a Christian and he had graduated from a university in my home town that was founded by the American Christians, the mystery about him was solved. He had simply lived a real Christian life, though he never talked about his faith with his students, because religion was verboten and a taboo. People could go to prison for that.
My hometown Suzhou near Shanghai is a famous city known in China as “paradise on earth.” Suzhou is famous for beautiful gardens and silk embroidery. When I think of my hometown and the 17 years I spent there, Mr. Sheng usually comes to my mind. Even though he was my English Teacher for only one year, the impact he had on my life was enough for me to remember him forever. My admiration and respect for him can only grow as time goes by. Just as his name in Chinese means, Shining Light, he had certainly lighted my life and had shined some light in a not so bright world.
I always wanted to write an article about my favorite teacher. Today, the last day of my kids’ school rekindles that idea.
On this very same day, I finished reading a book a friend recommended me out of blue recently, titled “When God winks at you.” It is about the power of coincidence and how extraordinary little events in your life happen for a reason.
Now I think back about my favorite teacher and my life, I know God has winked at me many times.
Let this article serve as a remembrance to my favorite teacher and a thank-you to all teachers out there.
Please remember, whatever you do, big or little things, you can touch and change lives in ways you might not even know.
As you say good-bye to your students who are leaving you after spending almost a year together and you can’t help shed a few tears, please know, there might be former students of yours who shed a few tears every time they think about you and how you have impacted their lives.
I am one of these former students.
When my son Andy and daughter Amy came home on the last day of school, I was more curious than usual to find out how the last day went.
“Too bad school is over. Fifth grade is my best year ever. I had so much fun,” Andy commented.
“How did you and all students say goodbye to the teachers?” I asked.
“The teachers lined up and watched us get on the school bus and leave.”
“Did anyone cry?”
“Everyone in my class gave our teacher a hug. Some teachers almost cried.”
Thankful for the wonderful teachers my kids had in school, I couldn’t help but thinking about my own teachers, especially my favorite teacher in high school almost 30 years ago.
The path of my life, starting from my hometown Suzhou to Beijing, the Capitol of China, to the university of Heidelberg in Germany, and then to the Untied States, is nothing but a miracle in my mind, thanks largely to my high school English Teacher Mr. XuangGuang Sheng.
In high school, I was very interested in learning foreign languages. My dream was to pass the national entrance exam and to go to one of the best universities in the country for studying English.
However, the high school I went to in my neighborhood was not the best in town. Passing the national entrance exam in China requires enormous dedication, efforts and preparation from students, parents and teachers. Staying in my own high school would mean I had no chance to fulfill my dream.
It so happened that one day I heard from a friend mentioning a very unique English Teacher at a different high school. His students had excellent exam results.
One year before my entrance exam to college, my mother, who was a math teacher in my own high school, talked the school administration into approving my transfer.
After an interview with Mr. Sheng, he also agreed to accept me in his class. Apparently I had impressed him as a good and sincere student.
Mr. Sheng was indeed very special and unique in many different ways.
He went to school very early, an hour or two before the regular class started, and he didn’t leave the classroom until every student was gone, usually 8 or 9 o’clock in the evening.
Since many students didn’t have quiet space for study at home, they often went to school to study early in the morning or after dinner in the evening. Mr. Sheng was always there ready to help everyone.
Unlike other teachers, he had his desk in the classroom where he spent more time with the students than at his other desk in the teachers’ office.
Mr. Sheng had home visit at least once every semester for every student (we had about 50 students in one class). He kept parents informed about their child at school. And he got to know the families through home visits.
Mr. Sheng was not only a unique teacher, but also a somewhat strange and mysterious person in my young eyes.
He was not married and had no children. That was very unusual in China at that time. He ran several miles early in the morning from his home to the school while holding his bicycle in hand. He wore just a shirt even in cold winter.
During his home visits with students, he didn’t even drink a cup of tea that was usually offered to the guests in China. Yet when students visited him at his home, he offered them treats.
When Mr. Sheng was not at the school, he often tutored students at home who were referred to him by friends and friends of friends. He didn’t have the heart to refuse any young person who was eager to learn. His room was full of books, mostly old books, and his necessary furniture was all very old and worn out.
He spent his own meager salary on English books, note books, pencils or other supplies and gave them to good students weekly as incentive for their hard work as shown on the weekly test results, while he never accepted any gifts from any students or parents for any reason. He spent more on his students than on himself.
His devotion to his students and his selfless acts towards others were incredible, unreal and hard for me to understand at that time. His world seemed like a mystery to me.
Thanks to Mr. Sheng’s teaching and devotion during that one year, and my own hard work, I was able to pass the entrance exam.
The exam was a big annual event in China, because it was the turning point in many young people’s lives. My score was high so I was accepted by the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the best known university in China for its foreign language programs.
Most of the graduates from this university hold positions as diplomats, foreign correspondents, and language instructors at the universities or dealing with foreign affairs in other government organizations. I have an older cousin who graduated from the same university. He worked for the UN in New York and Geneva, Switzerland for many years. It was certainly a dream come true for me.
I was very grateful for Mr. Sheng, yet he never took any credit for anything his students achieved. He always said humbly, “It is due to your own hard work and talent.”
At the age of 17, I left Suzhou for Beijing in 1981. With the long twenty hour plus train ride to Beijing, a new chapter of my life began.
I studied German at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. Only about 40 students were accepted during that time every year. English was my first choice, but due to high demand, there was not enough space.
After graduation I got a position at Chinese Central Television to help start a German Language program. A German program was to be added to the existing programs. At that time three languages, English, Japanese and French, were offered on the TV and were very popular. China was just starting to open its door to the western countries, and after so many years of isolation, people were eager to know more about other countries.
One year later I went to Heidelberg, Germany to further my studies on a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Program.
After almost of 10 years of studying German, fate brought me to the United States.
Meanwhile I had forgotten my English learned in high school and had to start all over again, but I had never forgotten Mr. Sheng.
In fact, I kept in touch with him till he passed away a few years ago. Whenever I sent him letters or cards, he always wrote me back. His handwritten letters could be more than 10 pages long.
Living in Germany and the US opened my eyes for things I was not aware of in China as a young person. One of them was the Christian faith.
Years later, when I heard that Mr. Sheng was a Christian and he had graduated from a university in my home town that was founded by the American Christians, the mystery about him was solved. He had simply lived a real Christian life, though he never talked about his faith with his students, because religion was verboten and a taboo. People could go to prison for that.
My hometown Suzhou near Shanghai is a famous city known in China as “paradise on earth.” Suzhou is famous for beautiful gardens and silk embroidery. When I think of my hometown and the 17 years I spent there, Mr. Sheng usually comes to my mind. Even though he was my English Teacher for only one year, the impact he had on my life was enough for me to remember him forever. My admiration and respect for him can only grow as time goes by. Just as his name in Chinese means, Shining Light, he had certainly lighted my life and had shined some light in a not so bright world.
I always wanted to write an article about my favorite teacher. Today, the last day of my kids’ school rekindles that idea.
On this very same day, I finished reading a book a friend recommended me out of blue recently, titled “When God winks at you.” It is about the power of coincidence and how extraordinary little events in your life happen for a reason.
Now I think back about my favorite teacher and my life, I know God has winked at me many times.
Let this article serve as a remembrance to my favorite teacher and a thank-you to all teachers out there.
Please remember, whatever you do, big or little things, you can touch and change lives in ways you might not even know.
As you say good-bye to your students who are leaving you after spending almost a year together and you can’t help shed a few tears, please know, there might be former students of yours who shed a few tears every time they think about you and how you have impacted their lives.
I am one of these former students.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Selected VBS for summer fun
Woodbury Bulletin - 06/03/2009
For families who are interested in having their kids attending Vacation Bible School this summer, I have compiled a list of VBS offered by local churches again this year as I did in the last couple of years.
Included are registration and contact information, VBS date, theme, age and fee requirements.
This is not a comprehensive list. It only includes VBS that I am aware of. Please contact the individual church directly for any questions and for complete information.
“Crocodile Dock” is the most popular theme this year. The majority of VBS listed here take place during the third week in June, a few in July and only one in August. Have a fun and safe summer!
• Woodbury Church of Christ, 4920 Woodbury Drive, Woodbury MN 55129
Register online at www.woodburychurch.org
(651) 459-1869
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m. to noon, "Crocodile Dock,"ages 4-(entering) sixth grade, Free
• Woodbury Community Church, 2975 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury 55125
Register online at www.wccmn.org, (651) 739-1427
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m.-noon
“Crocodile Dock,” K-sixth grade ( in the Fall), Free
• St. John Lutheran Church, 1975 St. John's Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129
http://stjohnwoodbury.org/VBS2009.htm
Return the registration form to the church office
(651) 436-6621 or e-mail stjohn@stjohnwoodbury.org
Monday-Thursday, June 15-18, 9 a.m.-noon (Preschool-Kindergarten), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Grades 1-6)
Friday, June 19, 9 a.m.-noon (Preschool-Grade 6), “Gadget’s Garage” (Preschool)
“Opposite Way” (K-6th grade)
Ages 3 (by June 1) - (entering) sixth grade, $15/child (preschool-kindergarten) $20/child (grades 1-6) ($40 family maximum)
• Woodbury Lutheran Church, 7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
Register online at www.woodburylutheran.org/ministries/children/vbs
(651) 739-5144
Monday-Thursday, June 15-18 Choose between morning session 9:30-12:00 or afternoon session (12:30-3 p.m.)
“Gadget's Garage” (preschool), ages 3-current Kindergarten (Must be 3 years old by Sept. 1, 2008), Free
Monday-Thursday, July 13-16, 9 a.m.-noon
“SportsLife Camp” (elementary). 1st-6th grade (completed June 2009), $35 ($45 after June 1)
• King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.kingofkingswoodburymn.org
Check the summer programs for more information about other camps http://o.b5z.net/i/u/6123671/i/KofK_08CampFlyr.pdf
(651) 738-3110 or e-mail office@kingofkingswdby.org
VBS Session 1: June 15-19, 9-11:30 a.m., Session 2: June 15-19, 1-3:30 p.m.
"Crocodile Dock," Aages 4 (by 9/1/2009)-3rd grade, $30
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9 a.m.-noon, SportsLife Camp, Completed 1st-4th grade, $72
• St. Peter Lutheran Church, 880 Neal Ave. S., Afton, MN 55001
www.stpeterafton.org
Contact Shannon Hecksel at shecksel@stpeterafton.org or (651) 436-3357
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m. -noon
“Gadget’s Garage”
Preschool-4th grade
Free (lunch included)
• Spirit of Life Bible Church, 690 Commerce Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
Register online at http://www.SpiritOfLifeBibleChurch.org (651) 731-1900
Tuesday-Friday, June 16-19, 9:30-12:30
“Son Rock,” K-Grade 6, Free
• Resurrection Lutheran Church, 9925 Bailey Road, Woodbury MN 55129
www.resurrection-woodbury.org/
Complete registration form (available at church)
(651) 730-1000
Monday-Thursday, June 22-25, 9:30 a.m.-noon
"Crocodile Dock,” Thursday night closing celebration
Ages 3-4th grade (completed) $30 per child ($75 family maximum)
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9 a.m.-noon
“SportsLife Camp,” Ages 6-11, $50 ($55 for registrations after June 28), Further info at www.sportslifecamps.com
• Woodbury United Methodist Church, 7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.woodburyumc.org
Check out the summer adventures brochure online for info about other camps
(651) 738-0305
Monday-Friday, June 22-26, 9 a.m.-noon
“Camp Edge,” ages 3-5th Grade, $50, Monday-Friday, July 13-17, 9:30-3:00
Lake Elmo Day Camp: "A Walk With Wesley"
Grades 1st -5th (as of Fall 2009), $135
• Christ Episcopal Church, 7305 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.christchurch-woodbury.org
Download and return forms and fee to the office, registration due Monday, June 15
(651) 735-8790
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9-11:30 a.m.
Family Night Potluck Picnic Thursday, July 9, 5:30-8 p.m.
"Son Rock," ages 3-9
$25 per child ($50 family maximum)
• Grace of God Lutheran Church, 420 Hayward Ave, Oakdale, MN 55128
Register online at www.graceofgodlutheran.com
(651) 730-4900
Monday-Friday, July 13-17, 9-11:30 a.m.
“Rome,” ages 4-6th grade
$15 per child (suggested donation)
• Guardian Angels, 8260 Hudson Boulevard, Oakdale, MN 55128
www.guardian-angels.org/education/childrenyouth/vbs/
Registrations will be closed when full or June 30th whichever comes first.
(651) 738-2223
Monday-Friday, July 27-31, 9:00-12:00
“Studio Go! Game Show”
Tuesday and Thursday evening, July 28 and July 30, 6-8:30 p.m.
Primetime Studio Go!, ages 4-12, $25
• Woodbury Baptist Church, 6695 Upper Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.woodburybaptist.org/
(651) 738-7700
Sunday-Thursday, Aug. 2-6, 5:30-8 p.m.
"Crocodile Dock,"Each evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a supper.
Ages 4-5th grade, free
For families who are interested in having their kids attending Vacation Bible School this summer, I have compiled a list of VBS offered by local churches again this year as I did in the last couple of years.
Included are registration and contact information, VBS date, theme, age and fee requirements.
This is not a comprehensive list. It only includes VBS that I am aware of. Please contact the individual church directly for any questions and for complete information.
“Crocodile Dock” is the most popular theme this year. The majority of VBS listed here take place during the third week in June, a few in July and only one in August. Have a fun and safe summer!
• Woodbury Church of Christ, 4920 Woodbury Drive, Woodbury MN 55129
Register online at www.woodburychurch.org
(651) 459-1869
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m. to noon, "Crocodile Dock,"ages 4-(entering) sixth grade, Free
• Woodbury Community Church, 2975 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury 55125
Register online at www.wccmn.org, (651) 739-1427
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m.-noon
“Crocodile Dock,” K-sixth grade ( in the Fall), Free
• St. John Lutheran Church, 1975 St. John's Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129
http://stjohnwoodbury.org/VBS2009.htm
Return the registration form to the church office
(651) 436-6621 or e-mail stjohn@stjohnwoodbury.org
Monday-Thursday, June 15-18, 9 a.m.-noon (Preschool-Kindergarten), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Grades 1-6)
Friday, June 19, 9 a.m.-noon (Preschool-Grade 6), “Gadget’s Garage” (Preschool)
“Opposite Way” (K-6th grade)
Ages 3 (by June 1) - (entering) sixth grade, $15/child (preschool-kindergarten) $20/child (grades 1-6) ($40 family maximum)
• Woodbury Lutheran Church, 7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
Register online at www.woodburylutheran.org/ministries/children/vbs
(651) 739-5144
Monday-Thursday, June 15-18 Choose between morning session 9:30-12:00 or afternoon session (12:30-3 p.m.)
“Gadget's Garage” (preschool), ages 3-current Kindergarten (Must be 3 years old by Sept. 1, 2008), Free
Monday-Thursday, July 13-16, 9 a.m.-noon
“SportsLife Camp” (elementary). 1st-6th grade (completed June 2009), $35 ($45 after June 1)
• King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.kingofkingswoodburymn.org
Check the summer programs for more information about other camps http://o.b5z.net/i/u/6123671/i/KofK_08CampFlyr.pdf
(651) 738-3110 or e-mail office@kingofkingswdby.org
VBS Session 1: June 15-19, 9-11:30 a.m., Session 2: June 15-19, 1-3:30 p.m.
"Crocodile Dock," Aages 4 (by 9/1/2009)-3rd grade, $30
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9 a.m.-noon, SportsLife Camp, Completed 1st-4th grade, $72
• St. Peter Lutheran Church, 880 Neal Ave. S., Afton, MN 55001
www.stpeterafton.org
Contact Shannon Hecksel at shecksel@stpeterafton.org or (651) 436-3357
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m. -noon
“Gadget’s Garage”
Preschool-4th grade
Free (lunch included)
• Spirit of Life Bible Church, 690 Commerce Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
Register online at http://www.SpiritOfLifeBibleChurch.org (651) 731-1900
Tuesday-Friday, June 16-19, 9:30-12:30
“Son Rock,” K-Grade 6, Free
• Resurrection Lutheran Church, 9925 Bailey Road, Woodbury MN 55129
www.resurrection-woodbury.org/
Complete registration form (available at church)
(651) 730-1000
Monday-Thursday, June 22-25, 9:30 a.m.-noon
"Crocodile Dock,” Thursday night closing celebration
Ages 3-4th grade (completed) $30 per child ($75 family maximum)
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9 a.m.-noon
“SportsLife Camp,” Ages 6-11, $50 ($55 for registrations after June 28), Further info at www.sportslifecamps.com
• Woodbury United Methodist Church, 7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.woodburyumc.org
Check out the summer adventures brochure online for info about other camps
(651) 738-0305
Monday-Friday, June 22-26, 9 a.m.-noon
“Camp Edge,” ages 3-5th Grade, $50, Monday-Friday, July 13-17, 9:30-3:00
Lake Elmo Day Camp: "A Walk With Wesley"
Grades 1st -5th (as of Fall 2009), $135
• Christ Episcopal Church, 7305 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.christchurch-woodbury.org
Download and return forms and fee to the office, registration due Monday, June 15
(651) 735-8790
Monday-Thursday, July 6-9, 9-11:30 a.m.
Family Night Potluck Picnic Thursday, July 9, 5:30-8 p.m.
"Son Rock," ages 3-9
$25 per child ($50 family maximum)
• Grace of God Lutheran Church, 420 Hayward Ave, Oakdale, MN 55128
Register online at www.graceofgodlutheran.com
(651) 730-4900
Monday-Friday, July 13-17, 9-11:30 a.m.
“Rome,” ages 4-6th grade
$15 per child (suggested donation)
• Guardian Angels, 8260 Hudson Boulevard, Oakdale, MN 55128
www.guardian-angels.org/education/childrenyouth/vbs/
Registrations will be closed when full or June 30th whichever comes first.
(651) 738-2223
Monday-Friday, July 27-31, 9:00-12:00
“Studio Go! Game Show”
Tuesday and Thursday evening, July 28 and July 30, 6-8:30 p.m.
Primetime Studio Go!, ages 4-12, $25
• Woodbury Baptist Church, 6695 Upper Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.woodburybaptist.org/
(651) 738-7700
Sunday-Thursday, Aug. 2-6, 5:30-8 p.m.
"Crocodile Dock,"Each evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a supper.
Ages 4-5th grade, free
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Turning a crisis into opportunity
Qin Tang
Woodbury Bulletin - 05/13/2009
In Chinese, the word crisis is made up of two characters: danger and opportunity.
For Katie Dailey of Woodbury, the crisis she experienced in 2008 literally means "danger" and "opportunity." She is a living example of turning a crisis into an opportunity.
Dailey grew up in Shanghai, China. She attended Fudan University, a prestigious university in China. In 1990 Dailey came to the United States for her master’s degree in electrical engineering.
After graduating from South Dakota State University, Dailey started a long and successful career with American Express, Imation, Kodak and 3M as a technical leader.
Unfortunately, Dailey was laid off from 3M after three years working there.
One December morning in 2008, after she walked into the office, she got the unexpected layoff notice.
“It was a total shock for me. I started crying and couldn’t go back to my office again.”
Dailey recalls the tough time that followed. She had to do some soul-searching.
“What do you like to do?”
“What are you passionate about?”
Dailey’s husband and friends asked her these questions and encouraged her to do something she loves.
The Daileys loves to travel. They have been to almost all 50 states in the U.S.
“Spring break and summer are my family’s favorite time of the year," Dailey said. "My family usually flies to a city in a state and then we rent a car. We drive through the state and visit every state park in the state.”
They have also been to Canada and other countries in Europe and Asia.
With her passion for travel, and with her family and friends’ support, Dailey was able to turn her crisis into this opportunity of starting her own travel agent business. She followed her heart’s desire to find a second career.
“It is my passion to travel. It is also my passion to share the wonderful Chinese culture and language with people around the world," she said. "I believe in my service to those people who want to travel to China to experience the fascinating Chinese culture firsthand.”
Dailey became the owner and founder of Dailey Travel LLC, a business that specializes in travel to China, but also covers Asia and the United States. It is a full-service travel agent.
“I have wanted to help young people see China for some time,” Dailey said. “Now I have the opportunity to do that. My first student summer trip to China is this July 21 to 30. It will be a great opportunity for junior high and senior high students to learn about China.”
In addition to junior high and senior high student tours, Dailey Travel also offers culture enrichment and exploration tour, language and education tour, special interest tour, customized college campus visit tour, and senior, retiree or church group tour.
Entrepreneurship requires vision, leadership, persistence, sincere desire to help people, a lot of networking, and hard work. Dailey has all that to make her business successful.
Dailey can feel the pain of people who have lost their jobs. She hopes others who are in a crisis now can also find their "opportunity" in a time of "danger," and turning danger into opportunity.
“I believe when God closes a door, He opens a window.”
Being a new-born Christian, Dailey knew where to draw her strength from.
With only $40 dollar in her pocket and the first time on an airplane, Dailey came to the United States in search of a better education and ultimately a better life, and she has found it.
“I have many crises in my life, but I made through them all. You just got to believe in yourself and never give up.”
Dailey met her husband in South Dakota. They have three sons and have lived in Woodbury for 11 years.
For special deals, events and seminars offered by Dailey Travel, visit www.daileytravelservice.com or contact Katie Dailey at (651) 323-0101 or e-mail Dailey@daileytravelservice.com.
Woodbury Bulletin - 05/13/2009
In Chinese, the word crisis is made up of two characters: danger and opportunity.
For Katie Dailey of Woodbury, the crisis she experienced in 2008 literally means "danger" and "opportunity." She is a living example of turning a crisis into an opportunity.
Dailey grew up in Shanghai, China. She attended Fudan University, a prestigious university in China. In 1990 Dailey came to the United States for her master’s degree in electrical engineering.
After graduating from South Dakota State University, Dailey started a long and successful career with American Express, Imation, Kodak and 3M as a technical leader.
Unfortunately, Dailey was laid off from 3M after three years working there.
One December morning in 2008, after she walked into the office, she got the unexpected layoff notice.
“It was a total shock for me. I started crying and couldn’t go back to my office again.”
Dailey recalls the tough time that followed. She had to do some soul-searching.
“What do you like to do?”
“What are you passionate about?”
Dailey’s husband and friends asked her these questions and encouraged her to do something she loves.
The Daileys loves to travel. They have been to almost all 50 states in the U.S.
“Spring break and summer are my family’s favorite time of the year," Dailey said. "My family usually flies to a city in a state and then we rent a car. We drive through the state and visit every state park in the state.”
They have also been to Canada and other countries in Europe and Asia.
With her passion for travel, and with her family and friends’ support, Dailey was able to turn her crisis into this opportunity of starting her own travel agent business. She followed her heart’s desire to find a second career.
“It is my passion to travel. It is also my passion to share the wonderful Chinese culture and language with people around the world," she said. "I believe in my service to those people who want to travel to China to experience the fascinating Chinese culture firsthand.”
Dailey became the owner and founder of Dailey Travel LLC, a business that specializes in travel to China, but also covers Asia and the United States. It is a full-service travel agent.
“I have wanted to help young people see China for some time,” Dailey said. “Now I have the opportunity to do that. My first student summer trip to China is this July 21 to 30. It will be a great opportunity for junior high and senior high students to learn about China.”
In addition to junior high and senior high student tours, Dailey Travel also offers culture enrichment and exploration tour, language and education tour, special interest tour, customized college campus visit tour, and senior, retiree or church group tour.
Entrepreneurship requires vision, leadership, persistence, sincere desire to help people, a lot of networking, and hard work. Dailey has all that to make her business successful.
Dailey can feel the pain of people who have lost their jobs. She hopes others who are in a crisis now can also find their "opportunity" in a time of "danger," and turning danger into opportunity.
“I believe when God closes a door, He opens a window.”
Being a new-born Christian, Dailey knew where to draw her strength from.
With only $40 dollar in her pocket and the first time on an airplane, Dailey came to the United States in search of a better education and ultimately a better life, and she has found it.
“I have many crises in my life, but I made through them all. You just got to believe in yourself and never give up.”
Dailey met her husband in South Dakota. They have three sons and have lived in Woodbury for 11 years.
For special deals, events and seminars offered by Dailey Travel, visit www.daileytravelservice.com or contact Katie Dailey at (651) 323-0101 or e-mail Dailey@daileytravelservice.com.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Reach out and serve
We have about 30 churches in Woodbury. They come in all shapes and sizes, big and small, old and new, and in a number of denominations.
While the old churches have decades of history behind them, new ones keep popping up here and there. While the established churches have their own big buildings, the new ones have to use space in schools, the golf course clubhouse or at Central Park as meeting places.
Among the many churches in Woodbury, the one I admire most is Woodbury Lutheran Church, because it does a wonderful job of reaching out and serving the community. I feel a strong personal connection to it as well, even though it’s not my home church.
My daughter went to WLC’s half-day preschool for a few months. I really liked it, but I had to switch her to a full-day daycare center because I couldn’t pick her up during the middle of the day.
My kids had attended Vacation Bible School at WLC a couple of times.
WLC has various ministries to serve its members and the general public. I have personally benefited from its services.
The Career Transition Connection is a ministry that offers advice and support for job seekers. The group meets twice a month. I was there once for a presentation.
I remember another time I went to its “Celebrate Recovery” meeting to hear radio show host Kim Jeffries’ testimony. I like to listen to her "Along the Way" radio program on KTIS AM 900 at noon. When I learned that she would give a testimony, I wanted to hear that and meet her in person.
Most recently, just over a week ago on a Saturday morning, I was at WLC for the Life Planning Ministry event "Longing for simple living.” It provided great teaching and fun activity. I really enjoyed the sessions.
WLC has many more ministries than I just mentioned. It has a ministry to support people with disabilities, as well as Bible Study Fellowship classes for women and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for moms.
WLC is a community gathering place. It’s a church that truly opens its heart and door and welcomes everyone in the community. It provides its space to many organizations in their effort to reach out to the community.
For a few years, the Woodbury Chinese Church used the space at WLC for its monthly fellowship. I went to the fellowship meeting many times.
WLC regularly hosts big events sponsored by the South Washington County School District Community Education. I attended a few SAFE (School Age Family Education) presentations myself.
Many people in our area know of or have heard about the Christian Cupboard in Woodbury. For more than two decades, WLC has been a sponsor and providing space for this non-profit organization to provide food and other basic items to those in need.
The service that WLC offers has reached far beyond the borders of Woodbury. Many hurricane recovery mission trips were organized by WLC to help rebuild Ocean Springs, Miss. after Hurricane Katrina.
I am sure WLC is growing and thriving because it is deeply rooted in the community and has a close touch with the public, because it has a giving and serving attitude. When it gives and serves our community in so many ways, it will naturally attract more people to its building and services.
I hope more churches will do what WLC has been doing, opening their hearts and doors wide. Mission work doesn’t have to be done only in other countries and far away places. You can do a lot of mission work right here in your own community.
Every week when I read Woodbury Bulletin, I can usually find something that WLC offers to the public. If your church has a special program and event, put that information in the paper and invite the public to come. If what you do fills the needs of others, they will show up.
In my opinion, WLC is the best church in Woodbury. I feel no other church has done as much for the community as WLC. The church has some wonderful and talented members who love to serve the Lord and others.
For all the things you have done for the community and for me personally, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to WLC. You set a great example for other churches to follow.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 03/05/2008]
While the old churches have decades of history behind them, new ones keep popping up here and there. While the established churches have their own big buildings, the new ones have to use space in schools, the golf course clubhouse or at Central Park as meeting places.
Among the many churches in Woodbury, the one I admire most is Woodbury Lutheran Church, because it does a wonderful job of reaching out and serving the community. I feel a strong personal connection to it as well, even though it’s not my home church.
My daughter went to WLC’s half-day preschool for a few months. I really liked it, but I had to switch her to a full-day daycare center because I couldn’t pick her up during the middle of the day.
My kids had attended Vacation Bible School at WLC a couple of times.
WLC has various ministries to serve its members and the general public. I have personally benefited from its services.
The Career Transition Connection is a ministry that offers advice and support for job seekers. The group meets twice a month. I was there once for a presentation.
I remember another time I went to its “Celebrate Recovery” meeting to hear radio show host Kim Jeffries’ testimony. I like to listen to her "Along the Way" radio program on KTIS AM 900 at noon. When I learned that she would give a testimony, I wanted to hear that and meet her in person.
Most recently, just over a week ago on a Saturday morning, I was at WLC for the Life Planning Ministry event "Longing for simple living.” It provided great teaching and fun activity. I really enjoyed the sessions.
WLC has many more ministries than I just mentioned. It has a ministry to support people with disabilities, as well as Bible Study Fellowship classes for women and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for moms.
WLC is a community gathering place. It’s a church that truly opens its heart and door and welcomes everyone in the community. It provides its space to many organizations in their effort to reach out to the community.
For a few years, the Woodbury Chinese Church used the space at WLC for its monthly fellowship. I went to the fellowship meeting many times.
WLC regularly hosts big events sponsored by the South Washington County School District Community Education. I attended a few SAFE (School Age Family Education) presentations myself.
Many people in our area know of or have heard about the Christian Cupboard in Woodbury. For more than two decades, WLC has been a sponsor and providing space for this non-profit organization to provide food and other basic items to those in need.
The service that WLC offers has reached far beyond the borders of Woodbury. Many hurricane recovery mission trips were organized by WLC to help rebuild Ocean Springs, Miss. after Hurricane Katrina.
I am sure WLC is growing and thriving because it is deeply rooted in the community and has a close touch with the public, because it has a giving and serving attitude. When it gives and serves our community in so many ways, it will naturally attract more people to its building and services.
I hope more churches will do what WLC has been doing, opening their hearts and doors wide. Mission work doesn’t have to be done only in other countries and far away places. You can do a lot of mission work right here in your own community.
Every week when I read Woodbury Bulletin, I can usually find something that WLC offers to the public. If your church has a special program and event, put that information in the paper and invite the public to come. If what you do fills the needs of others, they will show up.
In my opinion, WLC is the best church in Woodbury. I feel no other church has done as much for the community as WLC. The church has some wonderful and talented members who love to serve the Lord and others.
For all the things you have done for the community and for me personally, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to WLC. You set a great example for other churches to follow.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 03/05/2008]
Delay gratification for more appreciation
When my kids go shopping with me, I usually don’t buy them things they want.
They’ve known from the time they were toddlers that when Mom says “No,” she means it. They might have asked for something, but they didn’t throw a fit and cry when they didn’t get what they wanted.
Recently, I went to a department store with my kids. This time, for a very good reason, I agreed to give them each a small amount of money to buy something they wanted.
Soon after we entered the store, my nine-year-old son quickly disappeared into the toy department. A few minutes later, he reappeared with a $30 Lego set and a $10 toy gun in his hands and put them in the shopping cart.
“Andy, why do you need another Lego set? You already have too many Legos at home,” I said. “I don’t want you to have another gun. And besides, you can’t buy these with the amount of money I gave you.”
My son responded, “I know Mom, I can use my own money.”
I countered with, “Sorry, you can’t buy them even with your own money. We can consider it when it’s your birthday. Please put them back.”
My son took the two items out of the cart and put them back. Then with tears in his eyes, he walked away from me.
I called his name a couple of times to ask him back, but he kept walking.
In that moment, I felt a little guilty. I almost wanted to call him back to allow him to buy the items with his own money. But I let it go instead.
Later, Andy picked two small packs of candy for himself. As we walked out of the store, I still felt uneasy. I knew I did the right thing, but my heart felt heavy.
Then out of my son’s mouth came the familiar sentence: “Mom, thank you for bringing us here.”
What a relief when I heard my son saying that. The same expression sounded sweeter now than just a few hours ago when he said: “Mom, thank you for bringing us to the library.”
I was relieved because my son proved what I knew without a doubt that I didn’t do him any harm by not giving him what he wanted. I didn’t harm his self-esteem by depriving him of things he wanted. Quite the contrary, I have taught him the lesson of discipline and delayed gratification.
As the result, my kids are more appreciative of what I do buy or do for them.
Whenever I buy them something, it can be as little as an ice cream cone in the Central Park, they never forget to say: “Mom, thank you for buying this for us.”
Whenever I bring my kids somewhere, whether it’s the library, a store, or their piano lesson, they usually say, “Mom, thank you for bringing us.” Every day after I make dinner, they say, “Mom, thank you for making dinner.”
It warms my heart every time I hear them saying that.
My children have learned to be savers, not compulsive spenders.
Not long ago, when my son had $125 from allowance and holidays, he asked me to deposit $100 into his saving account for him. Then for my birthday, he gave me $20 as a present. He usually brings one dollar to church every week without being reminded. I am very proud of him for being a saver and giver.
I don’t want my kids to have the instant gratification mentality which is so prevalent in our society.
Instant gratification has affected every aspects of our modern life. We want something now and quickly. We don't have time, patience and discipline to wait for something.
In our everyday busy life, often we only have time for drive-through fast food. We don't have time and patience to make a meal at home that is healthier for our body.
We use “the plastic” to buy things we can’t afford but we want now. We can worry about payment later. The same thing happens to our reading habit.
We only have a few minutes here and there to read some news and a few articles, but don't have the time and patience to read a book and really enjoy it.
Here is the truth we probably all know in our mind. The easier for you to get something, the less valuable it means to you and the less you appreciate it. The harder for you to get something, the more valuable it means to you and the more you treasure and appreciate it. The more we want, the more we have, the less we value.
If you learn to delay gratification, you will naturally have a better attitude of gratitude.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 03/12/2008]
They’ve known from the time they were toddlers that when Mom says “No,” she means it. They might have asked for something, but they didn’t throw a fit and cry when they didn’t get what they wanted.
Recently, I went to a department store with my kids. This time, for a very good reason, I agreed to give them each a small amount of money to buy something they wanted.
Soon after we entered the store, my nine-year-old son quickly disappeared into the toy department. A few minutes later, he reappeared with a $30 Lego set and a $10 toy gun in his hands and put them in the shopping cart.
“Andy, why do you need another Lego set? You already have too many Legos at home,” I said. “I don’t want you to have another gun. And besides, you can’t buy these with the amount of money I gave you.”
My son responded, “I know Mom, I can use my own money.”
I countered with, “Sorry, you can’t buy them even with your own money. We can consider it when it’s your birthday. Please put them back.”
My son took the two items out of the cart and put them back. Then with tears in his eyes, he walked away from me.
I called his name a couple of times to ask him back, but he kept walking.
In that moment, I felt a little guilty. I almost wanted to call him back to allow him to buy the items with his own money. But I let it go instead.
Later, Andy picked two small packs of candy for himself. As we walked out of the store, I still felt uneasy. I knew I did the right thing, but my heart felt heavy.
Then out of my son’s mouth came the familiar sentence: “Mom, thank you for bringing us here.”
What a relief when I heard my son saying that. The same expression sounded sweeter now than just a few hours ago when he said: “Mom, thank you for bringing us to the library.”
I was relieved because my son proved what I knew without a doubt that I didn’t do him any harm by not giving him what he wanted. I didn’t harm his self-esteem by depriving him of things he wanted. Quite the contrary, I have taught him the lesson of discipline and delayed gratification.
As the result, my kids are more appreciative of what I do buy or do for them.
Whenever I buy them something, it can be as little as an ice cream cone in the Central Park, they never forget to say: “Mom, thank you for buying this for us.”
Whenever I bring my kids somewhere, whether it’s the library, a store, or their piano lesson, they usually say, “Mom, thank you for bringing us.” Every day after I make dinner, they say, “Mom, thank you for making dinner.”
It warms my heart every time I hear them saying that.
My children have learned to be savers, not compulsive spenders.
Not long ago, when my son had $125 from allowance and holidays, he asked me to deposit $100 into his saving account for him. Then for my birthday, he gave me $20 as a present. He usually brings one dollar to church every week without being reminded. I am very proud of him for being a saver and giver.
I don’t want my kids to have the instant gratification mentality which is so prevalent in our society.
Instant gratification has affected every aspects of our modern life. We want something now and quickly. We don't have time, patience and discipline to wait for something.
In our everyday busy life, often we only have time for drive-through fast food. We don't have time and patience to make a meal at home that is healthier for our body.
We use “the plastic” to buy things we can’t afford but we want now. We can worry about payment later. The same thing happens to our reading habit.
We only have a few minutes here and there to read some news and a few articles, but don't have the time and patience to read a book and really enjoy it.
Here is the truth we probably all know in our mind. The easier for you to get something, the less valuable it means to you and the less you appreciate it. The harder for you to get something, the more valuable it means to you and the more you treasure and appreciate it. The more we want, the more we have, the less we value.
If you learn to delay gratification, you will naturally have a better attitude of gratitude.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 03/12/2008]
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
No April Fool’s joke
Woodbury Bulletin - 04/01/2009
Since I started writing this column in November 2006, I have not missed a single week’s publication.
I have enjoyed writing every week, thinking about topics to write about and sharing some thoughts with you.
But this column marks the end of my regular column writing.
I wish this were an April Fool’s joke, but it is not.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will no longer write every week as I have been doing.
In life, we all experience things that are not in our own control.
Right now, we are living in a difficult time. Some of you have lost your jobs — or even worse, your houses — due to circumstances out of your control.
Don’t you wish it were an April Fool’s joke, too?
But in reality, when something happens to us that is out of our control, we just have to accept it, put our energy on things where we can have control and influence, and then move on.
Stephen Covey, in his international bestseller “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” talks about being proactive as habit No. 1 of highly-effective people.
I like his theory of proactive and reactive people, circle of concern and circle of influence.
Reactive people are affected and driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions and by their environment.
Proactive people are still influenced by external stimuli but their response to it is a value-based choice or response.
We all have concerns, those who are reactive focus their energy on things beyond their control. They maintain an attitude of victimization and blame.
By contrast, proactive people focus on what they can do, on what they can influence.
Covey uses a model to illustrate the difference between what concerns us and what we have influence over. He describes two circles.
The first is our circle of concern. The second, smaller, circle is our circle of influence. These are the concerns we have control over either directly or indirectly. Our circle of influence is narrower than our circle of concern, and many of our concerns fall outside our circle of influence.
It is tempting to focus our energy on things in life that concern us. We tend to worry and complain, get frustrated and irritated.
But if we have no control and influence over them, that time and energy are wasted. They cannot be used to change areas of concern over which we do have control and influence.
Reactive people focus on everything they're concerned with whether they can influence it or not. They are concerned, but feeling helpless.
Proactive people react differently. They focus on their circle of influence, on what they want to be and what they want to become.
They're actively pursuing the enlargement of their circle of influence. This way, they shape the circumstances instead of complaining about them.
If we want to bring about a change in something that concerns us, we need to focus our energy on concerns that are within our circle of influence. That way we will increase our capacity for influence.
In 2003, I was laid off due to circumstance beyond my control or my supervisor’s control. Because I had the lowest seniority in my job classification, someone in another office who was laid off bumped me out of my position.
I was not happy about the situation, but I was not overly concerned, because there was nothing I could do about it.
My then-supervisor went out of his way to find a temporary assignment for me that enabled me to still stay and work in my office. Then within two months, I was officially hired back by the same employer and got my job back.
Yes, being laid off was in my circle of concern, but being hired back was in my circle of influence.
Had I been a difficult employee, I am sure my supervisor would have been happy to get rid of me at that time. Had I been an average employee, my supervisor might not have made the effort to hire me back.
His decision and effort to hire me back was certainly influenced by me, or by my performance.
Yes, we don’t have to become the powerless victim of circumstances. We can be proactive to increase our direct or indirect control within our circle of influence.
For people who are in difficult circumstances at this economically challenging time, I hope you will focus your time and energy on your circle of influence and bring about a positive change in your life.
As for myself, even though I will no longer write every week for Woodbury Bulletin in the future, I might still write occasionally for you.
However, one thing is for sure, I will keep writing, if not for others, then at least for myself.
Because being a writer is my passion and my dream.
Since I started writing this column in November 2006, I have not missed a single week’s publication.
I have enjoyed writing every week, thinking about topics to write about and sharing some thoughts with you.
But this column marks the end of my regular column writing.
I wish this were an April Fool’s joke, but it is not.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will no longer write every week as I have been doing.
In life, we all experience things that are not in our own control.
Right now, we are living in a difficult time. Some of you have lost your jobs — or even worse, your houses — due to circumstances out of your control.
Don’t you wish it were an April Fool’s joke, too?
But in reality, when something happens to us that is out of our control, we just have to accept it, put our energy on things where we can have control and influence, and then move on.
Stephen Covey, in his international bestseller “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” talks about being proactive as habit No. 1 of highly-effective people.
I like his theory of proactive and reactive people, circle of concern and circle of influence.
Reactive people are affected and driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions and by their environment.
Proactive people are still influenced by external stimuli but their response to it is a value-based choice or response.
We all have concerns, those who are reactive focus their energy on things beyond their control. They maintain an attitude of victimization and blame.
By contrast, proactive people focus on what they can do, on what they can influence.
Covey uses a model to illustrate the difference between what concerns us and what we have influence over. He describes two circles.
The first is our circle of concern. The second, smaller, circle is our circle of influence. These are the concerns we have control over either directly or indirectly. Our circle of influence is narrower than our circle of concern, and many of our concerns fall outside our circle of influence.
It is tempting to focus our energy on things in life that concern us. We tend to worry and complain, get frustrated and irritated.
But if we have no control and influence over them, that time and energy are wasted. They cannot be used to change areas of concern over which we do have control and influence.
Reactive people focus on everything they're concerned with whether they can influence it or not. They are concerned, but feeling helpless.
Proactive people react differently. They focus on their circle of influence, on what they want to be and what they want to become.
They're actively pursuing the enlargement of their circle of influence. This way, they shape the circumstances instead of complaining about them.
If we want to bring about a change in something that concerns us, we need to focus our energy on concerns that are within our circle of influence. That way we will increase our capacity for influence.
In 2003, I was laid off due to circumstance beyond my control or my supervisor’s control. Because I had the lowest seniority in my job classification, someone in another office who was laid off bumped me out of my position.
I was not happy about the situation, but I was not overly concerned, because there was nothing I could do about it.
My then-supervisor went out of his way to find a temporary assignment for me that enabled me to still stay and work in my office. Then within two months, I was officially hired back by the same employer and got my job back.
Yes, being laid off was in my circle of concern, but being hired back was in my circle of influence.
Had I been a difficult employee, I am sure my supervisor would have been happy to get rid of me at that time. Had I been an average employee, my supervisor might not have made the effort to hire me back.
His decision and effort to hire me back was certainly influenced by me, or by my performance.
Yes, we don’t have to become the powerless victim of circumstances. We can be proactive to increase our direct or indirect control within our circle of influence.
For people who are in difficult circumstances at this economically challenging time, I hope you will focus your time and energy on your circle of influence and bring about a positive change in your life.
As for myself, even though I will no longer write every week for Woodbury Bulletin in the future, I might still write occasionally for you.
However, one thing is for sure, I will keep writing, if not for others, then at least for myself.
Because being a writer is my passion and my dream.
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