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~ J Clay Norton, Ed.D.

The Book Chamber

Category Archives: Memories

Where To Find Wisdom?

14 Friday Apr 2023

Posted by The Book Chamber in Experience, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Memories, Wisdom

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“Memory is the mother of all wisdom.” – Aeschylus, ancient Greek tragedian (c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC)

I came about this quote last night while watching TV, and I was like, wow, how true.

First, we all know a lot of facts, and we have more than enough opinions. While opinions are our own, they do sometimes agree with others. Whereas facts are substantiated and stand the test of time. But neither opinions nor facts create wisdom.

the_thinker_le_penseur_1942.5.12

Like most of you, I am a reservoir of useful and useless knowledge. While we are best at the things we are most knowledgeable about, that does not create wisdom. As I thought about the quote, I realized the “stuff” I hang onto and store in my memory. There are good and bad memories, things I never want to forget, and things I wish I could forget.

Over time, those thoughts we store allow us to have translation with our memories. I like to call it “situational occurrencness.” When this happens, our minds are triggered by past events that allow that particular memory to translate to our current circumstances, hopefully giving wisdom for the situation.

Wisdom comes from experience. Our past memories are of little use if we do not use them. Learning comes from recalling what was good and what was not. Application is key here to wisdom. Wisdom is a nuance. It has depth and substance. It brings value and leads to understanding. Most importantly, it can be developed with time. It’s about the memories.

Wisdom is like integrity; if you have to ask someone if you have it, odds are you do not. Here’s hoping that the memories you have can lead and direct your “situational occurrenceness” to foster positive outcomes in your life. Especially in leadership! Hopefully, it will enable you not to make the same mistake twice or, better yet, look like a genius because of your wisdom.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

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Blessings Counted

18 Friday Nov 2022

Posted by The Book Chamber in Family, God, Gratitude, Heart, Kindness, Leader, Leadership, Love, Memories, Reflection, Relationships, Rest, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Time

≈ 1 Comment

Hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving…

If you would like to print and have a paper copy of this, click here: Blessings Counted

Screen Shot 2022-11-17 at 10.16.52 AM

To view previous year’s Thanksgiving thoughts, download here:

2018 – Thanksgiving Grace

2019 – Home

2020 – Pause and Reflect

2021 – Nature’s Touch of Time

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

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Nature’s Touch of Time

19 Friday Nov 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Memories, Reflection, Rest, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Time

≈ 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

images-8

If you would like to download a printer friendly version of this with a washout watermark background, click here: Nature’s Touch of Time

 
Nature’s Touch of Time

The sky, more vibrant...
Hues, only Fall can bring.

A new scent in the air,
A smell earth and wood...

Trees different colors,
Showing time, once again.

Wind pushing warm breezes,
Held over from summer.

Leaves - blowing, falling...
Creating whisper sounds.

Blanketing the ground,
Nature's mosaic of color.

A harvest of memories to rake,
Piled high for enjoyment.

Reflections kindling the heart,
Small fires to warm the soul.

Fall, a season of change,
Restful...

Thankful for time.
The time of Thanksgiving.


©2021 J Clay Norton

To view previous year’s Thanksgiving thoughts, download here:

2018 – Thanksgiving Grace

2019 – Home

2020 – Pause and Reflect

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

Twitter @thebookchamber

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

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“A Great Teacher” is what I want to be…

14 Friday May 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Authentic, Character, Culture, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Encouragement, Engagement, Heart, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Legacy, Memories, Passion, Purpose, Reality, Reflection, Servant, Sincerity, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Value

≈ 5 Comments

Do you ever wonder if you make a connection with your students? What will they remember about you? With teaching being as much about classroom psychology as it is knowing your subject matter, how students remember us lasts forever in their minds. In a previous blog Memories so thick…, I mentioned the idea of how educators/leaders can create an atmosphere where students make memories, but today, I wanted to take a different look at the same idea.

One of many joys I have as an educator is being able to adjunct teach at the college level. One of my running statements is that I try to “positively corrupt” future educators on how the educational world actually is. It’s harder than you think, by the way. And then there are those current teachers who are working on an advanced degree in education… more than anything else, I try to convey to them the much-needed characteristic of being a servant-leader.

With saying all of that, I have to be minded of the educator I am as well. In my own mind, I think I know what type of educator I am. However, the students throughout my career are the ones who can testify as to what type of educator I actually was.

I love how movie snippets that can say exactly what you are wanting to say, and I have one for us. I highly encourage you to watch the Emperor’s Club with Kevin Kline, if you have never seen it. I believe it should be required of all educators. There is one scene near the end of the movie that sends a message for the type of educator I hope I am and the type of educator I want to be. The message sent is what I wish all teachers/leaders in education would strive to become and be. Not only for themselves but for their students as well. I believe this one clip to be so powerful; I show it at the end of each semester to the class of future educators in hopes they will understand the passion I have for teaching and educational leadership.

Please take 2 minutes and 4 seconds to watch what I am talking about… Maybe get a tissue ready?

Emperors Club – “A Great Teacher” Clip

Here it is in print…

“A great teacher has little external history to record. His life goes over into other lives. These men are pillars in the intimate structure of our schools. They are more essential than its stones or beams, and they will continue to be a kindling force and a revealing power in our lives.” 

This is about as good as it gets for me. This is the type of teacher I hope I am. This is the type of teacher I want to be. I have been very fortunate to have some teachers and mentors like this and they have had an ever lasting influence in one way or another on my life. This is the type of teacher education needs, now more than ever. As we begin to wrap of this school year, make an effort to be this type of teacher. 

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

Twitter @thebookchamber

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

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