5 Monday Morning Inspirations
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Dr. Shonta Smith presents 5 of her Monday Morning Inspirations, which she began writing in 2011. After writing a number of these she created the book The Essence of Education: Daily Meditation for the Soul. Every Monday she sends them out to many engaged parents and dedicated educators to get them to think about making a difference.
Below are 5 Monday Morning Inspirations from Dr. Shonta Smith, we believe will make a difference in your daily walk through life!
1. Monday Morning Inspiration: In life, we all have our ups and downs. It is during these ups and downs that we have to make decisions to turn our lives around. Sometimes the decisions we make lead us in the direction of change, and change can be scary. What causes an individual to be scared of change? Why is it that when you know change is what needs to take place you resist it? Why do you run away from change instead of embracing change? The next time a situation arises and you know it is in your best interest to change; remember the words to the song A Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please."
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
These words remind us that although you may be experiencing pain and sorrow, change will come and that change removes the pain and sorrow. You will not forget what has taken place and/or what you have been through, however you will be reminded that through those trials and tribulations you were able to make it because you had the courage and will to hold on for better days. Do not allow a difficult situation or a setback to get you off track. Look at that setback as a come up because without that setback you would not reap the benefits of growth and development. You are powerful beyond measure, but until you truly believe that change will be an obstacle for you. Change does not have to be an obstacle. Embrace it, respect it, appreciate it, and understand the lesson it is teaching you. Remember, it’s been a long time coming, but change is gon’ come.
2. Monday Morning Inspiration: At times, do you find yourself asking what has the world come to? It seems we have forgotten the importance of honoring and loving our children. We are so far removed from what we are supposed to be doing that we just do whatever pleases us. While engaging in inappropriate unbecoming behaviors, we forget about the consequences and the impact it will have on us and our children. One of the many unsuitable behaviors that we in America are currently engaging in is sexualizing our children; specifically sexualizing young girls.
The epidemic of sexualization happens so much we are desensitized to the daily images and messages that we are consistently bombarded with. Sex sales and everybody is buying. The unfortunate thing is that everybody means everybody. When was the last time you went to the children’s section in the department store? If you have not been there lately take a trip and look at the items on the racks and shelves and tell me what you see? Don’t worry; be prepared to have your mouth drop to the floor. By the way, no one will be there to pick your mouth up off the floor so just pick it up yourself. In addition to going to the department store just walk out your house and observe what young girls are wearing. Little girls that are 9 and 10 years old look like they are 17 and 18 years old. We have created a hot mess and no one wants to be held accountable for this madness.
The last 3 times I have been in the public library I have observed a little girl about 10 or 11 (I confirmed her age by simply asking her how old she was and she said 11) that literally was half naked. She would have on some type of belly shirt and short shorts. The shorts were so short that they revealed the lower part of her stomach, elements of her hips and the part of the female anatomy where the lower part of the stomach and the upper part of the vagina meet. Yes, this is what I and other patrons in the library witnessed three weeks in a row. Words cannot express what was going through my mind. I could not even begin to think what the responsible adult in this child’s life was thinking. Better yet I had to tell myself they were not thinking because as a society we accept this. It would be easy to point the finger at the adult who bought the clothes, but again I ask that you simply take a trip to the mall, turn on your television, open a magazine, visit a school, or just look out your window. We are in a state of emergency and if we don’t do something quick, this epidemic will spread like cancer. Cancer is ugly and as a nation we are doing all that we can to eradicate this disease. The same efforts we put towards eradicating cancer we need to put towards ending the sexualization of our children. Sexualizing our children is unacceptable, and if we don’t take a stand the innocence of our children will slowly be taken away and there will be nothing we can do about it; because we allowed it to happen.
3. Monday Morning Inspiration: When you know better, you do better. What happens when you don’t know better and you continue to engage in behaviors that impede your growth and development? What happens when you really don’t understand that what you are doing is not conducive to you being the best you can be? What happens when you think the behavior that you display is normal, but it is counterproductive to you moving to the next level? As we read and ponder on these thoughts a number of individuals that we interact with on a daily basis engage in unbecoming behaviors. We are these individuals at times, however if we never acknowledge inappropriate behaviors those behaviors will continue.
Each day we make choices and the choices we make either have a negative impact or positive impact on our lives. The choices will determine our outlook on life, how we interact with other people, and how we precede with the challenges and obstacles that life throws our way. Whichever choice we choose the choice is the determining factor in the successes we experience. We cannot determine anyone’s fate. The only thing we can determine is how we will engage and respond to life. There will be good days, in between days, and days we which would never have come. The key is that we utilize each one of these days to the fullest and give life a chance by leaving the past in the past, and using what we learned from the past to improve the present and heighten the future.
The responsibility of doing better when you know better can be scary. This scariness evolves from us being conditioned to do what we normally do. The main idea is to move in forward motion by living a life of substance. This motion propels us to fully understand that the knowledge we learn and acquire will not enhance our lives if we don’t apply what we have learned. Lessons will repeat themselves until we get it. So if we don’t get it the first time the lesson will repeat itself. Take responsibility today and make a choice to do better because you know better. Whether it is something as simple as putting that cookie down because you know if you eat one cookie you will end up eating the whole bag of cookies or going to sleep at 9:00 p.m. instead of 12:00 a.m. Do yourself a favor and do better not only because you know better, but because doing the right thing empowers you to be the best you can be.
4. Monday Morning Inspiration: Do you remember the moment you decided you were going to teach? Some of us are teachers by trade. Others engage in the art of teaching in some aspect each day. Whether you are teaching a child to tie their shoe or showing your neighbor how to cook a seven up cake, teaching is an art form. Those who teach have a great responsibility. You have an opportunity to make this world a better place. You, yes you make a difference. You are a bright and shining star. You lead nations by modeling the importance of integrity and discipline. Our children, communities and families need you. This great nation cannot exist without you.
Teachers are the essence of education. You are the backbone of our school systems. Currently, schools are experiencing great challenges. These challenges range from budget cuts to layoffs, to high stakes testing, to cyber bullying. With these ever growing challenges, it is imperative that teachers remain focused and remember their purpose. That purpose is to teach. Just, teach, teach, and teach. Leave the politics and bureaucracy at the door. Focus on content and pedagogy. Focus on being the best teacher that you can possibly be by living a purpose driven life.
As you prepare for the upcoming school year, make your focal points passion, purpose and perfection. Passion gives you the energy, joy and diligence to stay the course. Purpose provides you with goals, objectives and the direction to enhance and improve teaching and learning. Finally, perfection is the driving force behind all your efforts. You exalt passion, purpose and perfection. Now put a smile on your face and look in the mirror and say with pride, I love my job. Every day I make a positive difference in the life of a child.
5. Monday Morning Inspiration: As I was sitting in the library working with a student there was a book on display titled Visiting Day written by Jacqueline Woodson. The book caught my attention because of the illustrations. The illustrations were outstanding. I instantly knew based upon the title and images that the book was about a young man who was incarcerated. As I flipped the pages reading the words and looking at the photos I thanked the author as this is a very sensitive topic, and can be very difficult to explain to children. The story was about a grandmother taking her granddaughter to visit her father once a month. Some people may be thinking how this book can be of any interest to children as it is about a visit upstate to the penitentiary. Well, the answer is easy, when your father is not at home and you are a little girl you simply want to see your daddy.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are over 1.3 million male inmates in custody of state or federal correctional facilities at year end in 2012. That means that over 1.3 million children do not get to see and/or be with their fathers; that in and of itself is deep. It is so deep it boggles the mind. Take a minute and think about the number of families that are impacted and affected by this epidemic. Having no father at home dismantles the family system. Having no father at home forces mothers to play two roles and they are not genetically equipped to play the role of father. Women or not men and men are not women. There are certain things that mothers do, and set things that fathers do and one cannot replace the other. While a number of women are doing it and doing it well they still are not the fathers.
While this epidemic may not directly impact you in the long run it will affect you one way or another. You will interact with these children and there are a number of them that are experiencing life’s challenges. Some of them will make it and do great things with their lives. Others will slowly fall behind and repeat the cycle and become a number in the criminal justice system. As you begin your day if you have not spoken with your dad stop what you are doing and pick up the phone and tell him you love him and can’t wait to spend some quality time with him. If you don’t know who your dad is begin to research so you can find out and make amends. If you are not speaking with your dad forgive yourself and forgive him and begin to mend the relationship. If your dad is in his final resting place cherish the time you had. Finally, if your father happens to be incarcerated go visit him and enjoy the time you get to spend with him. All children need their fathers, and if their fathers are not with them they need reassurance that they are honored, loved, respected and protected. Give love to your father no matter who you are. Loving him will change your life.
Below are 5 Monday Morning Inspirations from Dr. Shonta Smith, we believe will make a difference in your daily walk through life!
1. Monday Morning Inspiration: In life, we all have our ups and downs. It is during these ups and downs that we have to make decisions to turn our lives around. Sometimes the decisions we make lead us in the direction of change, and change can be scary. What causes an individual to be scared of change? Why is it that when you know change is what needs to take place you resist it? Why do you run away from change instead of embracing change? The next time a situation arises and you know it is in your best interest to change; remember the words to the song A Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please."
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
These words remind us that although you may be experiencing pain and sorrow, change will come and that change removes the pain and sorrow. You will not forget what has taken place and/or what you have been through, however you will be reminded that through those trials and tribulations you were able to make it because you had the courage and will to hold on for better days. Do not allow a difficult situation or a setback to get you off track. Look at that setback as a come up because without that setback you would not reap the benefits of growth and development. You are powerful beyond measure, but until you truly believe that change will be an obstacle for you. Change does not have to be an obstacle. Embrace it, respect it, appreciate it, and understand the lesson it is teaching you. Remember, it’s been a long time coming, but change is gon’ come.
2. Monday Morning Inspiration: At times, do you find yourself asking what has the world come to? It seems we have forgotten the importance of honoring and loving our children. We are so far removed from what we are supposed to be doing that we just do whatever pleases us. While engaging in inappropriate unbecoming behaviors, we forget about the consequences and the impact it will have on us and our children. One of the many unsuitable behaviors that we in America are currently engaging in is sexualizing our children; specifically sexualizing young girls.
The epidemic of sexualization happens so much we are desensitized to the daily images and messages that we are consistently bombarded with. Sex sales and everybody is buying. The unfortunate thing is that everybody means everybody. When was the last time you went to the children’s section in the department store? If you have not been there lately take a trip and look at the items on the racks and shelves and tell me what you see? Don’t worry; be prepared to have your mouth drop to the floor. By the way, no one will be there to pick your mouth up off the floor so just pick it up yourself. In addition to going to the department store just walk out your house and observe what young girls are wearing. Little girls that are 9 and 10 years old look like they are 17 and 18 years old. We have created a hot mess and no one wants to be held accountable for this madness.
The last 3 times I have been in the public library I have observed a little girl about 10 or 11 (I confirmed her age by simply asking her how old she was and she said 11) that literally was half naked. She would have on some type of belly shirt and short shorts. The shorts were so short that they revealed the lower part of her stomach, elements of her hips and the part of the female anatomy where the lower part of the stomach and the upper part of the vagina meet. Yes, this is what I and other patrons in the library witnessed three weeks in a row. Words cannot express what was going through my mind. I could not even begin to think what the responsible adult in this child’s life was thinking. Better yet I had to tell myself they were not thinking because as a society we accept this. It would be easy to point the finger at the adult who bought the clothes, but again I ask that you simply take a trip to the mall, turn on your television, open a magazine, visit a school, or just look out your window. We are in a state of emergency and if we don’t do something quick, this epidemic will spread like cancer. Cancer is ugly and as a nation we are doing all that we can to eradicate this disease. The same efforts we put towards eradicating cancer we need to put towards ending the sexualization of our children. Sexualizing our children is unacceptable, and if we don’t take a stand the innocence of our children will slowly be taken away and there will be nothing we can do about it; because we allowed it to happen.
3. Monday Morning Inspiration: When you know better, you do better. What happens when you don’t know better and you continue to engage in behaviors that impede your growth and development? What happens when you really don’t understand that what you are doing is not conducive to you being the best you can be? What happens when you think the behavior that you display is normal, but it is counterproductive to you moving to the next level? As we read and ponder on these thoughts a number of individuals that we interact with on a daily basis engage in unbecoming behaviors. We are these individuals at times, however if we never acknowledge inappropriate behaviors those behaviors will continue.
Each day we make choices and the choices we make either have a negative impact or positive impact on our lives. The choices will determine our outlook on life, how we interact with other people, and how we precede with the challenges and obstacles that life throws our way. Whichever choice we choose the choice is the determining factor in the successes we experience. We cannot determine anyone’s fate. The only thing we can determine is how we will engage and respond to life. There will be good days, in between days, and days we which would never have come. The key is that we utilize each one of these days to the fullest and give life a chance by leaving the past in the past, and using what we learned from the past to improve the present and heighten the future.
The responsibility of doing better when you know better can be scary. This scariness evolves from us being conditioned to do what we normally do. The main idea is to move in forward motion by living a life of substance. This motion propels us to fully understand that the knowledge we learn and acquire will not enhance our lives if we don’t apply what we have learned. Lessons will repeat themselves until we get it. So if we don’t get it the first time the lesson will repeat itself. Take responsibility today and make a choice to do better because you know better. Whether it is something as simple as putting that cookie down because you know if you eat one cookie you will end up eating the whole bag of cookies or going to sleep at 9:00 p.m. instead of 12:00 a.m. Do yourself a favor and do better not only because you know better, but because doing the right thing empowers you to be the best you can be.
4. Monday Morning Inspiration: Do you remember the moment you decided you were going to teach? Some of us are teachers by trade. Others engage in the art of teaching in some aspect each day. Whether you are teaching a child to tie their shoe or showing your neighbor how to cook a seven up cake, teaching is an art form. Those who teach have a great responsibility. You have an opportunity to make this world a better place. You, yes you make a difference. You are a bright and shining star. You lead nations by modeling the importance of integrity and discipline. Our children, communities and families need you. This great nation cannot exist without you.
Teachers are the essence of education. You are the backbone of our school systems. Currently, schools are experiencing great challenges. These challenges range from budget cuts to layoffs, to high stakes testing, to cyber bullying. With these ever growing challenges, it is imperative that teachers remain focused and remember their purpose. That purpose is to teach. Just, teach, teach, and teach. Leave the politics and bureaucracy at the door. Focus on content and pedagogy. Focus on being the best teacher that you can possibly be by living a purpose driven life.
As you prepare for the upcoming school year, make your focal points passion, purpose and perfection. Passion gives you the energy, joy and diligence to stay the course. Purpose provides you with goals, objectives and the direction to enhance and improve teaching and learning. Finally, perfection is the driving force behind all your efforts. You exalt passion, purpose and perfection. Now put a smile on your face and look in the mirror and say with pride, I love my job. Every day I make a positive difference in the life of a child.
5. Monday Morning Inspiration: As I was sitting in the library working with a student there was a book on display titled Visiting Day written by Jacqueline Woodson. The book caught my attention because of the illustrations. The illustrations were outstanding. I instantly knew based upon the title and images that the book was about a young man who was incarcerated. As I flipped the pages reading the words and looking at the photos I thanked the author as this is a very sensitive topic, and can be very difficult to explain to children. The story was about a grandmother taking her granddaughter to visit her father once a month. Some people may be thinking how this book can be of any interest to children as it is about a visit upstate to the penitentiary. Well, the answer is easy, when your father is not at home and you are a little girl you simply want to see your daddy.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are over 1.3 million male inmates in custody of state or federal correctional facilities at year end in 2012. That means that over 1.3 million children do not get to see and/or be with their fathers; that in and of itself is deep. It is so deep it boggles the mind. Take a minute and think about the number of families that are impacted and affected by this epidemic. Having no father at home dismantles the family system. Having no father at home forces mothers to play two roles and they are not genetically equipped to play the role of father. Women or not men and men are not women. There are certain things that mothers do, and set things that fathers do and one cannot replace the other. While a number of women are doing it and doing it well they still are not the fathers.
While this epidemic may not directly impact you in the long run it will affect you one way or another. You will interact with these children and there are a number of them that are experiencing life’s challenges. Some of them will make it and do great things with their lives. Others will slowly fall behind and repeat the cycle and become a number in the criminal justice system. As you begin your day if you have not spoken with your dad stop what you are doing and pick up the phone and tell him you love him and can’t wait to spend some quality time with him. If you don’t know who your dad is begin to research so you can find out and make amends. If you are not speaking with your dad forgive yourself and forgive him and begin to mend the relationship. If your dad is in his final resting place cherish the time you had. Finally, if your father happens to be incarcerated go visit him and enjoy the time you get to spend with him. All children need their fathers, and if their fathers are not with them they need reassurance that they are honored, loved, respected and protected. Give love to your father no matter who you are. Loving him will change your life.