reading Archives ~ Beth Terry

This year I’m training to be an ESL Teacher!

I am 12 hours away from being certified to Teach ESL through the ITA – International TEFL Academy! If you want to join me in this great endeavor, contact Danielle Lupo here

Beth Teaches on numerous platforms and stages, now including ESL!

Why would I choose to Teach ESL when my plate is full with other speaking engagements, writing, raising my PugWawa and traveling? Because Literacy matters, that’s why. There are many different ways to share your knowledge. I’ve told you before, Teachers change lives!

Reading and Literacy improve a person’s chances to be successful in the world. It lowers the chances of poverty, delinquency in teens, and depression. When you can open a book and comprehend what you are reading, you learn about far-flung places, you learn to put your life in perspective, you learn about Critical Thinking, you aren’t as easily fooled or manipulated. Everyone Wins with a rising tide of literacy.

Learn Two New Things – this time Teach ESL

I have often written about my wonderful College Professor who encouraged us all to keep learning. “Learn two new things every year, and one should scare you!” was his mantra. It keeps you alive and dynamic. It keeps you from losing your mind in the same-same numbness caused by being in a rut.

I know that a lifetime of learning and reading has kept me interested and (some say) interesting. It has been shown thousands of times that one’s life is enhanced and prolonged when learning and reading are part of the daily ritual.

I was reminded of this last week when I lost one of my favorite people in the world. Wink Blair was a human dynamo and left us at age 97. She published a book well into her 90’s on her Grandfather, a Civil War Veteran. Her husband Richard Sutz is the CEO of The Literacy Company and author of numerous books on how to read faster and better. Both Richard and Wink have inspired me to keep learning, to keep sharing and to keep the faith that our words and deeds matter.

As we head into the hot hot hot Phoenix summer months, I urge you to take a moment to think about ways you can share your knowledge, your “mana’o” (as we say in Hawai’i) with the world. I don’t know how you feel, but I’m getting pretty tired of all the hate, all the derision and scorn, and all the media stirring up negative feelings within families and friends. Take a step back. BREATHE. Think how you can make the world a tiny bit better because you were here.

Blessings,

Beth

@2018 Beth Terry, CSP • All International Rights Reserved. If shared, please use attribution

Choosing Wisely is Your Job #1 Now

Part 3 of a 3 part series

Icelandic Govt PSA - Choose Wisely — This PSA from Iceland is the best “Choosing Wisely” ad on the internet (not my OC)

Part 3: Choosing Wisely as you move forward in life will keep you out of trouble and alive long enough to watch your grandkids graduate from college. See Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Remember you are the only person in your life who will be 100% affected by every single choice you make. Make good, healthy, happy choices for yourself and your future. Don’t look back on a life filled with regrets. Here’s my short list of guidelines:

~ Always choose “BEST AVAILABLE:” Whether it’s food, friends, drinks, after work parties, the workplace, buying a car and all the other choices you have in life.

~ Keep your Word, do what you say you will do: Don’t make promises you can’t keep, or promises that will undermine or harm you later. This is unfortunately often learned through experience and failure. Do your best. That’s all you can ask of yourself.

~ Keep your eyes on the Prize. Look to the future when making choices. Always consider unintended consequences. Remember your goals and why you are here.

~ NO is a complete sentence. You have permission to not do things! You don’t need to explain anything. The less you say, the less they have to hold onto if they are trying to manipulate you into doing something you don’t want to do! If you must, try saying, “I’d love to and I can’t…” or try this, “Sure, we can do that as soon as you do this…”

Expand Your Horizons

READ! Not just on your electronic devices. There’s something wonderful in holding a hard cover book and tucking yourself away in a secret place to go on an internal adventure. Learn about foreign places, discover thoughts of ancient people, read histories and autobiographies to discover how other people have handled adversity and challenges.

Travel! Get out and see the world before you settle down. For that matter, learn to do things solo as well as with friends. Travel and a little independence will teach you about yourself. It will help you understand and appreciate other cultures and other people. Do it while you are young enough and have few things that tie you down.

You Will Survive Becoming an Adult

You will get your heart broken. You will fail at some things. You will get rejected. You will not always get what you want. OH WELL! Learn to take these in stride. They are just some of the costs of being a great spirit in a human body. God always answers prayer, and sometimes the answer is “NO!” I look back across the landscape of my life and am thankful daily for unanswered prayers, unmet expectations, and failures that changed my direction and my heart.

It’s going to be OK. Trust me. Someday you will tell this to your 18 year old!

Here’s a lesson on Choosing Wisely I tell all my audiences:

Be Good To People.

You don’t know who they are

You don’t know who they know

And

You don’t know who they might become!

Take care of yourself, kiddo. The world needs you. And we need you healthy and happy.

Blessings,

Tag Archives: reading

Learn 2 New Things -Teach ESL in 2018

This year I’m training to be an ESL Teacher!

Learn Two New Things – this time Teach ESL

Becoming an Adult, pt 3

Choosing Wisely is Your Job #1 Now