I make an effort to work hard daily. There is a thing called job security that is nice but I don’t do my job well because of that. Being good at what you do is nothing to be ashamed of but you have to be mindful of others who struggle but work just as hard. To me grace is helping those who do what you do be better because everyone wins that way. Too many people are selfish with their talents and even time but you don’t have to be. Just working hard does pay off and when others enjoy that same opportunity it lightens the load for everyone or it makes your whole department better and it means more opportunities to expand what you are doing and getting more resources. So just working hard is a great thing for everyone. Don’t you think?
Tag Archives: commentary
Perspective On Life and The World Courtesy of The Tennessee Aquarium
I was looking at this section of the Tennessee Aquarium and a couple things struck me. These animals don’t know what in the world is going on outside this tank. All of them are just living their lives the best way they know how to. Sure that shark can eat all the things in that tank but he doesn’t. Perhaps he has learned to live in peaceful co-existence with the other creatures in his small world. Yes there are handlers that take care of all their needs but still its a very peaceful life.
As I gazed upon this sight it relaxed me and it reminded me that you have to keep swimming in the case of the shark but being a part of something bigger is quite awesome. There was a relaxation thing too where seeing fish float and swim free of the cares that bog me down. Maybe we need to all just chill out and enjoy the place and space we have. I am glad I had this moment with these creatures and this place. Perhaps I need this more often.
The Children of Manchester
The children of Manchester are wondering why, like all of us. A rising pop princess puts on a concert designed to bring people together and to sing for her generation suddenly is thrown into the chaos brought about by hate and terror.
All of a sudden the children of Manchester are a little less safe than they once where and the same could be said for the Children of Chattanooga. Now is a time to keep calm and to blame those who did this and not those who by ethnic and genetics are connected to them. We must seek justice for those kids and the others who died on May 22, 2017 but not at the price of the souls of England or elsewhere where terror has wreaked its ugly head. Perhaps we should look inward too as to what we can do to calm our own communities so things like this won’t happen again.
From Sandy Hook to Columbine there is too much violence that is rearing its vile and evil soul. Too many kids are caught in the crossfire of adult hate and have become victims of a hate-filled game.
Ariana Grande should know that she is not to blame for this, she was doing her job entertaining people and helping them forget about their cares for a while. We all need to have that freedom to remove ourselves from what danger the world is in for a bit. In this time we remember those children in Manchester and everywhere that violence and fear have made people scared.
Graduation and Reflection
Tonight I went to the graduation ceremonies at Chattanooga High School – Center for Creative Arts. I was highly impressed with the school spirit there. Community, Creativity and individuality are the hallmarks of this institution dedicated to teaching the arts. One thing that this school thrives on is creating a safe space for kids to express themselves without fear. We need more spaces and places for kids to be who they want and to be themselves. In as much as I am grateful to Red Bank High School for its part in making me who I am I think it would have been good to be in a smaller school with kids who I was more like. I cannot change the past but I can hope for the future for kids everywhere to show the world what they are made of.
Congratulations Rachel, you did good!
Something About Graduating High School
High School graduations are happening this weekend here in Chattanooga and it makes me remember those days in the 1980’s when life was simpler or so it seems. As you see from my yearbook picture I was just as nerdy then as I am today, minus the mustache. Do I miss the angst and pressure of those days? yes and no. I don’t miss the academic pressures but the social stuff was alright. I had friends but I found myself spending more time at home than out and about.
We all have times when we were at our best and in high school I was not the best I could be or would be. It is sad when I hear people talk about their days back then being the best of their lives as if nothing had improved or they became better versions of themselves.
For me it was my college days when I flourished. Maybe a different atmosphere and I was a little older. Graduating from high school or college for that matter means that there is a new chapter ahead in your life and you have the opportunity to do amazing things without the restrictions of youth. You become a grown up person and that is when the fun can really begin if you open your mind to it.
So to the class of 2017, you are going into an exciting time. Be willing to leave behind home for awhile and explore what is out there. Hang in there and have the time of your life ahead of you.
Something About Simple As It Seems
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, nor black and white. However there are some things that I wonder about that are in the public consciousness. There is the pro-life movement, but we have weapons to fight wars and to keep the wild west a thing in the 21st century. Health is everything but not everyone has it or the ability to be taken care of when they get sick. Being well is expensive and medicine is a premium and a hard choice for some. We want the very best for ourselves but will often leave others to fend for themselves because there is fear of losing what they have always had.
People went to one type of school as a kid but that same school isn’t good enough for their own kids. The idea of family is awesome as long as the family looks like yours and not any sort of deviation from the “normal”. I am puzzled by those who want religious liberty as long as its their religion that can have the freedom to do what it wants.
Prayer in schools is still there as long as there are tests being taken in the classroom, so why do we need to have it from one particular faith perspective? There is a universal desire to have freedom but as long as freedom is for you and yours but not someone who just wants the same freedom to love and to live their truth.
It seems like some want life to be simple where everything is as it was years ago when they were the ones calling the shots. Now that they are losing control over the situation now they find themselves desperately clutching onto whatever influence they still have and will manipulate things to get their way because they want it old school.
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, things are more complex. We have to live to adapt and roll with the changes. Everyone will be better off that way, hopefully.
The Tony Burgess Blog 