Am I obsessed with school...?

I realize that I am borderline obsessed with school, but let me explain a few things. When I was a kid I hated, loathed, and despised school. Not just one class or one school or one grade... I hated all of it from my earliest memories of arguing with my first grade teacher over the fact that I already knew how to read to the day I finally had enough credits to graduate. If it wasn't for the boys I probably would have quit if I could have. (LOL, like mom would have allowed that)
After I got paroled from the school system that held me captive for 12 years I joined the Air Force and what was the first thing they did to me after I got out of basic training... they sent me to school!!! I was no better at their school than I was for the 12 years before. I have always felt that I was a couple of steps behind everyone else, it all seemed so easy for some and I never quite got it. I could fake my way through some things but eventually it all fell apart and I felt like a failure, I could never understand WHY it was so hard so eventually I just gave up.. I did the minimum I could get away with and sweated out the end of each school year to see if I passed to the next grade.
So after failing at my first shot at school on the Air Force I was given a second chance and was given a job that did not require school. This approach worked so well for me I decided to try to just do life by OJT ( On the Job Training)
Flash forward almost 30 years and I find myself with grown children and in a job that most of the time I love, but I felt I was missing something, call it empty nest syndrome but my kids both still live at home. What I had was empty mind syndrome, I had done the OJT in learning my present job, I think I have done fairly well despite only having a high school diploma that means very little to me. I think our school system tried to teach me but I was so far behind once I got into high school that the efforts were wasted. So I decided I needed to fill my evenings with something besides video games and online chat. My youngest was doing online school and explained to me how it all worked. SO I worked up the courage and sent a request for more information and then talked to the enrollment counselor, and then I started classes. I was fully prepared to fail, just one more thing in a long list in my life I have failed at, but it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I not only “Got” what was being taught but because of the life OJT I had personal experiences I could share. When I finished my first two classes and I got A’s in both classes I cannot explain the feeling of achievement and pride I felt. I never ever expected to do well in these classes. I figured I would skim through the skin of my teeth as I always have. But I LOVE it… my brain has to work at it, I have to think, and when that little light bulb goes off in my head and I figure out what the instructor is talking about and everything clicks in place I am thrilled.. for the first time in my life I get it. I am learning… and it is an amazing feeling. So yes I am a bit obsessed about my education now… isn’t it about time?

Life lessons

Note: This was posted on one of the blogs I read, http://hishandshisfeettoday.blogspot.com/ and it was so good so I wanted to share it.


Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone....

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God.. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24... The most important s*x organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone and everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."