Monday, April 30, 2012
Oops, where's my mojo?
Back in the day, I loved writing poetry. I could pretty much think of a topic, get a few words going and then have a decent poem in no time. But now, I can't seem to do that and it really stinks because I would love to be able to write some poems again. Poetry is just an easy way to express how you feel in just a few words and it was pretty fun to type up. Hopefully I find my mojo sometime soon because I'm wanting to post a poem in the near future just to change things up.
Ramblings...
I can't think of any way right now to really tie everything in my head together at the moment, so this next blog is going to be just a big ramble of my thoughts. Who knows, maybe it will all connect at the end, maybe it won't...We shall see.
First off, to anyone that really cares, I am sorry for not posting in a few days (Not that that's many of you). I had a few drafts started but I eventually gave up and I shall combine those ideas together. Here goes nothing...
I have been wanting to talk about one of my favorite mottos, "Play hard, play smart, most of all play to have fun". You probably recognize this as a motto from little league baseball, at least that is the only place I have heard it. For me, this is a lifestyle. In little league, all I could think about was baseball, it was my passion and if I had the choice I would have slept behind home plate each night. Those of you that don't know me, yes I am crazy. But those words were my life, I would try my hardest each game and played as smart as I could to help my team. At the end of the day I had as much fun as possible on the field. To me the game wasn't ever about winning, I mean heck if it was I would still have a grudge on my brother because he dropped the easiest catch in the world in our Minor League championship game. We killed all season but lost that game, but who cares? I had a ton of fun on the team, made a bunch of new friends (granted I don't talk to any of them now) and learned a lot from my coach.
I guess my point is nowadays, it seems as if the motto has been changed. People are teaching kids, "Play hard, play smart, most of all play to win". Play to win should only be in the MLB where you are making the big bucks and a win can mean the difference in a season (Don't tell me one win doesn't make a difference, go ask the Braves and Red Sox). In little league the game should really only be about fun. Winning is fun, but winning isn't everything. In my opinion, if you come out a loser, with your head held high and you tried your best, you are a winner too. But kids now seems to only strive to win. When I watch a game I see teammates yelling at each other because someone accidentally missed a ball. To quote Brother Tommy, "Really?!" Come on now, you guys are supposed to be supportive of one another, on the field you are supposed to always have each others backs. Go watch The Bad News Bears, prime example of how to have fun on a baseball field. Or even The Sandlot, that one is even better if you ask me. Parents it is time to educate your kids the right way, it isn't always about winning, its about going out there and making the best of your abilities and having fun with 10 or so other kids.
I want to teach my children about character. The talents that people have are great, it helps to be talented, but talent is nothing without character. One of my role models is Tim Tebow, yeah I'm sure some of you readers are thinking "Geez you are gay" but I'm serious. Tebow to me is one of the most talented players in the NFL. He has the skills to be great regardless of what anyone says but he has the character to be a legend. How often is it that you see someone pray to God during every game. Tebow praises God for the good and bad. No matter what happens he looks to his Father and thanks him for what he has. He doesn't put blame on his teammates, if anything it is on himself. He is a very positive player that rubs off on everyone around him. Now I know there are tons of people that think he sucks and shouldn't even be a QB, but I really think you are wrong. He is a leader and a fighter. He is exactly who I would want leading my team into each and every game. For me, character is the key...
Oh before I stop rambling, I want to add the following: "Nice guys finish last."- I think this goes right along with character... Who ever said that nice guys cared? I mean since when did they care where they finish? I like to think that I am a nice guy, I know that I haven't been perfect and I have been in the wrong before, but I think I am nice, maybe too nice. I don't care about where I finish in something. As long as whatever it is I do, I do showing respect and dignity I am fine. To me, it is always better to lose while doing what is right than to win while being in the wrong.
On that note, before I hit 1000 words and lose all motivation to type my essay, I am going to stop. I'm sorry that this one was pretty sloppy and a huge ramble/rant. Oh well I suppose. Until next time, which is possibly going to be later tonight, au revoir.
First off, to anyone that really cares, I am sorry for not posting in a few days (Not that that's many of you). I had a few drafts started but I eventually gave up and I shall combine those ideas together. Here goes nothing...
I have been wanting to talk about one of my favorite mottos, "Play hard, play smart, most of all play to have fun". You probably recognize this as a motto from little league baseball, at least that is the only place I have heard it. For me, this is a lifestyle. In little league, all I could think about was baseball, it was my passion and if I had the choice I would have slept behind home plate each night. Those of you that don't know me, yes I am crazy. But those words were my life, I would try my hardest each game and played as smart as I could to help my team. At the end of the day I had as much fun as possible on the field. To me the game wasn't ever about winning, I mean heck if it was I would still have a grudge on my brother because he dropped the easiest catch in the world in our Minor League championship game. We killed all season but lost that game, but who cares? I had a ton of fun on the team, made a bunch of new friends (granted I don't talk to any of them now) and learned a lot from my coach.
I guess my point is nowadays, it seems as if the motto has been changed. People are teaching kids, "Play hard, play smart, most of all play to win". Play to win should only be in the MLB where you are making the big bucks and a win can mean the difference in a season (Don't tell me one win doesn't make a difference, go ask the Braves and Red Sox). In little league the game should really only be about fun. Winning is fun, but winning isn't everything. In my opinion, if you come out a loser, with your head held high and you tried your best, you are a winner too. But kids now seems to only strive to win. When I watch a game I see teammates yelling at each other because someone accidentally missed a ball. To quote Brother Tommy, "Really?!" Come on now, you guys are supposed to be supportive of one another, on the field you are supposed to always have each others backs. Go watch The Bad News Bears, prime example of how to have fun on a baseball field. Or even The Sandlot, that one is even better if you ask me. Parents it is time to educate your kids the right way, it isn't always about winning, its about going out there and making the best of your abilities and having fun with 10 or so other kids.
I want to teach my children about character. The talents that people have are great, it helps to be talented, but talent is nothing without character. One of my role models is Tim Tebow, yeah I'm sure some of you readers are thinking "Geez you are gay" but I'm serious. Tebow to me is one of the most talented players in the NFL. He has the skills to be great regardless of what anyone says but he has the character to be a legend. How often is it that you see someone pray to God during every game. Tebow praises God for the good and bad. No matter what happens he looks to his Father and thanks him for what he has. He doesn't put blame on his teammates, if anything it is on himself. He is a very positive player that rubs off on everyone around him. Now I know there are tons of people that think he sucks and shouldn't even be a QB, but I really think you are wrong. He is a leader and a fighter. He is exactly who I would want leading my team into each and every game. For me, character is the key...
Oh before I stop rambling, I want to add the following: "Nice guys finish last."- I think this goes right along with character... Who ever said that nice guys cared? I mean since when did they care where they finish? I like to think that I am a nice guy, I know that I haven't been perfect and I have been in the wrong before, but I think I am nice, maybe too nice. I don't care about where I finish in something. As long as whatever it is I do, I do showing respect and dignity I am fine. To me, it is always better to lose while doing what is right than to win while being in the wrong.
On that note, before I hit 1000 words and lose all motivation to type my essay, I am going to stop. I'm sorry that this one was pretty sloppy and a huge ramble/rant. Oh well I suppose. Until next time, which is possibly going to be later tonight, au revoir.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Forgiving
There are a bunch of people in the world today that want to be forgiven about things they have done, yet they have never done any of the forgiving. I am one of those people... Actually, I take that back, I like to think that I have changed that about myself... Before I go any further...I'm going to be honest the rest of this post may or may not be a little bit emotional, so you can either read it and like it and apply it to your life, read it then hate it and shut up or just flat out not read it at all. Hopefully you fall in the first category, but hey, lets continue on.
There have been times in my life were I have been lied to and I have been put down by people that I loved most. There have been times that I have done things that I know I shouldn't have done and things that I just am not proud of. I never asked God for forgiveness during any of those times. I never really talked to him honestly, until this year. The sad thing is, when I started talking to him, it was to help myself only. I was very selfish and naive about everything. I begged for forgiveness for what I had done, but I wasn't willing to forgive anyone else for their mistakes. I believe that that is one of the most selfish things a person can do, ask for forgiveness but not want to give any in return, I mean come on how is that supposed to work? That is kind of like asking someone to come over and help you with your problems, then when they need your help you say I'm too busy or just ignore them completely... The answer to that obviously is that it doesn't work!
The event in my life that I'm referring to is just before I moved into WKU. I was driving to my stepdads house at midnight to see my brother and sister that I had pretty much blown off for a while. The whole way there I was actually pretty upset because I know that I wasn't the best big brother or really the ideal big brother to them. I mean I had said that I was but I really know deep down I sucked. I didn't do everything possible to spend time with them, I made myself preoccupied with less important things rather than hanging with them. So naturally, I prayed to God, I wanted him to forgive me and I wanted them to forgive me. But as I was praying, I realized that what I was doing was good but for the wrong reasons I suppose. I wanted to be forgiven but I had no intention to forgive anyone else. So I did what any grown man would do when he realized that he was living an unjust life... I cried, a lot. I also called my mom... My whole family knows I have always had a grudge with my mom about things she has done in the past. I've always seemed to shun whatever she did and acted like I didn't care because I wasn't willing to forgive her. But that night I did. I told her that I was sorry for acting the way I did and I was ready to forgive her for everything because I knew she was trying her hardest to be different. I never cut her any slack or gave her any praise, heck I barely even saw her. But realizing that in order to seek forgiveness I must forgive others first, it helped me lift the grudge and say sorry for being such a douche for a son and I love you.
That night it was as if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder. I believe God was there helping me realize that I couldn't hold a grudge and I had to forgive. Once I did he helped me find the forgiveness that I longed for...
So, hopefully through all of this, everyone gets the message. I'm sure it sucked reading it, I probably rambled a lot but who cares... the whole point was the following:
There have been times in my life were I have been lied to and I have been put down by people that I loved most. There have been times that I have done things that I know I shouldn't have done and things that I just am not proud of. I never asked God for forgiveness during any of those times. I never really talked to him honestly, until this year. The sad thing is, when I started talking to him, it was to help myself only. I was very selfish and naive about everything. I begged for forgiveness for what I had done, but I wasn't willing to forgive anyone else for their mistakes. I believe that that is one of the most selfish things a person can do, ask for forgiveness but not want to give any in return, I mean come on how is that supposed to work? That is kind of like asking someone to come over and help you with your problems, then when they need your help you say I'm too busy or just ignore them completely... The answer to that obviously is that it doesn't work!
The event in my life that I'm referring to is just before I moved into WKU. I was driving to my stepdads house at midnight to see my brother and sister that I had pretty much blown off for a while. The whole way there I was actually pretty upset because I know that I wasn't the best big brother or really the ideal big brother to them. I mean I had said that I was but I really know deep down I sucked. I didn't do everything possible to spend time with them, I made myself preoccupied with less important things rather than hanging with them. So naturally, I prayed to God, I wanted him to forgive me and I wanted them to forgive me. But as I was praying, I realized that what I was doing was good but for the wrong reasons I suppose. I wanted to be forgiven but I had no intention to forgive anyone else. So I did what any grown man would do when he realized that he was living an unjust life... I cried, a lot. I also called my mom... My whole family knows I have always had a grudge with my mom about things she has done in the past. I've always seemed to shun whatever she did and acted like I didn't care because I wasn't willing to forgive her. But that night I did. I told her that I was sorry for acting the way I did and I was ready to forgive her for everything because I knew she was trying her hardest to be different. I never cut her any slack or gave her any praise, heck I barely even saw her. But realizing that in order to seek forgiveness I must forgive others first, it helped me lift the grudge and say sorry for being such a douche for a son and I love you.
That night it was as if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder. I believe God was there helping me realize that I couldn't hold a grudge and I had to forgive. Once I did he helped me find the forgiveness that I longed for...
So, hopefully through all of this, everyone gets the message. I'm sure it sucked reading it, I probably rambled a lot but who cares... the whole point was the following:
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
You can seek forgiveness from God but if you aren't willing to forgive others he won't forgive you.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Teaching
As crazy as it sounds, I have become attached to a group of fourth grade students in just four visits to the classroom. It really stinks thinking about how Friday is the last time I get to teach them, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. They have taught me a lot about myself and what I want to do with my life. I thought I had things all figured out (I've actually thought that multiple times in my life) but in all honesty I didn't. Those teaches and observations made me realize that I was not taking the right path. I was not doing what I really wanted to do with my life but really something people urged me to do. Working with them made me realize that I want to teach elementary students. I hope to be a strong role model in my future student's lives and I want to form a strong foundation for their future early on. I hope to inspire my students at a young age, to get them interested in learning and staying in school. I hope to be entertaining but also effective as a teacher. One day I want to be sitting in a retirement home or something, turn on the tv and yell at some old fart because I can't hear one of my old students giving a speech or hitting a grandslam in the World Series. I just want to make the most positive impact on my student's lives as possible!
That's all for now folks, until next time! Thanks for reading...
That's all for now folks, until next time! Thanks for reading...
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Slacking Off
So I believe that in my first blog I said that I would be posting another the next day... Obviously that did not happen quite frankly because I am a huge slacker. I don't really know why I am this way, I guess it started about 7th grade when I had to retake Algebra because I switched schools. That made me really not care and got me into procrastination. I really wish that I didn't start that habit back then because it is extremely hard to break! But either way, I still seem to slack off in a lot of things I do.
So here is my resolution: After I stop rambling in this post, I'm going to start over with everything, this time with a no slacking attitude. My ultimate goal is to finish this semester with a 3.6 GPA, something that I haven't had in quite some time now. In order to get that, my Calculus 2 and Stats grades need to magically become B's and my Psychology grade needs to become an A. Honestly I think I can do it but assuming I keep my slackertude (aptitude for slacking...yes I just invented that, get over it) in the past and focus on the work. I am going to stick to it and work my butt off for those grades. I don't believe in saying oh well if I don't get it, because if I do that now, I will just revert back to my slacking ways. Sooo, I have to get those grades. No excuses...
Heck, I am going to be a teacher one day and I want to be a positive role-model for my future students. I mean I don't want a slacker for a teacher and i don't want to be a slacking teacher. What better time to break some old bad habits than during the last few weeks of my freshman year of college... Well to answer that question, the better better times are long gone, so this is the best of the better times is now...so yeah, I don't wanna type anymore, peace out.
So here is my resolution: After I stop rambling in this post, I'm going to start over with everything, this time with a no slacking attitude. My ultimate goal is to finish this semester with a 3.6 GPA, something that I haven't had in quite some time now. In order to get that, my Calculus 2 and Stats grades need to magically become B's and my Psychology grade needs to become an A. Honestly I think I can do it but assuming I keep my slackertude (aptitude for slacking...yes I just invented that, get over it) in the past and focus on the work. I am going to stick to it and work my butt off for those grades. I don't believe in saying oh well if I don't get it, because if I do that now, I will just revert back to my slacking ways. Sooo, I have to get those grades. No excuses...
Heck, I am going to be a teacher one day and I want to be a positive role-model for my future students. I mean I don't want a slacker for a teacher and i don't want to be a slacking teacher. What better time to break some old bad habits than during the last few weeks of my freshman year of college... Well to answer that question, the better better times are long gone, so this is the best of the better times is now...so yeah, I don't wanna type anymore, peace out.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Now Introducing... Me!
Well I suppose for my first blog since my Junior year of high school, I will start out going beyond the "About Me" section on here and giving a little bit more information about my blog(s) and yours truly.
I guess I will start off with the basics... Hi I'm Jeff Sumner, nice to meet whoever reads this. I'm currently a Freshman at Western Kentucky University, studying to be an elementary school teacher. I'm 19 and I like long walks on the beach... Just kidding this isn't going to be another of those! Sorry in advance if my sense of humor doesn't appeal to you...
Moving on, I have five brothers and two sisters, all of which I love a ton and would do anything in the world for. I live with my dad, step-mom and grandma and I absolutely love it. My house is completely crazy at times but I love it. Coming home each weekend to a bunch of fighting and screaming from the babies and complaints from my parents about our room is just awesome. Yes I said it is awesome hearing them complain, it reminds me of the finer things in life. There's just nothing like coming home after a long studious week (yeah right) to even more chaos! I love my crazy family!
I go to Buck Creek Baptist Church and have since late December. Church has completely changed my life, the people there are like my second family and have been so helpful and supportive of me in my walk with God. I can't tell them thank you enough for their prayers and support, so one more time, Thanks Guys!
I suppose this is where I'm going to stop for now because I am getting pretty tired and it is only 10:30... sheesh... Hopefully I have entertained you all enough in this first post. If not, well either come back tomorrow for some more or quite frankly "YOU CAN GET OUT"! Just kiddin, come back and read guys/gals! Look forward to some potential new friends and interesting conversations...
Peace out cubscouts
I guess I will start off with the basics... Hi I'm Jeff Sumner, nice to meet whoever reads this. I'm currently a Freshman at Western Kentucky University, studying to be an elementary school teacher. I'm 19 and I like long walks on the beach... Just kidding this isn't going to be another of those! Sorry in advance if my sense of humor doesn't appeal to you...
Moving on, I have five brothers and two sisters, all of which I love a ton and would do anything in the world for. I live with my dad, step-mom and grandma and I absolutely love it. My house is completely crazy at times but I love it. Coming home each weekend to a bunch of fighting and screaming from the babies and complaints from my parents about our room is just awesome. Yes I said it is awesome hearing them complain, it reminds me of the finer things in life. There's just nothing like coming home after a long studious week (yeah right) to even more chaos! I love my crazy family!
I go to Buck Creek Baptist Church and have since late December. Church has completely changed my life, the people there are like my second family and have been so helpful and supportive of me in my walk with God. I can't tell them thank you enough for their prayers and support, so one more time, Thanks Guys!
I suppose this is where I'm going to stop for now because I am getting pretty tired and it is only 10:30... sheesh... Hopefully I have entertained you all enough in this first post. If not, well either come back tomorrow for some more or quite frankly "YOU CAN GET OUT"! Just kiddin, come back and read guys/gals! Look forward to some potential new friends and interesting conversations...
Peace out cubscouts
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