Information from DeepSeek that helped form this poem: 1. Amateur: From the Latin amator (lover). Originally, an amateur wasn’t a beginner; it was someone who did something for the love of it, rather than for mastery. A teacher who is still learning while teaching is an amateur in the truest sense, driven by a love of the subject and of the students. 2. A master has already arrived at their destination; they know the material, they deliver it, they clock out. 3. In Roman love poetry, the amator is constantly changed, humbled, and reshaped by the object of their affection. The subject endlessly reveals itself, and the student’s fresh eyes make the teacher see the subject anew. 4. Enthusiasm comes from the Greek enthousiasmos, which means”to be possessed by a god”. 5. ‘I am the midwife of ideas’ is from Socrates.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Preparing On A Sunny Day
As soldiers practice in peacetime In happy days build your defences Without a comparison to define All your previous indulgences
Are you smarter tonight than when you woke? What was lost or gained through the words you spoke? Animals don’t dwell in doubt, so eat yourself fitter! Today you’re the receiver, tomorrow – the transmitter.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
The Supreme Court Of Your Mind
True and steadfast judgement Follows from consistency You become the sum of your actions Choose wisely what to be
Shared with W3 prompt #179: Write 5 separate Hay(na)ku poems, each about a different aspect of love, including but not limited to: Romantic love, familial love, self-love, unrequited love, enduring/timeless love. Each poem should stand alone but together create a layered meditation on love.
After reading through others’ entries for this prompt, I was inspired to give it another try, particularly after learning more about the Greek Gods of love. Above is the new entry, below the original (titled Curriculum).
Not bad though still a bit fuzzy. Slept pretty well, skipped exercise. Decided to skip on Monday and Friday as they are busiest teaching days.
The morning zipped by pretty quickly and my last class should be pretty straightforward too.
I look forward to getting home again and maybe playing some guitar.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
My student Chompoo who quite happily discussed her life with me this afternoon. She really wants to improve her speaking and is now trying hard to do that.
Her boyfriend is Cartoon, who I used to teach in grade 7, 8 and 9. Chompoo was even happy to talk about their getting together and even about sex when I broached the subject. She showed herself to be a smart kid.
The best thing about today was:
Playing guitar straight after getting home. I think I ended up playing for around two hours.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The weather was weird today. It didn’t get higher than 18 degrees all day and it was very windy this morning even with a little rain.
Today was the first day ever in Thailand that I wore a jacket all day, outside of the classroom. It was still quite warm in a room full of crazy kids.
Something I learned today?
There was a message today that the sub-director’s mother has passed away and details will follow about the funeral. I still don’t get why we would attend this.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I reminded Baipad to go and get her certificate from the art competition though they only ended up having them for the winners and not for all entries.
Although I couldn’t understand what was being said between Baipad and the teachers in the room I got the distinct impression that the teacher was showing a superior attitude. I don’t like it at all.
Anyway, I also went to Primary and talked with Kru Boe about what the deal is with students wanting to join the school next semester as Baipad’s mum would like to move Namhom there too.
Unfortunately there are no places available right now but it’s possible that that might change during the April break and they will contact me if so.
I took this picture at the art gallery. No new pictures today.
I have the words within my pages My knowledge forms your future texts Amassed wisdom sung from many sages Collected comforts to which all connects
This power I pass for you to share The lessons lived easily explain To conquer chaos and choose to care To shrink in size or grow to gain
Your personal action accumulates Eyes sparkle like dancing diamonds Mixing the messes of made mistakes Form the future from many islands
Shared with What Do You See #263 and submitted to an AllPoetry assignment about alliteration.
Today I’m feeling:
OK, once I got going. I slept pretty well and my alarm was a bit of a shock. Exercise and a cold shower jazzed me up all right and once at school, it was fun to back around the students, which gave me some positive vibes.
It was a pretty easy day with one grade 12 class (who were more rowdy than usual but still did my work) and a quick grade 10 class that was excellent. I really like that class, but there are 47 of them, and it’s difficult to take time with some individuals that need help more than others.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Deciding to go to Oasis to pick up some dinner. I think I haven’t been there for more than six months now and the food is as delicious as ever.
The best thing about today was:
Being so happy and relaxed after my last class that I was still chatting with students around the school an hour later.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Something I learned today?
I figured out what I was trying to remember yesterday! It was when I was in the bathroom, drying myself off after a shower. Just recently, I noticed that my right nipple is lower than my left! Maybe it’s always been like this – I’m not sure.
Anyway, I was wondering if it might be connected to the pain I have in my right shoulder. Maybe some muscles in there are not quite working properly.
I have a desire for symmetry!
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I made Baipad and Q get up and walk this morning – just for a couple of minutes. I talked to Q but he couldn’t understand any English but Baipad translated everything quickly and easily. I told her that she should think about getting into translation work.
Later, in my grade 12 class, Men told me that he does translation for mobile games. Maybe a good contact for Baipad for the future.
Dizzy and tired still, though a little better mentally.
I think I’m understanding a little more about why I’m feeling the way I am mentally.
My routine involves teaching and writing and those both keep me in the now. Whenever I’m not doing those things, I have been updating my blog or watching things relevant to my past ie. nostalgic.
Due to the flooding and school being closed, my routine has been upended and I haven’t been doing things that have kept me rooted in the now and way too much thinking about the past.
This has got me contemplating too much about things outside my control. Perhaps it was sitting for hours (in the now) at the hospital yesterday that has brought all this into focus.
So, now aware of this, I can think about how to improve my thoughts and situation.
I slept ok until some point in the night I had indigestion and then remembered that I had drunk two bottles of soda water in the evening, something I know will get my guts rumbling when I’m lying down to sleep. I’m a slow learner.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 6
Today I’m grateful for:
To the student in the shop who read the staff with my shopping list (see below).
The best thing about today was:
Sydney beating Port to make another grand final. I managed to listen on the radio, which is certainly not exciting at all and really difficult to follow but at least I was able to keep up with the game.
I’ll watch the mini-match tomorrow and enjoy that.
I’ll probably listen to the Geelong/Brisbane game too and hope that they belt the shit out of each other to make it tougher next week for whoever is the winner.
Something I learned today?
Amy asked me to pick some stuff up at the auntie’s store at Fah Tai market and sent me a list written in Thai. When I showed it to the boy working at the shop, he apologised and told me that he couldn’t read. I guess he just gets by ok on speaking.
