Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
On some mornings, the simplest things can be rather complicated. I had to ship something this morning and being new to the area, I had to look where the shipping center was. Google maps sent me to the middle of nowhere..
After a readjustment in life and I found another office a few miles away. It took me a while to find the office. There in that office sat an old lady with a computer she could barely work. She’s sat contentedly amongst piled up boxes and pictures of her grand kids.
Mission accomplished, the package is on its way. With a simple task I got to learn a little bit where everything sits in this new city.
My turntable wasn’t working perfectly yesterday. This morning I got it integrated with the sound system. The first record I played was Snow Patrol and now another little task completed.
There is a simple pleasure of crossing a to-do item off the list. I can’t really explain it.
I have never had some career guidance, but here’s a perfect example of career guidance going amuck.
Tales in Duolingo
There is a feature in Duolingo that allows you to listen to a story and answer questions. In the story titled “I Want To Be Like You,” Junior, Eddy’s son, thinks Eddy is a lion tamer. Eddy is an average father, and he is out of his element. For now, we will just ignore the fact that every character in Duolingo speaks German with an Indian accent.
Junior comes home excited from school one day talking about the job fair they had at school that day. Well in my world this plays out in German because that is what I am studying in Duolingo. When you are learning a language, you do not always trust your instincts and you want to make sure you are hearing the story right, but this is how this story plays out.
Junior comes home from school, and his father Eddy starts asking what he would like to be when he enters the work world. His father assumed he would be a soccer player or another noble profession. Junior tells Eddie that he would like to become a lion tamer. Not only a lion tamer, but he would like to become a world, famous lion tamer. He would like to be the best in the world. The story is so awkward that I even forgot to get mad that there are still lion tamers around. To take it one step further I can not believe there are still circuses.
His father appears non-plussed and naturally his father starts asking about the profession of being a lion tamer, and how he came upon wanting to become a lion tamer.
Gefährlich – in the Story, the German word for dangerous is introduced. Most people agree lion taming is a dangerous profession. Junior insists it is not dangerous, and he reiterates that he is going be the world ‘s best. He does not mention that healthcare in Germany is cheap. And then he tells his father where he got the inspiration, he said he just wanted to be like his dad.
Eddy blushes and then is confused for a second and asked how this is being like his dad. Junior tells his dad that he found a whip and a cape in his closet. A bird flies overhead, and a bee hovers around his nose. Eddie stumbles around with awkward sentences that I do not even recognize as German. “Sein Vater ist uberrascht. Yes, they introduced the word for surprised. Which I was also.
There was then, an awkward silence taking up a lion share of the dialogue between them.
There is another episode where Junior’s father is despondent because his girlfriend Chloe breaks up with him after what he considered a perfect date. Junior digs a little deeper and blames it on his father’s cooking. I personally think it has to do with what he hides in the closet.
That is your family friendly Duolingo. Yes, beside the obvious gamification the app only teaches German to an A2 level. It would be nice if DuoLingo went to a higher level in German. It is more likely they develop an app in a more useful skill. Might I suggest Lion Tamer or Master Gardener.
Practicing a religion generally combines internal faith with outward, visible actions. While specifics vary across traditions and each individual involved.
Generally , I am turned off by organized religion. I have nothing against those with faith at times I am a bit envious. Is that one of the mortal sins?
There are many religions and many gods across the world. One general theme flowing through those is the golden rule. That is treat other people as you expect to be treated no matter what your race, social status, sexual preference or religion. There is no simpler role.
I have been part of churches all my life. I formed great relationships here and had positions of great responsibility.
I don’t believe in heaven or hell. I believe heaven to be a made up concept for those in power promise a just reward on someone else’s ledger.
I choose not to go to church anymore and probably will never return. But somehow, I think I practice the doctrines of most religions more than most. My daughter is Muslim and I tried to learn as much as I can. Like most religions, I find it treats women as subservient to men.
I don’t think the world works that way. I don’t think Jesus wanted itvto work that way.
