willgourley

[willgourley]

My tongue

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily? My tongue is as old as I am and has been in use since day one. Albeit for entirely different reasons at times. My tongue has been trusted to taste what’s good and what’s not, it’s been held as much as sharpened as needed too.

[willgourley]

Daily writing promptDo you practice religion?View all responses Hmm? It’s more like religion practices you. It puts you through your paces, makes you jump through hoops, but only rewards you with more legalism and expected performative devotion at the finish line. Do I practice faith? Yes.

[willgourley]

Too many crayons

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc. It started out innocently enough with 5 year old me walking to school, hopes in one hand and school bag in the other. By midday only me and my school bag made it home as school nearly robbed my hopes that first day. My teacher said that I had too many crayons. What evil carbon based witch would make a kid feel bad on…

[willgourley]

Ideas change everything

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech? That’s TED Talks new slogan. It used to be Ideas worth spreading which over the last 40 years on red dots everywhere from the main stage to TED x/Ed events many ideas have been shared. Imagine the opportunity to captivate an audience for a time with a song, story or dance, or to synchronize the minds of a room with the gift of an idea or a…

[willgourley]

To move or not to move

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises? Have you ever wished that your step counter could keep track of the more subtle moments you accumulate in your chair at work? I’m by no means suggesting waving it back and forth like a Nintendo Wii controller to get those miles in, but I’d like some credit for my motor boat legs during meetings or long presentations. Sometimes I wish…

[willgourley]

Zero dollars

What is something others do that sparks your admiration? My classroom is a microcosm of the world. This includes all of the highs and lows of human behaviour that occur through the actions of elementary schoolers. They can be cruel without warning. They can be sweet, sour, salty, and bitter on any given day. Just like their elders and ancestors. Yet, what makes me admire them the most is how…

[willgourley]

That's all folks

What’s your favorite cartoon? I am the product of a happy childhood and I know it’s true because I grew up watching Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes, and Merrie Melodies. Witty, poignant, and brilliantly animated these gems are creative artefacts that mirrored the current issues of the time with an infusion of comedy and social sarcasm. A few episodes have not stood the test of time, see Pépé Le Pew…

[willgourley]

Less is more

What could you do less of? I could do with less and in return get more. This is not a selfish thing. Less anger, less hatred, less corruption, less greed, less intolerance, less ego, less consumerism, and less poverty. It starts with me… I could do with more love, more service, more caring, more otherliness, more kindness, more understanding, and more financial security for all. I know that…

[willgourley]

Sunrises and coffee

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year? Managing to see the sunrise on the way to work has provided many poaitive starts to the day this past year. It’s also a reminder about how much I love the work I get to do each day once my commute is done. It comes down to the biggest little things though. Having family, health, friends, purpose, and faith precede and…

[willgourley]

Abounding in animals

Do you ever see wild animals? It snowed the other day and a herd of wild mammals raced their mechanical chariots towards their destinations without heeding the ice, the inertia, or the accumulating flakes. With a slide and a crash and a police report to boot, this scene played out over and over as these pant wearing snow addled mammalians went wild once again.

[willgourley]

Where the wave meets the shore

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?I I am fascinated by ocean waves. They are like people as there are very few, if any that are truly the same. They may look similar, yet are unique in their pace, size, shape, and fury. Even when they are their most dangerous, waves capture our attention and give us a chance to understand that we are drops in the ocean of human…

[willgourley]

4 + 1 things

Share five things you’re good at. In no particular order, here are 5 things I’m good at doing. Making coffee Washing dishes Eating dinner cooked by professional and non-professional chefs Empowering students to be fearless learners in success and failure Forgetting the fifth thing on top 5 lists.

[willgourley]

Now vs then

I wonder how my teenage, 20 – 30 something, and many years beyond self would have answered the question, “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?” On the surface it comes across as something easy to answer however, I am not sure there could ever be an easy, let alone, completely considerate reply. Would I have changed my height, weight, complexion or anything else that…

[willgourley]

Now and then

What is one thing you would change about yourself? https://escheweducationalist.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/now-vs-then/ (1 minute read) This became a link instead of a response to the prompt. Thanks for reading.

[willgourley]

Now vs then

I wonder how my teenage, 20 – 30 something, and many years beyond self would have answered the question, “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?” On the surface it comes across as something easy to answer however, I am not sure there could ever be an easy, let alone, completely considerate reply. Would I have changed my height, weight, complexion or anything else that…

[willgourley]

Library ladder

You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like? Two words to start. Library ladder. Next, natural light from two walls with windows. Floor to ceiling shelves that are large enough to fit my records as well as my books. Floor plugs for lamps so I can change the layout from time to time and for night reading. Comfortable seating that can double as a nap location and…

[willgourley]

How yam aye cre8ive

How are you creative? It starts by admitting it. It’s not one thing but the other. It’s paddling upstream when others are floating down. It’s choosing to write first and read later. It’s seeing things sideways and upside down, with only one eye and then the other and then with both of them closed. It’s by looking for the beauty and the lesson in everything and nothing. It’s from comparing…