march 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today's topic comes with a story.  Last Friday Ms. Anderson (my former student and favorite SMJUHSD substitute teacher) dropped by just before class with some food she thought I might like.  I turned it down and asked if I could re-gift it to students.  You should have seen the smile on Ms. Anderson's face when I told her why.  Later we exchanged texts.  Mine's in blue, hers is in gray:

This is a fairly recent thing for me.  For most of my life I put away more than my fair share of burgers, steaks, chicken, ribs, eggs, fish, cheese, butter, etc.  I used to gleefully defend my way of life to my vegan and vegetarian friends.  But over time things have changed.  I've learned a lot more about the subject.  Animals grown for food are often sickly and stuffed with antibiotics.  The way they're raised has a powerfully negative impact on the environment.  They are not the best sources of nutrition, even for protein.  When my cousin had a major heart attack in December, he started eating vegan, and when he told his doctors -- the best cardiologists in San Diego -- they said, "Yup.  Us too."  That was the tipping point for me.

I watch students eat Hot Cheetos and processed meat and drink chocolate milk all day, and I wonder: Why do any of us eat what we eat?  Because it tastes good?  Because we're used to it?  Because it's cheap?  Because of our relationships with the people who make food for us?  Because we don't have enough money or enough freedom to make different choices?  Because it's the best fuel for energy or the healthiest nutrition?

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Journal
3. Your next poll winner: "The Monkey's Paw"
4. Reflections on yesterday's experiment
5. Game design: building what we need for next week

POST:
How do we manage the choices in our lives that we can control?  Think back on the last few days: you're in charge of your mind, of how you wake up in the morning, and what you put in your face.  How do your decisions about these things help make you more powerful and successful?  (title: IT'S MY LIFE)