According to Cortana, the intelligent personal assistant created by Microsoft for Windows 10, between 50 and 70 billion cells die each day due to apoptosis in the average human adult. The average person takes between 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day. On average person takes about 16 breaths per minute and 23,040 breaths a day. We do a lot in a day. Even some things we aren't even aware of.
This past summer we took a road trip up Highway 395 to Oregon. The long drive gave me time to unwind and free my mind.
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| Fossil Falls, covered in volcanic rock. |
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Randsburgh, Ca. Road doesnt't go straight through so they don't get a lot of visitors.
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| Manzanar War Camp, a dark time in U.S. History. |
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| Ghost Town of Bodie, Ca. |
As we visited these locations I continued to think about time. How do the people of Randsburg spend their time as they wait for visitors. The time it took for the fossil falls to form. The long winters residents of Bodie faced and of course the time Japanese Americans spent in the interment camps.
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On our return to California we visited the Oregon Caves and Alcatraz. Once again I wondered how the prisoners of Alcatraz, especially those in solitary confinement, spent their time. How long did it take the caves of Oregon to form?
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| Alcatraz |
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| Oregon Caves, One of the darkest places on earth. |
Ultimately the trip helped me to think about my life and the lives of our students. Many of them have had one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Adverse childhood experiences are potentially traumatic events that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. These experiences range from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to parental divorce or incarceration of a parent or guardian. A lot of research is now being done to study the connection of ACEs with negative behavioral and health outcomes (ie. alcoholism and depression). I would have to say I cannot remember any ACEs in my life. I know I'm extremely fortunate. Life isn't always filled with roses. All of us will face challenges and tragedy in our lives. I had no idea that when I returned from the trip our department would be rocked with life's challenges. When these events occur we naturally ask why? Another approach is to ask what? What are we to do with this challenge or situation that has come in our lives? Could it be that we are going through this difficult time for another reason? Perhaps to make us stronger, to teach us a lesson, to help us grow. Whether it is a colleague going through a difficult time or our students I think it's important we embrace the challenge. The tragedy or difficult is that consumes us for the moment is quite possible vital to our future, a critical lesson that we must learn. Possibly to help others, or to grow in our personal or professional lives.
