…with Gary Moss

If I remember correctly, while going to school, it was always my friends with the greatest passions for learning who received the highest grades and the most honors. Regardless of whether their passion was a result of expectations or threats of their parents or genuinely their own, their desire to be #1 drove them to success.

I had a number of friends who chose not to go college, in favor of going into business or going into the armed services. I remember them all becoming successful in their own circles. It seems to me that choosing one’s own path comes with a sense of knowing and a passionate commitment.

Most of you older readers have probably experienced that to which I am referring. The passion that I’m talking about usually erupts out of some ‘significant emotional event‘: the loss of a loved one; falling in love; some aha moment.

The movies like to tell these stories and usually go on to become very successful: The Blind Side; Extraordinary Measures; Erin Brokovich. And just as these three examples are reflections of real life circumstances, we all know that some ordinary people do succumb to their passions.

And still, the majority of people are out there living quite ordinary lives: putting one foot in front of the other; putting on their pants one leg at a time; going through the motions in order to survive.

If you are anything at all like me, that’s not enough. Just playing a game to while away an evening leaves me empty. I always want to play to win.

Years ago I was able to convince my ex to play racquetball. It didn’t last very long. The first time I hit a kill shot she stormed off the court. All she was willing to do was volley. YAWN.

Years ago when I own a private school I was always looking to make my program better than all the others, to serve the children and to raise the bar. I had a computer lab in place in 1976 (unheard of). We accepted children with ‘special needs’ and proved over and over again that it was public education’s dogmatic approach that was failing those kids.

For the last 20 years I have devoted endless hours and energy to the game of scrabble. I can see how this simple game contains all the necessary components to provide a complete life’s education to anyone who wishes to grab for the ring. SCRABBLE 101

Your life is all about how you look at things and the amount of energy you are willing to expend. ~ Gary Moss