My top 15 books to read this summer

via stanford.edu

With the summer season upon us, I decided to take a moment to plot out what I wanted to read. See, the rest of the year my time to get a lot of reading accomplished is limited, so I want to get several books read. What follows is my list of books I want to devour. They are in the order I plan to read them. If you plan to read any of them as well, let me know in the comments. Or better yet, connect with me on Goodreads.I post every book I finish on there, and sometimes I review them. It is a great reader community.

But I digress. Here is my list:

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (complete and unabridged) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
3. These Days by Jack Cheng
4. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
6. Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work by Steven Pressfield
7. Daisy Buchanan’s Daughter by Tom Carson
8. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
9. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
10. Paradise Rules by Jimmy Gleacher
11. The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
12. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
13. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
14. Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan
15. We The Living by Ayn Rand

I realize this is a pretty sizable list, so I will be happy to at least make a dent in it. I openly admit I have a book problem. I buy them constantly. I hope to use this time to actually read a few of them that are piled up around my house. Once I do, I hope to pass them along to others who wish to read them.

Hopefully some of you decide to do some reading during the summer months as well. If so, please let me know. Let’s keep each other accountable.

Happy reading!

Business Education teaching test passed

EDITOR’S NOTE: Generally I don’t post items to this blog concerning my life as an educator. I have a separate blog for that:
http://mrvogts.blogpost.com
. However, since I have posted news of this particular type on here previously, I wanted to do so again in order to maintain at least some consistency. 

In the world of education, you have to constantly be moving forward in order to keep up. Perhaps that means learning the latest and greatest teaching methods, diving in to new technologies, or taking college courses to not only improve your own knowledge but to also move yourself along the pay scale so you can earn just a little more money for your efforts.

Regardless of how an educator decides to do this, the goal is always to remain marketable and needed. Becoming obsolete is not an option.

I have earned my master’s degree, and that is a step in the right direction. However, my primary focus of late has been to pick up extra endorsements, which means I earn licenses to teach various courses.

Previously I have earned my English Language Literature Composition Content Knowledge endorsement, and I have earned my Speech Communication Content Knowledge endorsement.

These are on top of my primary endorsement of being a certified journalism teacher.

Well, now I have one more endorsement to add to the list: Business Education

This means I can now teach any business-related class, and I brings my list of endorsements to four.

I’m pretty proud of these accomplishments. The only question is, where do I go from here? Another college degree? More endorsements? Who knows . . .

Vogts gives 2013 WPHS Commencement Address

via http://blog.melissatimes.com/

On Saturday I had the distinct honor of being the commencement speaker at the Class of 2013 Western Plains High School Graduation in Ransom, Kansas.

I can’t possibly describe how grateful I was to be asked to do this. It was truly an honor. That place still means so much to me, and those students will always hold a special place in my heart.

Since most of you reading this probably weren’t there, below is the speech I wrote.

I hope the students of WPHS got something out of it. I hope they enjoyed the speech as much as I enjoyed giving it.

If you like it too, please let me know in the comments.

— Vogts

 

2013 Western Plains High School (Ransom, Kansas) Commencement
May 11, 2013

Go forth and do good; create your legacy by following your passions

By Todd Vogts

First, I want to thank the Class of 2013 and Debbie Hagans for having me here today to deliver the commencement address. It is an honor for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

Being here today is special to me for many reasons. First, this is where I started my career as an educator. I experienced and learned more during my time here than I could possibly describe. I made life-long friendships while I was here, and I cherish those friendships. I look back at being a Bobcat with fond memories. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about Ransom at least once a day.

However, this event is particularly special to me because the Class of 2013 is what I consider my class. My first year here, these young men and women were freshman. I have watched them grow up, and I could not be prouder of them. Many of them were my students at one time, and it brings me joy to see them succeeding in all aspects of life. Sure, a couple of these soon-to-be alums of Western Plains tested me at first. One person in particular made the mistake of using his cellphone in class. After I took it from him and he responded in a very memorable fashion, he spent some extra time at the school after the final bell. Still, he, along with the rest of this class, have shown me time and time again how incredible they all are. They have shown character in the face of adversity and reached new heights in their successes.

It is without a doubt that I say we live in very troubling times, and these students have had a front-row seat to the recent history of negativity that has beseeched us all. Locally and nationally, they have been witness to tragedy. Most recently, during their senior year, the world has been shocked by the mass shootings at the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater and the grade school in Newtown, Connecticut. Prosecutors in Texas were murdered, and the 117th running of the Boston Marathon was bombed.

In this wired and digital day and age, these tragedies were brought directly to these students, and being concerned for their safety would be a normal reaction. However, I urge you to look at what happened in the aftermath of each of these horrible occurrences. People came together. The resilience in every human being showed through brightly. For example, runners in the Boston Marathon not affected by the blasts crossed the finish line and ran two more miles to a hospital to donate blood in order to help the injured.

That’s incredible, and it goes to show there is more good than evil in this world. Class of 2013, don’t lose faith in humanity, and upon leaving these hallowed halls, I urge you to go forth and do good in this world. Be a cause for change. Stand up for what you know in your heart to be right. Remember where you came from. The people of western Kansas are some of the best people on Earth. When a neighbor is in need, they step in and help. They look out for each other. They are willing to lend a helping hand no matter what. Remember that, and act accordingly. Follow the lead of this community, no matter where life takes you, and be the good that prevents evil from rearing its ugly head.

The best way to do that is to always give your best effort in all that you do. In college or in life, do your best. Work or study hard. Doing so will be made all the easier if you find your thing. That one thing you love. That one thing that is your passion that renders waking up in the morning not a chore but a joy because you look forward to doing it.

As Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

For me, that job is two fold. I relish my role as an educator, but I have wanted to be an author since I was in the fourth grade. I even still have my very first piece of fiction. It was less than a handwritten page long. It was about a quarterback’s arm that was dislocated and torn from his body. Then it came to life and attacked all the players on the field until it could be captured and destroyed. It was a strange story, and I only bring it up because when I look at that piece I realize how far I’ve come as a writer.

As most of you know, I have published a novel. It has been one of my greatest joys to see it on the shelves of libraries and bookstores. It is a dream come true, and though the road to being published was long and challenging, it never felt like work. I loved every minute of it! I couldn’t wait to sit down at my computer and write more of the story.

Since then, I have begun writing a follow-up novel, but starting it took far longer than it should have. If it weren’t for one inspirational book, I don’t know if I would yet have been started on my second novel.

That book was “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” by Steven Pressfield, who is the author of, among other great works, “The Legend of Bagger Vance.”

In “The War of Art,” I found the encouragement I needed. Pressfield’s mantra was, “sit down and do your work,” and I took that to heart.

I got to work, and I made great strides in my second novel. I was over joyed. I got home from school each day eager to enter the world of my main character, Tyler Fox, and write.

Pressfield also wrote about what can get in the way of writing, or whatever your passion is. He called it resistance. Resistance comes in many forms, but the way to deal with it is to give your best and do your work. Don’t let resistance win. Take yourself seriously. If you are passionate about something, do it like it is your profession. Your calling. Don’t treat it as a mere hobby. Do your work.

I urge you to do just that. Do your work. Follow your passion. Be a cause for good in this world. Vanquish evil.

Do as philosopher Alan Watts proposes. Think about what you would do if money were object. What would you do if you didn’t have to worry about making a living? Whatever that one thing is, do it. That is your passion, so go do it. Money and everything else will fall into place, and you will lead a happier, healthier, more productive life. You will become a cause of good in this world.

You are in control of your future. That control lends you a great power over your life and lives of those around you. Take that responsibility seriously. Leave a lasting legacy that is uniquely yours. For if you don’t, you risk denying this world something important.

Regardless of your unique passion, the legacy that is to be, the work that is to be done, only you can make it happen. Pressfield summed it up the best at the end of his book. He said:

“Are you a born writer? Were you put on earth to be a painter, a scientist, an apostle of peace? In the end the question can only be answer by action.

Do it or don’t do it.

It may help to think of it this way. If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don’t do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet.

You shame the angels who watch over you and you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you with your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along its path back to God.

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”

So go forth and do good. Create your legacy by following your passion. Sit down and do your work.

To the Class of 2013, I say congratulations on your accomplishments. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say, we are rooting for you.

Thank you.

Writing in the Age of Distraction: a little inspiration for the weekend

NOTE: A fellow writer, Ian Anderson, shared this with me the other day. I think the idea is a great one, and I know it has inspired me. Hopefully it will do the same for you.

 

Cory Doctorow: Writing in the Age of Distraction

When I’m working on a story or novel, I set a modest daily goal — usually a page or two — and then I meet it every day, doing nothing else while I’m working on it. It’s not plausible or desirable to try to get the world to go away for hours at a time, but it’s entirely possible to make it all shut up for twenty minutes. Writing a page every day gets me more than a novel per year — do the math — and there’s always twenty minutes to be found in a day, no matter what else is going on. Twenty minutes is a short enough interval that it can be claimed from a sleep or meal-break (though this shouldn’t become a habit). The secret is to do it every day, weekends included, to keep the momentum going, and to allow your thoughts to wander to your next day’s page between sessions. Try to find one or two vivid sensory details to work into the next page, or a bon mot, so that you’ve already got some material when you sit down at the keyboard.

— Cory Doctorow, “Writing in the Age of Distraction“

Considering starting a ‘Little Free Library’

An example of a Little Free Library. Wouldn’t this be cool in front of my house?

I love books. In fact, I think I have a book problem. See, I buy books almost compulsively. I have stacks and stacks of them. I plan to read them all, but instead of reading one before buying another, I tend to hoard books.

Maybe I need an intervention.

Of course, the real problem occurs after I finish reading a book. What do I do with it then? I could try to sell it to a used bookstore, but they pay pennies on the dollar. Not that I want to make a fortune on reselling my used books, but it doesn’t seem like the best plan of action when I probably spend more money driving the books to a bookstore than I will receive from their sale.

I could donate them to a local library, or I could simply take them to my classroom and create a library of my own for my students . . . all of these are plausible ideas.

However, I wanted to spread the books I love so much to as many as possible. I want to reach a wider audience. Then I came across www.littlefreelibrary.org. Here is the description of what it is, according to the Wikipedia.org entry:

a nonprofit community movement in the United States and worldwide that offers free books housed in small containers to members of the local community. It was founded inHudson, Wisconsin. The idea was conceived by Todd Bol as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. He mounted a wooden container designed to look like a school house on a post on his lawn. Bol shared his idea with his partner Rick Brooks who found many efficient ways to spread the word, and the idea spread rapidly. Library owners can create their own library box, usually about the size of a doll house, or purchase one from the website. Libraries may be registered and assigned a number at the organization’s website. Libraries can be found through their GPS coordinates. Owners receive a sign that reads “Little Free Library”. They often have the phrase, “Take a Book. Leave a Book.”

Basically, you set up a box — in front of your house or somewhere else where you have permission — and you put books in it. People are able and encouraged to stop by and take a book, leave a book or do both. It becomes a community drop point for sharing books and the love of reading.

I like this idea. I think I might even do it. However, I’m caught up on whether or not to buy a Little Free Library or make one . . . maybe have the local high school, wood shop students make it, even.

What do you think? Should I do this? Would it be a good idea and a way to solve my book problem? Let me know in the comments. Please.

‘Legend of Bagger Vance’ drives the point home

“The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Steven Pressfield

“The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Steven Pressfield tees up a message of greater meaning and knocks a long drive down the fairway straight to the pin. The book, which is exquisitely written, discusses the fact that golf is a “higher plane” activity. It makes the point golf is a sport of the gods. It brings you closer to the divine. It is the only sport where the golfer has to judge himself. If he makes an error, the onus is on him to call the penalty. It is a sport where you become one with nature on courses carved out of the land. Pressfield writes of finding the “authentic swing,” which is the representation of your true self. In it he says all the knowledge a person needs can be found in the hands as they grip the club. He wrote that one must play golf, as one must play the game of life, with abandon. Hold nothing back and give it your all. This spoke to me. He makes the claim that there are multiple existences occurring simultaneously, and our true self, guiding by our hands and grip on our world, finds the existence we are meant to live and drives us forward, both literally and figuratively.

Essentially, Pressfield writes “Bagger Vance” to describe golf as a metaphor for life. In life, as in golf, integrity, respect, competitiveness, focus, and peace are key components. The story centers on a golfer who is struggling to find meaning in his life by the narrator telling the story of another golfer who was struggling to find meaning in his life. All three of the primary characters — the narrator, the current golfer and the past golfer — are all influenced by the mysterious caddie, Bagger Vance. Vance shows all the players “the field,” which is the dimension of the world where all the possible existences live. He shows them how to give themselves to the game, which is to give themselves to life.

In the story, Vance is described to be a god, or God Himself. He tells all the players that he will always be with them. When they are in their darkest hour of need, he will be by their side. He lives in all times. He has experienced everything. He is experience everything. The allusions to God are strong, and the message is clear — trust in God and everything will be OK.

As I’ve said before, I am a big fan of Pressfield, in so much as I’ve read him. He inspires me, and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” didn’t fail to sink the inspirational putt. It showed me to stop over thinking things. I need to live, not worry. I need to trust in God that everything will be OK, and I need to give everything to all that I do. I shouldn’t hold back.

I give this book 5 out of 5 Stars. Anyone who is interested in golf will be enthralled. The suspense is intense. Pressfield masterfully paints a picture of the 36 holes of golf that are played. He gives the right amount of detail without bogging down the story. The question of who Bagger Vance is, as well as how the golf match turns out, kept me turning page after page. (I aspire to write as well.) Likewise, even if you aren’t a golf fan, the message of the book will strike a nerve.

I recommend this book to everyone. You will be pleased you read it.

‘What if money was no object?’

Over the course of this school year, I have found myself being very introspective. I’ve been trying to answer all these questions running through my head. Most of them deal with the course of my life and how to attain my goals.

In teaching, I’ve been considering new ways of instruction. I have redoubled my efforts to write more and with a purpose. I’ve been searching for the way to my optimal happiness — that is, the perfect balance between work and play since I have found myself becoming more prone to stay in my house rather than go out and do something; all because I’ve been stressing about teaching and dealing with a whole host of new classes and curricula. I’ve been researching healthy eating and exercise habits to achieve a better physique. All of this, along with more, combines in my attempt to be a more complete and content individual.

Why am I going through all of this now? I don’t have a clue, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying considering it all. I have found some pleasure in dipping my toe in philosophical thinking. It has been fun, and I would like to think I’ve made progress.

Recently, a new question arose. It was one that I feel encompasses all of my searching. “What if money was no object?” That is a fascinating question. All of my other queries involved money at some level. Sure, you can’t buy happiness or teaching methods or the physique you crave (well, you can if you want to see a plastic surgeon, but you get what I’m saying).

See, the question was asked by philosopher Alan Watts in a video I found online. In it, he posed the question, “What would you like to do if money were no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life [. . .] When we finally got down to something which the individual says he really wants to do I will say to him you do that, and forget the money because if you say getting the money is the most important thing you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You will be doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on living; that is to go on doing things you don’t like, which is stupid. Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.”

This got me thinking in a whole new direction. Watch the video (it’s only about 3 minutes long):

That’s powerful. I think it is potentially life-changing.

Recently Sterling was blanketed with snow thanks to a record-setting blizzard. I barely left my house for six days thanks to four snow days at school and the weekend. I thought about this video a lot. I really took the question to heart. What would I do if money were no object?

I answered that question very quickly, actually. I knew right away, but before I explain it, I feel I should mention that I enjoy teaching a great deal. Getting to interact with the students and see them grow is very rewarding. I don’t, and have never, regretted becoming a teacher. It brings me joy daily, especially the more I get settled in at Sterling and become more acquainted with the students. However, it is a job, and with that comes the normal drudgery any job has from time to time.

So, if money were no object, I know I would not be a teacher. What would I do?

I would write.

I would write books. Novels. Short stories. All sorts of fiction.

And when I wasn’t writing fiction, I would write non-fiction.

I loved being a journalist, so I would also write feature stories and cover breaking news events. I would focus on the feature stories. I love sitting down and talking with people. Learning their stories, and I firmly believe everyone has a story to tell. Those stories would make great features, and those features would be excellent foder for my works of fiction. The two go hand in hand.

As I was writing, I would travel. I would go from place to place, meet new people, talk to them, and write. I would chronicle my adventures via a blog, and I would probably snap photos along the way.

So this got me thinking of what it would take to do this. What would I really need? Basically, I figure I would need a vehicle, a cellphone, a computer, a camera, and a suitcase full of clothes and toiletries, at the minimum. Ideally the vehicle would be my motorcycle, but my Dodge Charger would work as well if I came up with more stuff I would need to haul with me. I would prefer the motorcycle because I love riding, and it would be awesome to see the country, or the world for that matter, from over my handlebars.

Naturally, all this got me excited. So I began to look around my house and see what I could do without. I love books, so getting rid of all of my books would be hard, but I could just get all of my books onto my iPad. Then I could take my entire library with me. I could donate all of my books to a library or school and pass my love of reading on to others. Sure, I’d have to add the iPad to my list of belongings to take with me, but that wouldn’t take up much room.

I also enjoy watching movies, and I have a pretty decent collection of DVDs. Of course, I could just load those onto my computer. Simple.

As for everything else, I figure I could do without it. I could sell it all, or I could just give it away since money is no object.

This sounds so easy. Why can’t I just do it? Like right now.

Well, I moved to Sterling because I felt I was being called here by God. I thought it was what I was supposed to do. It scares me a bit to change that then. However, then I thought that maybe God brought me here as just a stop along the path to what I’m supposed to do with my life. If that’s the case, then everything will be OK. If not, if I’m supposed to be here and here only, then God will give me another sign.

All I know at this point is that I am having these thoughts and ideas for a reason. I hope I figure out that reason soon, and if it results in me chasing this dream of mine, then that’s all the better.

Again, watch the video and let me know what you think. Does it make you reconsider things in your life? Did you have a moment of profound awareness like I did? Please let me know in the comments, and as always, thanks for reading.