Tag: gifts

The Eclectic Educator Gift Guide 2024

stainless steel padlock beside book and pen

Greetings Starfighters,

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to recover from the inbox bombardment that is Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.

Does anyone else think we should do the giving stuff before all the buying? Or just do the giving and skip the buying?

Here’s a list of ideas for holiday gifts for someone special, or for yourself. Many of these come from my own favorite stuff pile or a bookshelf somewhere.

  1. Books – Books always make great gifts since you can find one on any topic for any person. And yes, audiobooks, ebooks, and graphic novels count as books, too. I feel everyone should have a copy of Meditations around—I’m not the only one, there’s a great scene from The Holdovers below—because it holds so much wisdom for daily life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTO89JtczGI Also, if you or someone you know does any creative work, then The War of Art, Bird by Bird, On Writing, and all of Austin Kleon’s books are great gift ideas. Of course, for the fantasy lovers, Brandon Sanderson’s newest Stormlight Archive book will be a must read. The Library Book is a great gift no matter who you are, along with any biographies written by Ron Chernow, David McCullough, Robert Caro, Doris Kearns Goodwin, or William Manchester. Finally, there’s A Die Hard Christmas: The Illustrated Holiday Classic, sure to please that certain someone who believes it’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Tower.
  2. Notebooks/Journals – Let me confess to you that I have become a notebook enthusiast over the past few years. The amount of time spent on finding just the right book with the right paper to work with the right pen is…staggering. My daily journal is a Leuchtturm1917 120G, having heavier paper than their standard notebook. My commonplace diary of quotes is a Hobonichi Techo 5-year journal that sits next to my desk at home. My daily driver for scribbling to-dos and random thoughts is a simple Field Notes memo book in a leather cover, although I mostly use the National Parks editions because our national parks are cool and maybe the best idea ever.
  3. Writing tools – I worked at an office supply chain for over a decade and have tried every pen you’ve heard and many you haven’t. For me, there is no more tried and true companion than the humble Pilot G2 0.7mm, or one of its variants. They just work. A close runner-up is the newer Sharpie S gel. I use a Pentel Twist-Erase 0.5 mechanical pencil sometimes and keep Blackwing pencils around for writing marginalia in books.
  4. Media – I’m buying more physical media these days. Not just books, but vinyl albums and blu-ray discs. Why? Here’s an example: December 6 (today) is the last day that you can stream Voltron: Legendary Defender on Netflix. Currently, there’s no streaming home for this great series. The real bummer is the full series has never been released on physical media. So, when I see good deals, I try to grab them. For the movie buff in your life, there’s always the Criterion Collection; Shout Factory tends to have older titles, A24 has some of the best new titles out there, and Kino Lorber does a great job of curating an eclectic mix of great films and tv shows. Oh, and everyone needs a Studio Ghibli film in their library.
  5. Tech stuff – Notion is my indispensable tool for organizing all the things digitally. The Logitech MX Master 3S is the best everyday usage mouse on the planet. The AppleTV 4k is still the best streaming media box on the market.

OK, I’ve bombarded you with enough stuff to fill everyone’s stockings or just your own. Next week, I have some thoughts cooking from the first line of Brandon Sanderson’s newest Stormlight Archive book and why virtual schooling solves some specific needs in the education space.

Stay frosty, folks.


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

On finding time to be creative

junk journal

This semester, I’m in a class called “Leadership for Creative Problem Solving,” with the ever-impressive Mary John O’Hair leading our group. We’ve talked a lot about what it means to be creative, specifically in the land of educational leadership, but my conversations always come back around to finding ways to be creative and flexing those muscles.

In my attempts to follow Austin Kleon’s advice and show my work, in our final discussion board post–something else I’ve tried to spice up this semester because oh my god can discussion boards be an absolute pain in the you know what and I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy but understand why we have to do them–we were asked to share an article or video we found in our studies on creativity and leadership.

Like the good oversharer and curator that I am, I linked to this blog, specifically to my tags on creativity, leadership, and creative leadership.

It’s not a great usage case for setting up your own public commonplace book, but it works.

One of my peers, an excellent educator and union leader, made a comment about not knowing how I do it all.

I don’t know either, I just do it. And I think that’s the key.

Creativity is an act of repetition and drudgery. Rarely, if ever, do the clouds of your mind part, allowing rays of glorious creative inspiration to bombard your brain with ideas. Nor is there an “idea factory” in Schenectady, NY, offering a subscription idea service–but that never stopped Harlan Ellison from telling people there was.

No, creativity is backbreaking, mind-numbing, and difficult. It should be difficult. It should be work. It should take something out of you and make you pause multiple times throughout the act of creating. It should make you think and it should make you question your life choices.

But, creating is what we were born to do. And everyone has something different to create, something different to express their unique gifts.

And being creative is something we must do often. Daily, as a matter of fact. Stephen King talks about writing 2,000 words a day, no matter what. Ryan Holiday says to “two crappy pages a day” to progress toward your goal.

It isn’t all going to be pretty–trust me, it’s not–and you’re going to get frustrated. Teachers, you’ll always be improving lessons. Students, you’ll always be thinking about how you can improve that last bit of work.

Each of us has a gift and someone is waiting for us to share that gift with the world.

Let’s do this.


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

Why Every High School Grad Should Read “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl

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Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Introduction

In the vast landscape of literary works, few books possess the power to profoundly impact readers and alter their perspectives. “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl is one such book. It offers a unique blend of memoir and psychological insight, providing readers with invaluable lessons on the human condition and the pursuit of meaning in life. This article aims to highlight the significance of this remarkable book, explaining why it is essential for every high school graduate to read and absorb its wisdom.

Understanding Victor Frankl

Who is Victor Frankl?

Victor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor, penned “Man’s Search for Meaning” based on his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Frankl endured unimaginable suffering and loss, but it was through these harrowing experiences that he developed his groundbreaking psychological theory known as logotherapy.

The Concept of Logotherapy

Logotherapy posits that the primary motivating force in humans is the search for meaning in life. According to Frankl, this search for meaning is what drives individuals to overcome adversity and find purpose, even in the face of extreme suffering. Through his book, he eloquently explores this concept, providing readers with profound insights into the human capacity for resilience and the importance of finding meaning in life.

Lessons from “Man’s Search for Meaning”

1. Discovering Purpose and Meaning

“Man’s Search for Meaning” emphasizes the fundamental importance of having a sense of purpose in life. Frankl argues that by discovering and embracing our unique purpose, we can find the strength to endure and transcend even the most challenging circumstances. This message holds significant relevance for high school graduates who are embarking on their journey into adulthood, as they face new challenges and uncertainties.

2. Overcoming Adversity

Frankl’s personal experiences in the concentration camps serve as a testament to the indomitable human spirit. He demonstrates that even in the darkest of times, individuals possess the power to choose their attitudes and find meaning in their suffering. This powerful message resonates with high school graduates who are about to encounter various obstacles and setbacks on their path to personal and professional growth.

3. Cultivating Resilience

“Man’s Search for Meaning” teaches us that resilience is not merely the ability to bounce back from adversity; it is the capacity to transform pain into growth and find meaning in our experiences. By reading this book, high school graduates can gain valuable insights into developing their resilience, enabling them to navigate the challenges they will inevitably encounter throughout their lives.

4. Embracing Personal Responsibility

Frankl emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own life. He argues that individuals have the freedom to choose their attitudes and responses, even in the face of unimaginable suffering. High school graduates can benefit from this lesson by understanding that they have the power to shape their own destinies and make choices that align with their values and aspirations.

The Impact on High School Graduates

Reading “Man’s Search for Meaning” has the potential to profoundly impact high school graduates in various ways. By internalizing the book’s powerful messages, they can:

  1. Develop a sense of purpose and direction in life.
  2. Build resilience and face challenges with strength and determination.
  3. Embrace personal responsibility and make conscious choices.
  4. Find meaning and fulfillment in their experiences and relationships.
  5. Gain a deeper understanding of the human condition and empathy for others.

Conclusion

In a world where individuals are constantly searching for meaning and purpose, “Man’s Search for Meaning” by

Victor Frankl offers a guiding light. Its profound insights into the human spirit, resilience, and the pursuit of meaning make it an indispensable read for high school graduates. By delving into Frankl’s gripping memoir and psychological theories, graduates can embark on a transformative journey that will shape their perspectives and equip them with invaluable tools for a fulfilling life. It is with utmost conviction that we recommend “Man’s Search for Meaning” as essential reading for every high school graduate.

Sale
Man's Search for Meaning: Gift Edition
Man’s Search for Meaning: Gift Edition
  • Hardcover Book
  • Frankl, Viktor E. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 200 Pages – 10/28/2014 (Publication Date) – Beacon Press (Publisher)
$19.02 Amazon Prime
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The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!