 So my cat Tom, spies a clean bucket filled to the brim of fresh, cool water and despite the fact that he has his own bowl of water, does not prevent the enticement of the bucket water that was calling, “Tom,Tom, Drink me!” as though Tom had just fallen down a rabbit hole and was in his own cat version of Alice in Wonderland. Tom stands on the edge of the shower wall on his back legs and proceeds to lean towards the water, he almost loses his balance and tries to hold on to the rim of the bucket. However, touching the rim of the bucket meant getting his paws wet, which he was just not having, I watched Tom relentlessly squirm in anguish, pacing back and forth, looking at me, meowing, looking at the bucket of water that he “in his mind” could not get to because he did not want to get his paws wet. Here’s the thing, isn’t that what maybe stopping you from saying Yes to Learning. Tom, like most cats hates getting wet, so his FEAR of getting wet is what is stopping him from getting that thirst-quenching water he so desires. What is your FEAR? What is stopping you? As fellow entrepreneur Roshanda Pratt, the storytelling strategist, puts it “You have to be odd to be number one! Are you afraid to be odd? To be different? To step out from the norm? To step out of your comfort zone? If you have a unique dream, an innovative idea that hasn’t been done, then by all means go out and learn what you need to, to make that dream a reality.  If it seems as though you are the only one, trying to go to college, change your career, don’t be afraid to step out on faith. Perhaps you are meant to be the only one or a role model to inspire others to follow your lead. Remember FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real -The negative things you THINK are going to happen probably won’t because you will not let it. Today, go for it! Be odd! Step out on faith! Enjoy being uncomfortable, it won’t be for long! Get your PAWS wet! Say YES to Learning!
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  This year marks my 20th year as an educator. It has been an interesting and exhilarating ride. I celebrate my 20 years,with My Pajama PD Party Online beginning this week under the theme “Say YES to Learning”. I am excited, thrilled, anxious and nervous at the same time. I am excited to start a new chapter on my entrepreneurial journey, as Kiana Porter- Isom of Edupreneur Today would put it from classroom to consultant. I am thrilled, I mean who wouldn't be..I'm going LIVE! I am anxious but that's nothing new, my anxiety is a reminder to plan and over plan. I am nervous because for me this is not a job. It's not some random rant. I am nervous because I am sharing my lifestyle, my way of life, how I have created over the years a lifestyle of perpetual learning. Going LIVE, that alone has become apart of my learning process. My nervousness is not a signal for lack of readiness. Quite the contrary it is a sign that I am ready to bring it! To bring value, to bring purpose to why we should all live a lifestyle of learning. I have given myself the task of inviting you, of inspiring you, of motivating you to Say YES to Learning. Today as I prepare for my Go Live experience, I can’t stop but think where teaching has taken me, the connections, the friendships and the learning experiences that I gained along the way. In addition, as I write my book which I hope to bring inspiration to others to Say YES to Learning,I reflect on my own learning experiences filled with a big ol' mixed bag of emotions. These emotions remind me of a what would have to have been a major turning point in my life. I would have to say it may very well be the first time that I came face to face with the term “Say YES to Learning”. I was about 10 years old, completing the 6th grade. I do not know exactly when or how it came about, but my parents along with my aunt came up with the idea of me going to school in Anguilla and living with my aunt and grandmother. Well, this may be important to note, at that time I was living in St. Maarten with my parents, a mere 20 minute boat ride away. (err, uhm ,yeah, I kind of did move a lot JFK-SXM-AXA-JFK) I could only imagine what other people must have thought, “Annie and Delvin got to be crazy!”, You see my parents had just buried one child the year before and here they were about to ship one, literally, across the sea. What were they thinking??!! As a child I was excited about it. I guess after years of reading, Around the World in 80 days, Pippi Longstocking, Nancy Drew, and Dr. DoLittle (sigh, the book not the Eddie Murphy movie), I believed I was on my own magical adventure waiting to unlock and discover a hidden mystery. I had dreams of becoming a world explorer. My parents, on the other hand, had dreams of a daughter going to college and making them proud or rich?? or both? not sure really?? (ok, joke mother, just a joke geeesh) Their decision to send me to Anguilla, was their way of saying “YES” to learning for me. They knew the importance of not just an education but a good one. Their motives, their purpose was quite calculated and intentional. Not only was I going to get what they felt was a better education but I was also going to live with my mom’s sister, who just happened to be an educator. Now you tell me if you still think my parents were crazy?? GENIUS I tell ya, just genius. Up until that point, I cared little for school. I went to school like most children because my parents sent me. But preparing to go to school in Anguilla changed everything. Having to prepare for an exam, passing with top marks, and acknowledging the fact that my parents were making a sacrifice, made me at 10 years of age “Say YES to Learning!”. Was it a consistent YES? Definitely not, along the way I had to learn how to say YES to Learning! It has nothing to do with age or maturity. There are many factors why you may think you are not ready. Or the times you felt like you screwed up, like when I got kicked out of college, another time for that story though. Whatever it is...... It’s not too late! So maybe you dropped out of high school, it doesn’t matter the reason. Or maybe you finished or about to finish high school and just not sure which way to turn. Perhaps you are feeling stuck at your current job, it was not what you hoped and are thinking where do I go from here. If you are feeling like you are at a crossroads, not sure what to do next. You may be asking where do I go to learn to help myself, to help my situation. If you fall into any of these categories, then you my friend, are ready to Say YES to Learning. What are you waiting for #SayYEStoLearning? Join me every Third Thursday at 8:30pm AST/ 7:30pm EST. Together we will chart your course to learning. Take care and see you then. 
  And the best part is…….wait for it….. It’s free!!! I got to tell you, I love a great bargain. I usually head straight for the sale rack at the back of a store. Really, I think they should just put them to the front of the store and save me some time. You may have heard of el cheapo but I must confess I am La Cheapa shhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone. I think my mom would say I inherited that gene from my dad. You will not find me spending ridiculous amounts of dollars just because it showcases a brand. I’m truly not interested. The point is I am frugal to the bone. As an educator, you learn to bargain hunt especially when you are looking for resources for your students. We, meaning teachers, get overly excited with the free goodie bags at a workshop or conference. You would think we found the end of the rainbow. Yes, free highlighters!!!!! I know this, any teacher or friend of a teacher reading this blog knows this. So when I am coaching and sharing with fellow educators I enjoy passing on freebie tools and resources I have found. Breaking News: I don’t take everything that is free!!! Sorry to disappoint my fellow las cheapas but not everything free is worth taking. Just like anything else it must add value. Here’s an analogy I often use. I love cake, do you? So let’s say you’re offered a piece of carrot cake, yum, my favorite,but you are allergic to nuts. This carrot cake has walnuts do you take it? Obviously not. But it’s free! Still, why would I take something I can’t use? Or don’t need? Or worse I don’t even like it? Here’s an analogy I often use. I love cake, do you? So let’s say you’re offered a piece of carrot cake, yum, my favorite,but you are allergic to nuts. This carrot cake has walnuts do you take it? Obviously not. But it’s free! Still, why would I take something I can’t use? Or don’t need? Or worse I don’t even like it? I say this because I have met some beautiful, fantastic people, with big dreams and visions but they embarked on a learning journey, just because it was free. Guess what happened?
The worst part is they felt as though they had failed themselves, regretting the decision they made. They had convinced themselves since it was free and they did not know how to go after the learning they really wanted, it was a good idea. If this is you, at this very moment, you are about to sign onto something that is not apart of the vision you have for yourself, STOP! DON’T DO IT! Say Yes to Learning to what matters to you.  On the things that matter to you, make the investment. Your learning, is an investment in yourself. For example: If you’ve never been to the gym or had a healthy lifestyle, find the best personal trainer. I’m not just talking the “show me how to exercise trainer” but the one that will get you on the right track to a healthy lifestyle, mind, body and spirit. The same applies to your learning, stop taking free advice from family and friends that they themselves truthfully don’t know either. Yes, we love our family and friends and we think they have our backs, that’s all well and good. But let me ask you this, would you talk to your doctor about building a house, or would you ask your carpenter for medical advice? Probably not. So why do you think your sister friend who is in the same situation as you can give you sound advice. Talk to an educational expert, a learning coach and educational planner, a life coach, someone who truly knows how to help you map out and guide you to the learning path you truly desire. Friends, I want you to “Say YES to Learning!” and yes, there are many free opportunities thanks to technology but make the investment where it counts. You’re worth it! Hi! My name is Tamara Pradel. I’m the Technology Innovation Educationist and your Personal Learning Lifestyle Coach. 
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AuthorEducation + Technology +Innovation + Tamara Pradel= Learning Your Way Your Time 
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