Experience...It's All About the EXPERIENCE!

My friend Tiffany and I just took a short trip over our holiday break to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Some may ask ...."why would you go there?" Well, to be honest, we really didn't know what to expect, but we had never been there before and we are always up for an adventure.
.........background of Tiffany (my bff) We have been friends for as long as I can remember. Some may call her my PIC (partner in crime) but if you know us both very well, when we travel we are the modern day Thelma and Louise...We were given that nickname by an older friend of ours when we started going of frequent random vacas and road trips together...to say the least, we have A LOT of FUN....but we wouldn't steal or kill or any bad junk like that....please....we are teachers!!!!

Sooooo....how does this relate to education? For some educators it might not at all...for others they will understand exactly what I am talking about.... So here goes...

It's all about our experiences in life that mold us into who we are. Through experiences we are able to expand our everyday outlook on life, but most importantly....experience allows us to have a more in depth knowledge or outlook about the topics that we talk about with our students.

If I don't travel and experience new things, it will be more difficult to encourage and inspire my students to travel and create their experiences. We want our students to dream for themselves, but what about us? What happens when we stop dreaming about the things in life that we want to see, experience or explore? If we stop wanting those things we will dry up or become stagnant? I don't know the answer to this and I hope that I will never have to....I want to grow as much and as often as I can...

During our trip to Hot Springs I did a few things that I had NEVER done before in my life....
1. I took a bath/spa in a bathhouse..Extremely interesting to say the least...I will probably give a more detailed version later once I have truly reflected on the overall experience...
2. Visited the oldest bar in Arkansas, The Ohio Club..Built in 1905
3. Dug for crystals and visited Mount Ida
4.Stayed at the Historic Arlington Hotel

Met some very interesting people and learned about the history of the town...

Our students are thirsty for knowledge...not just facts that they can Google, but experiences that could inspire them to GO and DO!!! What an awesome gift that could be for your students. All I ask is that you take a moment and think about it and be AWESOME!!! Experience is a great way to grow, learn and change the world....

Love and Peace,
Leigh