Right in Front of Me

Posted on by Katie

It was never my intention for the blog to be about politics or to try to convince you to believe what I believe. It’s about living a better life, but my life has been pretty great already. There are a thousand things I take for granted everyday. One of my lifelong favorite activities is to read. Books made up a huge portion of my childhood.  I used to get in trouble for READING. Not drugs, vandalism or violence. Reading. That’s how much I love it. I was recently chatting with a coworker about our shared love of reading and she threw a little tidbit at me that shocked me.

There are more than 150 schools in Chicago that do not have libraries.

I honestly did not believe her so I called up my bfff who happens to be a teacher in Chicago. Her reply? “Yeah I work in one.”  I was floored. Ok ok, I grew up in a northern suburb and I went to a private school that had a library and a librarian and a computer lab that had functioning computers. I guess I just assumed that the kids that lived an hour south of me had the same stuff. My school was not rich. The families in my community were not Rockefellers, but we had what we needed. My brothers went to a public high school with a 99% graduation rate.  So I was stunned.

I told my coworker about my teacher friend and she bought her books for the classroom! She did such a thoughtful, wonderful act with such attention to detail.  My friend teaches a class of 6th grade students in an extended day program.  Her class consists of one student who reads at a sophomore level, 6 in special ed, 3 who understand but don’t speak English and the rest read at a 2, 3 or 4 grade level.  So my coworker bought an enormous range of books for the enormous difference in reading levels in the class. She is truly a sweet woman.

I rounded up some books from my siblings that they’ve grown out of and a few from other families, but nothing compares to what my coworker did for a teacher and students she doesn’t even know. CPS accepts donations of a range of items, but we decided to give the books to my friend to keep in her class and use as she pleases during her classes. It’s nice to know where a donation is going and to know that it’ll be used. Some schools in Chicago have libraries but no librarians.  This means that library time and the support a librarian can offer to both teachers and students is missing.

In Chicago, though, it’s no surprise that these schools are lacking in staff and funding.  I could also go on and on about how education is the solution to almost all our problems (mental health awareness, infant mortality rate, violence, corrupt government), but I know I would bore you. I could also be reminding you of the disparate conditions of the city I grew up loving.  It overwhelms me and makes me feel like there is nothing little old me can do.  These are not my point. I guess what I want you to walk away from this post with is that there is one woman who saw a need and out of the goodness in her heart, filled it.  Her donated set of Roald Dahl books might make a difference in an eleven year old’s life (like they changed mine). That’s something to be joyous about.

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Let’s Get Political

Posted on by Katie

Before you start rolling your eyes and fleeing from my blog, let me just say a little something. This post isn’t to try to convince you to vote for who I’ll be voting for or to brainwash you. I’m not going to mention any candidates or even argue for or against any beliefs. Hear me out.

By now we all know what this blog is about: living a healthier, happier, more independent life. In my life in general I do my best to be a good person.  I do things with the express intention to not harm you or me or anyone. So when the topic of climate change comes up I kind of lose it. I honestly don’t think it’s a topic most people can speak on because, quite frankly, most people aren’t scientists. Most scientists are not studying the climate or its possible changes. So why don’t we all the butt out and think for a second.

Here are a few things I consider when thinking about climate change:

  1. We are all in the same Earth boat.
  2. We are using natural resources faster than the Earth can create them.
  3. There is no con to living a cleaner life.
  4. There is no con to having a cleaner planet.
  5. Leaving a better Earth behind for posterity is a good thing.

 

That being said, I’m not sure where the argument is. I don’t see why politicians are squabbling about climate change. Whether or not you think it is real doesn’t matter, there is no reason to perpetuate unhealthy practices. A healthy planet and population should be prioritized before the money you can make keeping it dirty. If, hypothetically, our emissions are not harming the environment and causing global warming, they are still absolutely terrible for us. They are the most literal form of carcinogens. It’s pollution and it is hurting you and me. So forget the politics, improve our world so we can be healthy.