Odyssey of the Mind

Last night I had choir practice at church to prepare for our weekly Lenten programs. I drove home in the darkness, turned the corner onto my street, and saw the most beautiful sight. Our garage doors were open (picture this--our 'garage' is actually an old carriage house with the big double barn doors, so picture the double barn doors open, all lit up inside), and my high school OM team was there all painting sets. Precious, darling teen-agers with soccer/baseball/softball practice, homework to do, tests to study for, you name it, and they were out there in the dark painting their sets for the OM competition next week-end. Of their own accord, they gathered themselves while I, their coach, was off doing something else, and made some serious progress. Yes, this is the same team that four years ago needed constant monitoring to get ANYTHING done because they were so socially distracted. This is the same group of kids who once disagreed over parts to the point that pouting got in the way of a simple practice. These are the same kids who would frequently hide in closets when break time was over rather than return to practice, not because they didn't like OM but because they were kids fooling around. Now here they are, same kids, painting outside at 8:00 at night, talking like dear friends, and making great progress. And get this, they didn't paint each other's faces, hair, legs or other body parts. I'll tell ya, it brought tears to my eyes. What awesome kids, and what a great OM team they have been over the years.

I'm sure I was a bit more emotional and appreciative because I am also coaching an elementary school team this year, and we had our dress rehearsal earlier that day. NO WAY could I ever leave that crowd anywhere painting anything. Not because they are bad kids, not at all!, but because they are young jedis, and they are learning to use the force. Kids are born crazy creative, off the charts creative, awesome thinking outside the box, but somewhere along the way, it gets a bit squashed under spelling tests, A.R., and other rote school neccessities. So it takes a bit to dust off that part of them and get it shining again, but when they do, it is sheer MAGIC. Which is why I LOVE Odyssey of the Mind.

Our world no longer needs people in the workplace who can recite the presidents and their years in office (unless you are Sarah Palin's coach) and other basic facts. We have that at our fingertips now. What our world needs is people with creativity. People who can look at big problems in a creative way. People who are good problem-solvers. People who are good team-players. And what better life preparation than OM?

Our regional tournament is next week-end, March 10th. We have three teams from Edenton. Three groups of awesome young people who have elected, in their free time, to challenge themselves beyond the ordinary rigors of school. Three sets of parents who have supported this cause and patiently endured all the practices and line recitation at home. Parents who have brought snacks and encouraged the dress rehearsal kids even when they still didn't quite get the problem (because who ever really does? ha ha). Neighbors, ex-OM coaches,friends, and siblings who cheer them on. Because these kiddos are CHEER-WORTHY.

So do me a favor, when you meet OMers, give them big hugs from me. Congratulate them. Encourage them. And do yourself a favor, and HIRE THEM. They are our future leaders, our future inventors, and our future peacemakers. So let me add to the Beattitudes and say, "Blessed are the OMers, for they shall make the world a better place."

The Day After

Well, our Odyssey of the Mind team came in a heartbreaking 8th in the state yesterday. Their long term problem did not go that well (for about a half dozen reasons) although it wasn't bad, it just wasn't their best. Then they weren't sure about the spontaneous... At any rate, I'm proud of my team and happy for them to have had a good season. And what great kids to spend part of their spring break in competition. The only way you can end an OM season happy is if you're first in the world, right? You always think you could have done better. Of course, as the coach, I'm obsessed over it all day, what I could have done differently, but now I need to let it go. Let me say the winning teams were incredible, just amazing, and well-deserving.

I'm most happy that everyone made it home safe and sound. I'm always on edge when we're moving that many kids and parents across the state like that. We had three teams from Edenton, so it was a big crowd.

I'm exhausted and happy to be home although my sofa smells more than usual, so I'm afraid that it always smells this much like my dogs and I'm just used to it when I'm home all the time. Gross. Guess I'll get right on that project. (Yawn) Gotta get back to writing tomorrow, too, although I'll definitely have to do it in another room. And the dogs haven't even been here for a week! Okay, all you people who know me and come to my house, if you come in and smell the dogs, tell me. I'll thank you. Really.

I'm reading THE POSTMISTRESS. Can't remember the author right this second but I'm mesmerized. More after I finish it. Hope Chris remembers to bring my kindle cord home from the beach or I may not get to finish it!

See you tomorrow when we Haiku the news. Thanks for all the emails, thoughts, texts, and prayers about OM. You are all awesome. Go Odyssey of the Mind!

Creativity Expert

Okay, I'd like to direct your attention to the left side of the screen. Do you see Fred Morrison the inventor of the Frisbee? Look at little more closely at the picture. Can you see what he's wearing? Some kind of space suit complete with glass/plastic globe helmet (?) with an antennae on top. Perhaps that is his creativity radar. This picture ran in the paper yesterday because, sadly, ol' Mr. Morrison just died (at 90, so pretty good ticket). But I'm completely intrigued by the picture. I asked a few people what they thought of the picture, and here's what they said.

My 6YO- I think he took a trip to Outer Space and that's where he got the idea for the frisbee. Maybe all the kids in Outer Space play with frisbees except they call them wacka wackas or something.

My 13YO- What a freak!
My 12YO- Nice hat.
My 9 YO- Oh, he died. So no more inventions from him?
Random adult friend- Uh, okay. Did he asphyxiate?
Another random adult friend- Why are you showing me this again? Is that a real picture? Are you going to write about what I say?
Writer friend- Cool outfit. I wonder if that's his thinking cap.

So it made me think about these super creative people in our world and how they really do contribute to our society. Perhaps the Frisbee is not a great example of a life-changing invention, but you would only have to think about ten seconds to come up with some life-changing inventions. So why are we, as a society, so quick to judge, and ridicule and laugh at a picture like that? Okay, it looks, um, wierd. But so what? Why do we all have to look the same? AND does looking the same mean you're NOT creative?

I'll admit. I dress pretty average. I wear regular jeans, regular sweaters, regular jewelry, no creativity, really for me. I admire it, though, and I'd love to be more outwardly creative, but honestly, it's not a priority. However, when I go to writing conferences, I feel the need to be more creative in my appearance. (If only I'd had Mr. Morrison's get-up at Chautauqua...) It's funny because the illustrators are awesome. They have colored hair, piercings, and the coolest clothes ever. They guys are either very creatively metrosexual or completely hot and wearing torn things with paint smudges on them. (I can't even tell you what that does for me)

So here's the thing, chicken or egg, do people dress cool like that because they are more creative in every avenue of their lives? OR does thinking outside the box in every avenue of your life make you more creative? IF I dared to dress a little less, say, predictable, would it actually free me up to be more creative? Would be EXPECT me to be more creative if I dressed the part, then the self-fulfilling prophesy would kick in? I'm really wondering about this.

This time of year, I think a LOT about creativity and pushing, pushing, pushing my Odyssey of the Mind team to be more and more creative. As a result, my writing is better and my creative process seems to be always on go. So couldn't the whole world benefit from such a push? And if so, shouldn't be value creativity more? The kind of hands-on spontaneous problems my kids work on (like build the tallest free-standing structure you can in four minutes with 24 inches of tape and a Sunday paper) would benefit anyone but especially adults. When is the last time your job demanded creativity on that level? Maybe every day which means, couldn't you and your business benefit from growing that creativity? Just a thought.

Maybe I'll start a business, bringing OM concepts into the more boring, tired workplaces. Like accounting firms. Lord knows I want them to get creative when they're doing my taxes, ha ha. Have a great day, and do something creative!!

Raw Humanity

I think most of you know that I coach an Odyssey of the Mind team. I've had basically the same group of kids for a few years, so I know them all pretty well. It's been interesting to see them grow and change and develop over the years. They've gone from boys vs. girls to being completely distracted by the opposite sex to kind of liking each other, then now, finally, settled into great, supportive friends (for the most part--ha ha). Anyway, this year they're in the eighth grade (the grade I taught for a number of years and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED), and they are hilarious. I can't begin to tell you. Do you remember the age when anything remotely sexual-sounding made you laugh hysterically? When I used to teach dangling participles, the kids were just out of their heads in hysterics. I guess 'dangling' is just too much for their poor, hormone-ridden brains. Well, the other day I had to take my OMers on a little information-gathering field trip to the hardware store, so they could price some wood for a backdrop. I know you've probably seen this line of building supplies called DO IT. Well,they thought that was the most hilarious thing they'd ever seen. And of course, on nearly every aisle, there was a sign advertising DO IT supplies, and they had to point to every single one and giggle all over again. It just cracked me up. Raw humanity, these eighth graders. They are everything that is good and pure and honest and real about human beings. Their emotions and responses are so close to the surface all the time; they never make you guess what's going on. It's all right there. And that's so refreshing to me. If they're mad at each other, they say it, deal with it, then it's over. It's cool. Now the flip side is it's really hard to be this age. I remember that, too. They're still so egocentric that everything comes back to them which can really be painful, embarrassing and intense. Can you remember your 8th grade self? Man, these kids are brave and strong and patient and hopeful. It's a tough world in the 8th grade, but these kids are shining lights in the midst of it. Enjoy your week-end, and hug an eighth grader soon. They are precious creatures.

More on the Week-end, Etc.

Have I mentioned how much I love OM? Have I told you how it thrills me to see hundreds of kids in a room cheering for an event that is academic in nature? Do you understand that becoming a team in the pursuit of something educational just gets me crazy with excitement? I was SO PROUD to be at OM on Saturday because I truly believe that it is such a worthwhile program. The closing ceremonies exemplify all the things I love about educating children. Teamwork, self-motivation, creativity, and failing, yes, failing, in the name of learning. For every team there, you know there were dozens of failed attempts at solving every aspect of their problem. For every team, there was one kid who wanted to quit but stuck with it due to loyalty to the team, and in that moment, he was glad he did. For every team, win or lose, enormous learning occurred, connections were formed, confidence was built, and kinships were formed. And for every team, there was a coach, like me, who experienced the thrill of learning all over again through the eyes of a child. Thank you, OM, and everyone involved at every level. To borrow the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing."

Of course, it's not perfect. There are parents who don't support their children or the coach or the team. But where is that NOT so?

All this OM business makes me think about books and the wonder of children's literature. How the long term programs in OM are really about telling a story. It's so amazing to me that the more kids read, the more they absorb the rhythm of storytelling, language, conflict, and resolution. So much in life is about telling a story. When a businessman pitches a product to a potential customer, he's weaving a tale, telling a story about the consumer who needs just this product, after many failed attempts they get the right thing and live happily ever after. The doctor who explains a prognosis to a patient is telling a little tale of how the main character will proceed through a number of obstacles to come out on top in the end. Teachers, of course, are all master storytellers, and their daily performances 'sell' their product year after year. Mothers are also great at weaving a tempting tale. After we do chores, we'll go to the park.

At any rate, it comes back to the value of children's literature. The foundation upon which our society is laid. The fertile soil that sets children's minds ablaze for all the other learning neccessary from spirituality to the sciences. It begins with reading, and reading begins with good books. And good books begin with authors. Well, there you go! Have a great day, my dear friends, may all your mailboxes be filled with requests for fulls.

Odyssey of the Mind AGAIn

This week-end is the regional OM competition, so this week is full of last-minute details with the kids. This process has been very interesting to me. It's my first time coaching although I've been a teacher sponsor before and my kids have been on teams before. I salute all the coaches out there. It's a big job. I hope I've had something to offer these kids. The whole process has taught me a lot about the creative process. Let me try to share for all the artists out there (and you know, you are ALL artists).

First of all, let me say that it drives me crazy when someone says, "I just haven't been in the mood to write/paint/sculpt/play music/whatever lately. I can't get anything done until the mood strikes me." WHAT??? In the arts just like in science, discipline is critical. That's one reason I have this blog: for the discipline. Only in structure can creativity thrive. Sure you can get creative when the mood strikes, but it takes true discipline to take your art to a higher level. Such is true in OM. Were there days when the kids weren't in the 'mood' to be creative? Of course, but some of those days ended up being our most productive. Now it was a struggle for me to keep them on task, and they resisted every step of the way. But that discipline yielded results. Just like Pavlov's dog, as they entered the OM area or OM practice, they got into the mindset. Not to say every minute was 'productive' in our society's sense of the word, but every minute was productive in the OM sense of the word. Basically, I provided structure (okay, FORCED structure) so they could still run willy nilly but within perameters. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a great coach. There are great coaches out there and I wouldn't put me in that category AT ALL. I'd say I learned more than them. So here's what I've gleaned.

1. Everyone wants to run around and eat Doritos when it's time to work. EVERYONE. But at some point you have to stop and work or pay big consequences later.
2. Everyone wants to do things his or her OWN way. But good teamwork is about compromise, hearing lots of perspectives, and learning from it all. That's a discipline, a learned trait.
3. Everyone thinks they know their own part and no one else does, but the bottom line is NO ONE knows their role until they have complete and utter respect and understanding of every other role. TEAMWORK.
4. Feedback is the breakfast of champions. Sometimes it's hard to hear, but it's ALWAYS valuable.

Yesterday the team performed for a group of teachers, OM judges, etc. It went pretty well, but really shined a light on the weak points. So now they're motivated to fix a few things with a few days to go. Anyway, it's like your manuscript feels great until someone asks to see it, and you're like, WAIT.

Anyway, that's all my musings for today. xoxox Hug an OM coach today!

Odyssey of the Mind is upon us

What an adventure it has been coaching a team full of 6th graders for Odyssey of the Mind. I LOVE OM. I'm such a fan of the whole premise, so I thought I would enjoy coaching a team. Plus, I love 6th graders, so what could be better?

It's been a journey, to be sure. These kids are really great kids, for the most part, hard workers and very creative. The thing about OM is the coach can't do anything, not anything. So it's hard to watch these kids try something ten ways when you know the first nine won't work in a million years, especially when you're down to the wire. Our regional competition is next Saturday, March 1st. IT seems I'm the only one with concerns about it, so I guess I should just relax. I want them to feel great about their performance and where they place. Their goal is to make it to state, the next level, but we'll see... The process is fun and fascinating, though, watching their brains work and rework. A common problem in OM (at least from what I've heard around)is the coaches doing too much for the team, but I can't imagine that because you'd miss all the fun (and hilarious) learning processes. (I'll admit, it's probably more hilarious watching from my view than being a kid in it, trying to figure things out, but they've definitely got the fun covered) Although there have been times I've wanted to send them home and paint NEATLY myself. But I've resisted and I'm proud of that fact. Watching them go from 7 individuals to one team is an amazing process and one that may well be a perfect microcosm of peace on earth. It makes you realize that if all the adults in the world could decide on a COMMON SOLUTION, and then all work together, the results would be miraculous and incredible. And it doesn't even matter WHAT the solution is, it's all about everyone working together for a cause greater than him or herself. Learn more about OM at this site: www.odysseyofthemind.com . Regionals are coming up all around the U.S. Catch a tournament near you. Or at least go online and read the problems. Our problem, if anyone is interested, is The Eccentrics.

Have a great day. djk