Elementary

Antiques for Hire

Jeanna G1 Comment

My friend and I, both Gen Xers, were talking about the job market and what makes us seasoned veterans qualified versus those who are just now entering the workforce. The world is changing so quickly, and we are feeling very outdated. Even so, we know we’re valuable. I guess we can sympathize with antiques?

Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m qualified to do outside of my degree and the career path I’ve been on for 20 years. What skills do I have that are even relevant anymore? There are parallels between what my daughter, an Alpha, and I both learned in elementary school, but I can’t help but notice that some things I think are important are being disregarded.

My friend and I questioned if anyone actually reads résumés, and then imagined what would happen if everyone’s résumés were based on what we picked up in elementary school. Here’s mine:

Education:

Elementary

⁃ Achieved “Moonbeams” reading level

⁃ Memorized the multiplication table

⁃ GPA: Outstanding

Job experience:

⁃ Dog walking

⁃ Lawn mowing

Skills:

⁃ Plays well with others

⁃ Rides a 10-speed with no hands for long distances

⁃ Fifer (Yes, I know it’s an instrument that hasn’t been popular since the American Revolution.)

⁃ Check writing

⁃ Nice penmanship, including cursive

⁃ Colors inside the lines

⁃ Juggles citrus fruits

⁃ Knows how to carry on a face-to-face conversation

⁃ Washes hands for 30 seconds with soap and warm water

⁃ Follows directions, especially when baking cookies

⁃ Great whistler

⁃ Reads analog clocks

⁃ Utilizes polite manners and social etiquette

⁃ Demonstrates that sharing is caring

Accomplishments:

⁃ Won the 50 yard dash at field day

⁃ Caught an 11” rainbow trout

⁃ 1st place in a cow hair clipping contest at the county fair

⁃ Spelling Bee class champion

Volunteerism:

– Lots of chores around the house

References:

Ms. Sturges, Kindergarten Teacher:

“Jeanna is an interesting girl. She matured as a sharing, contributing, helpful member of the group.”

Ms. Davis, 5th Grade Teacher:

“Jeanna is tops all around – pretty, bright, conscientious. The world could use some more like her.”

Now how would this compete with the résumé of a Millennial, Gen Z, or Alpha? Would I have the edge? Sounds like the makings of a new game show!

Enuf

Jeanna GLeave a comment

On a first grade spelling test, I spelled one word wrong.

Enough. E-N-U-F. It was a forehead slapper of a mistake. I resented that word for many, many years. But something changed somewhere along the way, and that word has become one of my favorites for many reasons.

Enough has served as a limit, like of my patience, and has therefore been a trigger for necessary change.

Enough has meant fullness; full belly, full heart, full cup.

Enough has helped me recognize peace and contentment.

Enough has allowed me to share.

As long as enough is enough, then I’ve had enough, and that is enough of that.

Turn On Your Listening Ears

Jeanna G1 Comment

I did a lot of listening today. Which, if you know me, is no small feat.

I didn’t know that my day would involve so much listening. In fact, I didn’t think I’d have much human contact at all, based on my assigned tasks for the day. But I encountered 9 different humans, in 9 different places, and without prompt, they began telling me stories. And none of the plots were light; they all posed a question or concern to consider, even though some weren’t expressed out loud.

By the end of the day, I felt like Lucy van Pelt sitting at her psychiatric booth listening to Charlie Brown and the gang. Her advice wasn’t usually good, but her peers sat and talked to her anyway, I’m guessing because she was simply there.

My friends will agree, I’m not a good listener, but yesterday my antenna must have been receiving a clear signal from my kindergarten teacher. The message: Turn on your listening ears. So I did. And it felt good to be present and to be trusted. And I hope they felt good to be heard. Maybe Fulghum is right, and all we really do need to know was taught in Kindergarten!