I don’t know about you, but when I see the word “Philosophy,” I quietly want to scream and run away. On the other hand, as one who has always believed in learning by doing, I find “Zen” to be more appropriate.
I’ve worn out a lot of boots coming to grips with what I believe in life. About me, my brother-in-law once said, “He must really have something to think about if he needs to walk that far.” There’s some truth to that, but I also just like to go to remote and quiet places.
If only life were this straight and well-marked
In recent years, I’ve become increasingly self-reliant. That’s a product of who I am and what I believe, but also a necessity due to the lifestyle that I’ve chosen. As someone who frequently chooses to be alone, I cannot always rely on others to save me. Thus, I spend a great deal of time avoiding unnecessary risks and preparing contingency plans for when they do occur. Some people would consider long solo trips to be foolhardy, but I prepare for the worst, and make sure that I understand the situations that I’m entering.
I try to encourage my students to develop their independence as well. It’s true that Internet access means help is never far away, but nothing says competence like being able to sit down and complete a task quickly and effectively with minimal support required. If students cannot do that, then I’ve failed to do my job.