Here we sit, barely into summer in the northern hemisphere, and I’m talking about an October event? You’ve made vacation plans. You’ve arranged family activities for the whole summer. You’re glad school is out for a few months, and the last thing you want to consider is October. You may be shouting at me, “Get a life!”
I know. I do have a life, and it’s been difficult to make time for my blogs lately because of that life, but still….
National Character Counts Week should be top priority in our families, schools, and communities, but how can it be if we never think about it until the last minute? Even our President’s annual proclamation frequently occurs when the week is upon us – or even into the week itself. It’s too late then to get creative and make it a powerful, life-changing event, but that’s what it should be.
National Character Counts Week, says the President’s proclamation, should be observed with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. I agree, but how will that happen if you and I take no action until the last minute? Is it enough to simply continue our regular character education program? If we plan ahead, couldn’t we add many ceremonies, activities, and programs that would give us all a craving for more character?
Cravings aren’t easy to ignore! For some inexplicable reason, I have an intense craving for vegetables and non-sweet foods this week. It started last Saturday morning while we were away from home. I simply had to have a breakfast without anything sweet. Later in the day, I accepted a milkshake, but soon wished I hadn’t. I left part of it in the container. At home, I found a large bottle of vegetable juice in the refrigerator, and drank it with relish while my husband had sweet grape juice. By today, my craving had reached the point where I was happy to forego all desserts – ending my meal on one more bite of veggies. That’s what a craving will do for you.
National Character Counts Week should be such a grand and memorable event that it develops a character craving in families, schools, and communities – that it impels us all to seek out character books. It should be so exciting that we want character gear to help everyone get into the spirit of the celebration. That is not likely to happen, though, unless we plan now – in our leisure. If we wait until the summer ends, it won’t happen. If we wait until we’re back in the autumn schedule, it won’t happen. It we wait until we are busy again, there will be little time to plan – and probably no special observances.
You are probably one of many who have spent hours planning summer activities. I hope you enjoy them all fully. I hope, too, that you will take time during a few leisure hours – between those great summer activities – to think ahead to National Character Counts Week.
Imagine having such a grand celebration that your community or school – or even your family is captured by the fancy of the media. Imagine setting an example like that for the whole nation. What a difference you could make!
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?