Learning from Linda

I got to do the training this week for the summer NASA Experience and met some great people. I met my student advisor, Maegan (who is a hoot and a holler!) and also a couple other chaperones and their advisors.  Linda, who will be chaperoning at the Glenn Research Center in Ohio, was one I got to spend a lot of time with and learned a lot of things. She is a beautiful person, inside and out.  I want to share some of the wisdom I got from her.  

-Have self control when eating. She had gall-bladder surgery and can only eat certain things. She was so good and responsible!  Gosh, I would've wanted to eat, eat, eat. Oh wait, I do. 

-Be money-wise.  Her husband, the main bread-winner, lost his job due to the economy. She is just so positive it's infectious. Her husband even sold her motorcycle when she was at training! She's made a lot of sacrifices but does so willingly. 

-Laugh lots. She laughs a lot. I love it!

-Wear Protective Gear.  Like a helmet and full leather (even in Arizona) while biking. She was always safe riding her motorcycle. Noted. :)

-Love unconditionally. She has some obnoxious people in her extended family yet no matter how much she gets treated poorly or anything she just loves them. Love them like Jesus would, she said. She focuses on the good things and just praises that.  That takes a lot of charity!  She told me stories, and goodness, it would be hard to be so charitable!

-Be bold in love.   She was the first one to tell her husband (a shy guy) that she liked him.  He ignored her for a few days...then she asked him what was up and he said "oh, I thought we were dating."   She had to teach him a thing or two but wasn't afraid to be bold. No games there. 

-Tip the hotel maid. I never thought to do this, but case in point- she left $2/day and got shampoos and stuff everyday.  I did not and never got one more thing (for 4 days!) and didn't even get garbage taken out.   Yup. A little kindness goes a long ways.  Besides, they only get min. wage.  I always put the 'don't wash my sheets' thing out (which would save a little work, right?). But I will tip now.

-Always be positive.  I can't remember one negative thing she said. Even when things sucked, she was still really positive.  And she never had anything bad to say about anyone.  I want to be like that!  

-It's okay to be assertive.  She's not afraid to stand up for herself in a professional manner (at the right time, and appropriately done) and ask for positive criticism along with the negative she always got (from a different job). She made an agreement for things to change or she'd change jobs.   

-Have faith in people.  She's sticking with the job having faith that that person will change as she said she would.  

-Recognize blessings. Okay, so working for NASA is a big deal but I think I often forget that.  But it is!  She's so excited, as we should be.   I don't know why I'm not more grateful for this awesome opportunity along with the great pay.  I mean, I am, but compared to Linda I'm not!    I was hired in early April and the other two chaperones with me weren't hired until May or last Friday (they had a chaperone cancelled due to a family emergency Friday!!).  And I'm much much younger than them.  I should be very grateful because I don't have the same teaching experience or wisdom as they do!

Anyways, that was some wisdom from the lovely Linda in the four days we spent together.  Thanks, Linda!