Training to Take Back Home

I had the privilege of speaking to a group of K-State Extension Agents at their conference at K-State.  I think this may have been my first experience ever of being on the list of speakers during a conference.  It was an amazing experience.  I found the age and group of people who know how to ask questions.  We had a wonderful hour and I loved talking to people afterward and getting to make connections.  That is always my favorite part.  I know I have a message to communicate and a platform I want to spread around the state.  But, rather than speak in front of a room and then just leave and hope they understood what I was trying to say, I love getting to have a conversation afterward.  What I have learned through this year is that I am more comfortable having conversations rather than just speaking "to" a crowd.  I want us all to leave on the same page and questions are necessary for clarification much of the time.

I was thrilled to get to have a conversation about the best way to share my platform message, "Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude" and how to best share it with all ages and all learning styles.  I think I have figured out ways to share it with visual and auditory learners, but asked for advice on how to share it with kinestheic learners.  I got some great ideas and can't wait to use them at future events.  Keep watching the blog and see if you can find them in future posts.

They even wanted to hear the book I have been using:
The Secret of Saying Thanks

I have had some previous experience working with the people at K-State who put on this training.  I am one of the additional survivor stories on their TBI Options website.  What an amazing place to get information about TBI (traumatic brain injury) and find resources across the state.  The experience of filming for that website was such a positive one, I couldn't wait to come back and share my platform this time.  If anyone out there needs information on Traumatic Brain Injury, check out the TBI Options website and/or contact me if you would like a real live TBI Survivor to come to your event.
http://www.tbioptions.ksu.edu/

Here are some pictures of getting to meet people and schedule future events.  FUN!!  This event helps with the training of K-State Extension Agents and they then take what they learned back to their own counties around the state.  I'm so excited that I might get to be a part of some of these events around the state.

Thankful thoughts for today:
Movies in the classroom
Projects
Support from friends/family

"If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped."
              Author Unknown

Talented Kansas

Who would have expected that the County Fair in Western Kansas is a place to see great talent??  Well, I would have guessed that, but I have lived here most of my life.  In fact, my own musical training mostly took place in Western Kansas.  So, it didn't surprise me one bit to see talent at the fair and the support of the crowd.  

I was fortunate enough to get to announce the winners of the youth portion of the Norton Idol at the Norton County Fair.  What an amazing turnout and what a great start of talented singers that I hope will go far.  The youth division and the adult division Norton Idol participants were blessed to get some great constructive advice from the judges.  And, I can't even call it constructive criticism, because it was all so nicely delivered, I'm not sure you can say there was anything critical about it.

Then, it was time for the Talent Show at the Trego County Fair.  While the Norton Idol was all about singing, the Trego County fair was a variety of talent, including some "commercial" non-judged skits that had the audience rolling with laughter.  Even as I kept my eyes on the clouds, I don't know that I have laughed so much for a long time.  Fortunately, the rain held off and let us have an amazing talent show.  What a great display of local talent and talent from exhibitors at the fair.  If you haven't experienced the talent of Western Kansas, you are missing out on something great.

Announcing the winners

And the winner is . . . Three Guys and a Guitar.  

Check out their performance.

Thankful thoughts for today:

Cool temps

Completion of my Learning Coach notebook

My son, the chef

Identifying the problem

Quiet

Purple fall attire

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
                      Epicetetus