Educational Leader | Speaker | Writer
In college, I purchased a beta fish to keep me company in my dorm room. I'd never owned any sort of animal, so it was my first time navigating the waters to care for someone else. With the recommendations from the store associate, I purchased the tank, special beta fish blood worms (not sure if... Continue Reading →
There is an old quote that reads: "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." Zen Proverb The meaning of the quote comes from a story about a young boy that desired to become a monk in order to attain enlightenment and a full life. As an apprentice in the monastery,... Continue Reading →
The impending end to the calendar year begins to fill with conversations about New Year's Resolutions and #OneWord declarations. While those can be opportunities for life-altering moments, they don't always provide a sense of clear direction of how to proceed. And, while the new year provides an opportunity for a fresh start with a clean... Continue Reading →
I don't enjoy buying clothes. I used to, but now it feels like a hassle with finding the right size and trying it on only to find out I've gained more weight than in the past. But, I had to buy a few new suits in the past month. It's not that I outgrew the... Continue Reading →
While I love Ohio, I don't love the gloomy winter months. I'm learning that it isn't the cold that gets to me, it's the lack of sun. Give me 20 degrees colder in exchange for a sunny sky, and I'll take it! So, to combat the winter, I'm also realizing the need to do something... Continue Reading →
French impressionist Claude Monet is known by his amazing brush strokes to create such vibrant works, such as the Water Lilies (right) from his home. Yet, many may not have known that he had eye problems in the form of cataracts that prevented clear eyesight when creating his best works of art. In battling the... Continue Reading →
In elementary school, it was tennis. I had so much love for the game of tennis, that I was absorbed in it. I was eager to get on the tennis courts every day in the summer and played against anyone who was willing. I remember crying if it rained! If no one was around, I... Continue Reading →
Introduction A definite highlight of my teaching career was also spent on tennis courts coaching our student athletes and making positive connections with students. A fundamental rule for any tennis player is to stay out of “no man’s land”; the area between the baseline and the service line of a tennis court. So, the goal... Continue Reading →
In the book Wired to Resist, Author Britt Andreatta shares insights on the impact brain science has in helping leaders to work through the change process. Fundamentally, the brain is "wired to resist" changes in order to seek comfort and normalcy. As an illustration, Andreatta makes a comparison between someone leading the change process and... Continue Reading →
I can still imagine the way Bill's eyes scolded me for interfering with a magical moment for my own son. Bill had excitedly extended an offer to personally guide my son Jaiden and me through the community nature preserve. Jaiden, 7 years old at the time, filled the time hiking around the woods and stream... Continue Reading →
Neil Gupta, Ed.D. 