Welcome to The School of Life! 
                What will you learn today?

                   by Barb McLaughlin

          This School of Life is open year round,
          twenty four hours a day, seven days a
          week.

          Sometimes we are teachers, sometimes 
          students, or other special persons that
          help this school function so that we may
          all graduate eventually.
          

          The school is recreated by your thoughts
          each day upon waking. You must be open-
          minded to understand how limitless
          the education you can receive here truly
          is. There are no limits whatsoever unless
          you allow them to exist by believing
          they  are there.
         

          As you enter the front hallway, you will
          see all manner of awards in display
          cases. The awards are the circumstances
          of our lives, and our environment,
          created by our actions. Some were won by
          yourself, some by fellow students and
          some by teachers and administrative
          staff. Oh, yes, and janitors
          (environmentalists), cafeteria workers
          (farmers) and maintenance staff
          (laborers, scientists, conStruction
          workers, etc.) have very special awards
          all their own. You may also take those
          roles occasionally. The parents, family,
          friends and childcaregivers come for
          special events to learn and teach, too.
          There is as much to be learned in
          those important jobs as in the role of
          student! Love awarded for love given,
          respect awarded for respect given, and so
          on. You have to have bestowed an award to
          receive one. No awards are more important
          than any others in this hall filled with
          so many.
         

          The library past the hall of awards 
          contains all the collective knowledge of
          mankind. Open the doors to wisdom any
          time you wish - this library never
          closes! It holds your thoughts. You are
          free to read anything and decide what you
          believe to be true. View videos, listen
          to music, enjoy yourself! We learn
          through entertainment, too!
         

          There is a gymnasium in this School of
          Life and sports and gymnastic equipment
          for competitive games or solitary
          workouts as suits you. Competition
          teaches many lessons as does working out
          alone, or just being in stillness in
          meditation. A healthy body helps your
          mind and spirit function at optimum
          levels together.
         

          Classrooms exist with structured
          schedules and pre-assigned learning
          materials. You are free to enroll in
          these or you may choose self-paced
          courses for which you choose the format
          and learning materials and learn through
          experience. You may stay in classes as
          long as you wish, but if you choose to
          move on before you have learned the
          lessons assigned you in a class, please
          be assured you will find yourself back in
          that class in one lifetime or another.
          Remember, you chose your classes, whether
          you are conscious of that fact or not!
          Your guidance counselor only advised you.
         

          The cafeteria here serves anything your
          heart desires to fuel your body. Choose
          wisely! Help replenish the food supplies
          without waste so others may continue to
          be nourished here. There are even lessons
          to learn here in the cafeteria!
         

          There is a supply room with all manner of
          art and office supplies with which to be
          creative.
         

          Next we come to the office - your
          conscience. Here your records are kept;
          the story of your life. Others may store
          information about you here, but the only
          records that truly matter are the ones
          you keep. What is true for you? Have you
          punished yourself for lack of
          participation? For tardiness? For
          absences? For mistreating others here at
          school? You are the one who doles out
          your punishments through your actions.
          You teach others how to treat you by your
          beliefs about yourself.
         

          There is a detention room adjoining the
          office of your conscience. You put
          yourself in detention out of a lack of
          understanding of how to make the most of
          this place, this School of Life!
         

          Ah, yes , and the restrooms and showers
          are here for us to wash and flush away
          the cares and grunge of daily life that
          build up if we let them!
         

          The playground is always open here, too!
          Children, as well as adults learn from
          play. Enjoy this life!
         

          The education here is open to anyone with
          a thirst for knowledge. Some think they 
          are prohibited from attending, though no
          one is! Take advantage of it! You are one
          of the lucky ones who is aware of its
          open enrollment! We can all be at the
          head of the class together, if we only
          realize it.