“You clearly have the capacity to be kind,” my 5th grade daughter’s principal reads from his moving up ceremony speech. “Yes!” I wanted to stand up and cheer. Kindness is a capacity, a skill, that we can cultivate and strengthen through practice. Children learn early on the value of kind thinking and actions through watchingContinue reading “Growing Kindness in Schools”
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Celebrating Connection: What Grannie Taught Me at Her 100th Birthday Party
Throughout history, the image of a grandmother has been one of a wise old woman who holds the family together while teaching important life lessons. At least once a month I can be heard saying, “As my grandmother says, ‘Put up or shut up.’” Yes, my grandmother taught me to either do something or simplyContinue reading “Celebrating Connection: What Grannie Taught Me at Her 100th Birthday Party”
May We Be Patient: Finding Compassion for Our Inner Sisyphus
Patience and I were enemies for most of my life. Like many of us, I wanted things done yesterday. I wanted to achieve my goals without much effort. I wanted. I wanted. I wanted. NOW! And when “now” did not happen, I felt like a failure or was disappointed or criticized myself harshly. Patience isContinue reading “May We Be Patient: Finding Compassion for Our Inner Sisyphus”
Lessons from Mother’s Day
On Monday, I asked my female friends about their mother’s day. When they reciprocated, I found myself torn between telling the truth or sugar-coating it. The truth is that it was one Sunday I’d like to forget. I was not feeling well, to begin with. My husband was sweet and reserved a lunch time beforehandContinue reading “Lessons from Mother’s Day”
The Courage to Speak Up: From the “Hear Their Voices” Series
The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people. ~Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his activismContinue reading “The Courage to Speak Up: From the “Hear Their Voices” Series”
Stop the Shooting: The First in the Series “Hear Their Voices”
Hear Their Voices: Young People as Our Teachers I have been inspired by the courageous outcry of the young people marching, speaking out, and mobilizing for social change. It is the passionate voices of young people that was the impetus for beginning a career in education. I learned so much from my students and nowContinue reading “Stop the Shooting: The First in the Series “Hear Their Voices””
Fostering Caring Relationships: A Must for School Safety Reform
School safety has once again become a hot news topic. Students, teachers and parents are mobilizing to make their collective voice heard. We need change! Lets’ grow our voice! This blog entry is not about gun policy (which is significant and in need of change). Instead, it is about relationships between students and teachers. SchoolContinue reading “Fostering Caring Relationships: A Must for School Safety Reform”
The Snowflake Moment
Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment. ~ Thich Nhat Hahn This morning my kids and I decided to walk to school in the snowfall. For the past several cold days, we have driven. While I wanted to avoid theContinue reading “The Snowflake Moment”
Compassion Cultivation: A Poem
Compassion Cultivation Underneath the radiant sun peeking through the thick foliage, I sit. The small ripples of the water kiss the edge of the land. Within the calming swish of Somes Sound, I meditate Inhaling the suffering of all who feel alone and unworthy. I see a woman crawling from exhaustion, caught in a tornadoContinue reading “Compassion Cultivation: A Poem”
Growing Kindness in Our Families & Classrooms
Try to perform a simple act of kindness every day ~ Sharon Salzberg Last year on Thanksgiving, my kids and I created a December Acts of Kindness Calendar. My hope was to cultivate kindness in my children. This experiment turned out to be an effective way for me to talk about kindness with myContinue reading “Growing Kindness in Our Families & Classrooms”