I’ve decided to number my thank you notes since I am endlessly grateful for the lessons I learn from our furry friends. Dogs really are some of our most humble teachers. First off, dogs nail compassion. They listen and snuggle and they’re authentic. They stay by our sides and offer loving presence even in the darkest of times. Dogs live in the moment and … Read More Thank You Note To Dogs #2
Waiting at a stoplight the other morning, I found myself face-to-face with a bumper sticker promoting kindness. I felt grateful for the reminder and I began thinking about what it really means to be kind… Kindness lifts our spirits and inspires us. It connects us, and we believe in it so much that we go out of our way to teach young children to … Read More Kindness Matters
“Anger isn’t allowed at school.” ~ 4th Grade Student I’ve heard students identify themselves as “angry” or “bad” before they’ve even made it through elementary school. It got me thinking about the messages they’re receiving. Over the years, it’s become clearer to me how often kids confuse anger with the consequences generated when they act out of anger and rage. They haven’t learned to … Read More A…is for Anger
A few years ago, I was on a mindfulness retreat and one of the teachers talked about staying true to what you know, trusting your heart and listening to others. She said, “We are all suffering from terminal uniqueness.” We often have a sense that we’re the only one with a particular challenge and that no one understands what we’re going through. We feel … Read More Permission To Be Human
Have you ever sat down to breathe and relax only to find you’re entirely worked up? Perhaps you already knew that which is why you chose to sit down and breathe in the first place. Other times, we don’t have the slightest idea how charged we are in body and mind until we sit down and get quiet. When I take time to get … Read More Breathe…
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. “ – Jane Goodall Thank you for leaders who model compassion for themselves and others, who foster connection, humility and try to stay grounded. Thank you for leaders who … Read More Mindful Leadership
As we continue to grow our mindful awareness at school, I’ve been teaching my first graders how to pay attention to thinking. To introduce the practice, we sit in a circle, settle in to our mindful bodies and take a few deep breaths together. Next, I ring the bell and we try to be still and quiet as we notice any thoughts we’re having. … Read More What’s On Your Mind?
Connecting With Heart 