I love this! Light is more powerful than darkness...so I agree .we gotta be hopeful..and we gotta KEEP SHINING ♥️💪🌟💚💛💙💪🤎🖤💜♥️✌️🌟! UNITED WE STAND ♥️🌟! Keep shining dear one..
Thanks for sharing this Gracie. Timely, given today's news. I think no matter where we are, here or overseas, we must speak up where and when we can. And yes, doom scrolling is not good. I read the budget bill news this morning. Wish I had hadn't...
I hear you, Pamela. I was able to roll my eyes and wonder about the clowns running around (but my heart still aches for people whose lives will be made even more difficult by this action).
I'm so excited about this I don't know where to start! Retired teacher here, I used to teach a lot about curiosity in primary grades because kids have it so naturally, and it's one of the most useful mindsets there are. It's the perfect antithesis to fear, especially right now. When you can be curious about someone, what they think, what makes them tick, it's a bridge. And gosh, don't we need some of those right now? Your post was sent to me by a friend, which was sent to her by a friend, and now I've sent it out to about 20 other people. And I have no doubt they are sending it out as well. I'm always tickled when I experience that revelations of someone's heart and mind. Too much to write here to tell you how this reverberated amongst the people I know and how it blooms, but I wanted you to know how much awards are helping!
Thank you for your kind words, Valkyrie. Yes, kids naturally come by curiosity and encouraging that is wonderful. I have a couple of preschool aged grandchildren and I love their endless whys. I always answer the whys even if my answer sometimes is I just don't know. I keep my initial explanation simple and then invite further questions or let it go depending on the child's interests. I want to encourage the curiosity, for sure.
And we adults absolutely benefit from cultivating curiosity. I like staying keenly aware of all that is unknown. It's usueful to be able to let things unfold while being curious about what comes next. As for bridges. YES! Yes to being open and thoughtful to other people, especially if their background or their life is different from mine. I am not threatened by that (unless they demonstrate to me that they are cruel , greedy, mean, whatever). I think the world is a better place when we make room for people to be who they are and we love them as they are.
Thank you for sahing the piece with anyone who might find it helpful.
Oh my, so much twinning in thought here! And that in itself is so exciting, there are so many good people, so much kindness and generosity compassion and empathy and to be able to connect with others, knowing that it's not just you, for example, but the hundreds of other people or like-minded or more, It's sort of mind blowing. But so encouraging, and we certainly need that!
BTW, I spent about thirty years in public education. I started out as a middle school English/Social studies person and later moved to the exciting (for me) position of teacher in a K-1-2 classroom. I kept the kids for three years and we really had great times in that classroom. I am still in touch with some of the families that served in that period. After ten years of that, I was asked to move to the middle school in our district as school counselor. I ended up doing a lot of admin stuff but , again, I LOVED the job. I love middle school kids almost as much (if not more? ) as I loved the primary kids. Middle school kids get such a bad rap but really? Really, they have been on the planet 11, 12, 13 years and they are just trying to figure it out. I enjoyed listening to them and learning from them (ditto the 5,6,7 year old kids).
Thank you for sharing your wisdom! One strategy that helps me greatly as an older woman in my seventies is to not read the news until my 'tea time' at 4 pm in the afternoon. I'm writing a book and in order to meet upcoming publishing deadlines, I can't afford to let myself go down the awful 'news rabbit holes'! So I get my writing done for the day, then enjoy my decaf Earl Grey. Afterwards, I may go to the YMCA to swim or do some restorative yoga and meditation at home as I slip into my evening. It's been a routine that has saved me in more ways than one!
May I have permission to share your post with attribution to you?
Thank you for the encouraging words, Rebecca. I am learning , as well, to limit my reading of the news. I tend to read early in the morning and then just set it aside. My goal for the rest of the day is to counteract the poison of the news by finding and sharing beauty and kindness. I also find yoga, meditation, and being outside to be useful. I am better able to stay in the moment with those tools.
Thank you for reading and responding. Yes, feel free to share the post with anyone who might need some encouragment.
I think it’s a good way to look at things. It does break my heart, though. I could (and I was) struggling with the toxic betrayals of this administration, but I have found that righteous anger is energizing, and I am willing to fight. My great grandmother marched for the vote and that makes me proud. I want to tell my grandson that I was part of this fight, for him.
Righteous anger is energizing and that energy can be put to constructive use. I recognize that curiosity can also transform into action. What I will not be is a hater. No value to me in hating. I certainly don't have to tolerate or accept hateful actions but no need to put more hate out there. I'll see you (figuratively, anyway) at the demonstrations! Thanks for reading and responding.
If asked what I did to resist in these troubled and tumultuous times, I would be be honest and tell my grandchildren that I did hardly anything. I would tell St Peter at the pearly gates the same and not hang my head. Perhaps they would forgive me or perhaps not. It would not matter so long as I stayed true to myself and spoke honestly. I already have forgiven myself, so it does not matter if all the world and all the deities condemn my inactivity. This is a crucial step that all must eventually take- to forgive outselves for being ourselves. Never ask God or Allah or Buddha or Gaia to grant you forgiveness. You must cut that red thread yourself. But it is absolutely crucial that we, to our last days here, and beyond, never cease striving to be the best person we are capable of being. Fail that and we fail ourselves and this bright shimmering world.
Michael, I have been thinking about your comment since I first read it yesterday. I disagree that you have done hardly anything. I don't know much about you but your resistance is surely in the love and kindness that you clearly show to the world. The way you share what you know to be true has benefitted me and, I am certain, many other people. Resistance isn't only about protests or phone calls or bitching and moaning. It's also about love and light and bestowing those on the world. Thank you for that. I can't imagine St Peter at the pearly gates finding fault with you, my friend.
Your encouragement to be the best self we are capable of being is what I mean. That is truth and I need remeinders.
I love this! Light is more powerful than darkness...so I agree .we gotta be hopeful..and we gotta KEEP SHINING ♥️💪🌟💚💛💙💪🤎🖤💜♥️✌️🌟! UNITED WE STAND ♥️🌟! Keep shining dear one..
Thank you, Nancy!
Thanks for sharing this Gracie. Timely, given today's news. I think no matter where we are, here or overseas, we must speak up where and when we can. And yes, doom scrolling is not good. I read the budget bill news this morning. Wish I had hadn't...
I hear you, Pamela. I was able to roll my eyes and wonder about the clowns running around (but my heart still aches for people whose lives will be made even more difficult by this action).
I'm so excited about this I don't know where to start! Retired teacher here, I used to teach a lot about curiosity in primary grades because kids have it so naturally, and it's one of the most useful mindsets there are. It's the perfect antithesis to fear, especially right now. When you can be curious about someone, what they think, what makes them tick, it's a bridge. And gosh, don't we need some of those right now? Your post was sent to me by a friend, which was sent to her by a friend, and now I've sent it out to about 20 other people. And I have no doubt they are sending it out as well. I'm always tickled when I experience that revelations of someone's heart and mind. Too much to write here to tell you how this reverberated amongst the people I know and how it blooms, but I wanted you to know how much awards are helping!
Thank you for your kind words, Valkyrie. Yes, kids naturally come by curiosity and encouraging that is wonderful. I have a couple of preschool aged grandchildren and I love their endless whys. I always answer the whys even if my answer sometimes is I just don't know. I keep my initial explanation simple and then invite further questions or let it go depending on the child's interests. I want to encourage the curiosity, for sure.
And we adults absolutely benefit from cultivating curiosity. I like staying keenly aware of all that is unknown. It's usueful to be able to let things unfold while being curious about what comes next. As for bridges. YES! Yes to being open and thoughtful to other people, especially if their background or their life is different from mine. I am not threatened by that (unless they demonstrate to me that they are cruel , greedy, mean, whatever). I think the world is a better place when we make room for people to be who they are and we love them as they are.
Thank you for sahing the piece with anyone who might find it helpful.
Oh my, so much twinning in thought here! And that in itself is so exciting, there are so many good people, so much kindness and generosity compassion and empathy and to be able to connect with others, knowing that it's not just you, for example, but the hundreds of other people or like-minded or more, It's sort of mind blowing. But so encouraging, and we certainly need that!
They are just so interesting to me.
It is , indeed, mind blowing.
BTW, I spent about thirty years in public education. I started out as a middle school English/Social studies person and later moved to the exciting (for me) position of teacher in a K-1-2 classroom. I kept the kids for three years and we really had great times in that classroom. I am still in touch with some of the families that served in that period. After ten years of that, I was asked to move to the middle school in our district as school counselor. I ended up doing a lot of admin stuff but , again, I LOVED the job. I love middle school kids almost as much (if not more? ) as I loved the primary kids. Middle school kids get such a bad rap but really? Really, they have been on the planet 11, 12, 13 years and they are just trying to figure it out. I enjoyed listening to them and learning from them (ditto the 5,6,7 year old kids).
I love that you see them (middle schoolers). It takes a special person to be able to do that.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom! One strategy that helps me greatly as an older woman in my seventies is to not read the news until my 'tea time' at 4 pm in the afternoon. I'm writing a book and in order to meet upcoming publishing deadlines, I can't afford to let myself go down the awful 'news rabbit holes'! So I get my writing done for the day, then enjoy my decaf Earl Grey. Afterwards, I may go to the YMCA to swim or do some restorative yoga and meditation at home as I slip into my evening. It's been a routine that has saved me in more ways than one!
May I have permission to share your post with attribution to you?
Rebecca
Thank you for the encouraging words, Rebecca. I am learning , as well, to limit my reading of the news. I tend to read early in the morning and then just set it aside. My goal for the rest of the day is to counteract the poison of the news by finding and sharing beauty and kindness. I also find yoga, meditation, and being outside to be useful. I am better able to stay in the moment with those tools.
Thank you for reading and responding. Yes, feel free to share the post with anyone who might need some encouragment.
I think it’s a good way to look at things. It does break my heart, though. I could (and I was) struggling with the toxic betrayals of this administration, but I have found that righteous anger is energizing, and I am willing to fight. My great grandmother marched for the vote and that makes me proud. I want to tell my grandson that I was part of this fight, for him.
Righteous anger is energizing and that energy can be put to constructive use. I recognize that curiosity can also transform into action. What I will not be is a hater. No value to me in hating. I certainly don't have to tolerate or accept hateful actions but no need to put more hate out there. I'll see you (figuratively, anyway) at the demonstrations! Thanks for reading and responding.
I’ll post photos!
Looking forward to seeing them!
Wonderful advice, Gracie. I'm with you!
Thanks, Deborah! We can make a difference in this fight!
If asked what I did to resist in these troubled and tumultuous times, I would be be honest and tell my grandchildren that I did hardly anything. I would tell St Peter at the pearly gates the same and not hang my head. Perhaps they would forgive me or perhaps not. It would not matter so long as I stayed true to myself and spoke honestly. I already have forgiven myself, so it does not matter if all the world and all the deities condemn my inactivity. This is a crucial step that all must eventually take- to forgive outselves for being ourselves. Never ask God or Allah or Buddha or Gaia to grant you forgiveness. You must cut that red thread yourself. But it is absolutely crucial that we, to our last days here, and beyond, never cease striving to be the best person we are capable of being. Fail that and we fail ourselves and this bright shimmering world.
Michael, I have been thinking about your comment since I first read it yesterday. I disagree that you have done hardly anything. I don't know much about you but your resistance is surely in the love and kindness that you clearly show to the world. The way you share what you know to be true has benefitted me and, I am certain, many other people. Resistance isn't only about protests or phone calls or bitching and moaning. It's also about love and light and bestowing those on the world. Thank you for that. I can't imagine St Peter at the pearly gates finding fault with you, my friend.
Your encouragement to be the best self we are capable of being is what I mean. That is truth and I need remeinders.
Oh hell yes!
You know, fear is the mind killer.
I recently reread the Dune trilogy and find that so much of what Herbert wrote transcends a sci-fi and is just damn good advice.
P.s. I really like the angry nun and Buddha!
Being informed, curious and optimistic is definitely preferable to the opposite IMO
True, Bruce!