Category: growth mindset

Memory is Hunger

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Memory is hunger. When I read this recently, I paused, I underlined it, I wrote notes beside it in pencil. I’ve been concentrating on Hemingway this summer, and this quote came from his memoir, A Moveable Feast, about his time in Paris in the 1920s with his first wife, Hadley. It is Hadley who says these words as they reminisce about shared experiences: “There are so many sorts of hunger. In the spring there are more. But that’s gone now. Memory is hunger.” In this post I describe the power of food to trigger memories and help create healthy recipes with fresh, simple ingredients.

Most Likely to Create

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Humans are social animals and as such we seek community. We yearn for communication and understanding. We want to be seen and most definitely heard. There are all kinds of communities to which I have belonged. I have been part of a community of quilters, dancers, painters, teachers, cooks, readers, martial artists, and writers. As part of those communities, I was able to build strong bonds with others who shared similar interests and passions.

Every child needs a champion.

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Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, "Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." This is mine: Every child needs a champion. As the world seems to be spinning off its axis, this statement is especially true. Children need champions - people who help them feel safe, cultivate their curiosity, and instill hope. I became a teacher because I wanted to be a champion for young people. I have been blessed that I have been able to do this important work for the last forty-two years. So blessed.

When All Else Fails – Finger Paint!

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This happened to me last week, while I was reading Jordan Shapiro’s book, A New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World. He is such a fast thinker – going from one idea to the next, making connections at lightning speed – Greek philosophy, gaming, systems theory, divorce – they all go together in one wonderful coherent whole. How does he do that? He uses metaphors and makes images in readers’ minds so they remember concepts. He brilliantly persuades us that there is nothing to fear about our children’s obsession with technology.

Summer of Hummingbirds and Frogs

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It is summer and I am vowing to play. Play with my colored pencils and play with my words. It is easy for me to play with words and share them. I've been doing that since I was four-years-old. It is warm and comfortable. It is more difficulty for me to play with drawing because I'm still at the beginner stage. Being a beginner takes boldness. Being a beginner one must cast away the trepidation and dive deep into play with abandon. Like the hummingbird it all starts with a flash of color, like the spring frogs - I've come out of hibernation and am ready to sing!

Simple Joy

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Music, Poetry, Dance, Art, Nature, Food, Friends, Travel - all of these things have given me joy.  When Nature, Friends, and Travel were curtailed by COVID-19,  I turned to music, poetry, dance and art to keep me joyful in these past bleary months.  And so spring came, flowers blossomed, the sky returned to its blissful … Continue reading Simple Joy

Ascent: Sharing Our Stories

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This week's Sharing Our Stories prompt from Ruth Ayres was "spreading your wings wider."  I thought about her words for a little while.  Lately, I've been spreading my wings a little wider each day even though we remain in quarantine.  It's funny how being physically inside has made me become more open and wandering within my mind and heart...