Think
Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind.
~ Dr. Seuss
--------------------------
I'm amazed by the lessons handed to us in everyday life. I believe that most people walk through life completely unaware of these lessons. Your eyes must be wide open. Your ears must be ready to listen. Sure, some lessons are hard. Others, are simple. After this week, I find myself more keenly aware to those who have either not heard or seen the lesson, or are simly just too stubborn to find the value. I also believe I've found a connection between not learning the lesson and lacking in self-awareness. Ah, that's awfully deep for this mom of the year, right?
Daughter of the year #1 joined a Brownie Troop. She's only had a few meetings, but already knows many of the girls. She had a meeting last week and while I didn't stay for the meeting, I understand quite a thing happened. A thing I am so immensely proud of, I just had to write about it. A thing that we had no idea would happen. A thing that has been months in the making.
The girls were doing an exercise where they had to pass a ball but couldn't use their hands. Daughter of the year #1's friend dropped the ball and I guess some of the girls were disappointed it had happened. Not meaning to do it, they hurt the friend. She began to cry. I could never recite what daughter of the year stood up in front of those girls and said, but it was amazing. Seeing a friend who was hurting - hurting in a way that she hurt this past summer when we had a problem with bullying. She simply couldn't stand for it. She stood in the middle of the group and stated words from a poster in her classroom titled "Think." I did some major Google searching, but finally found the poster.
T - Is what you are saying true?
H - Will it be helpful?
I - Will it be inspiring?
N - Is it necessary?
K - Is it kind?
What a lesson from a second grader! While she couldn't remember the entire poster, she got most of it right when defending her friend.
One day a week, at a recommendation from her teacher, daughter of the year #1 spends one hour with the counselor and a high school buddy. She has grown to love this time each week and fondly looks forward to her meeting day. I will admit, at first I wasn't so sure this was a good idea. But they talk about many things including how bullying made her feel and how she can use words to stand up against it. I can't help but feel those sessions really did make a difference and this was a successful use of the skills she is learning. Her confidence soars and I love what I'm seeing in her. So proud in fact, I fired off an email to the counselor the night she stood up for her friend. How could I have been so skeptical? This was working!
So, when I, myself, was met with an incident with another person that didn't come off as kind, I tried to remember how wise daughter of the year #1 would have handled this. Looking back on it, I'm sure I failed miserably. However, I find it no coincidence the paper I cracked out of my fortune cookie that same day that said, "You will touch the hearts of many."
Be kind, my readers - simply be kind. It isn't a hard concept, but something I think we abandon from time to time in adulthood. Be aware of your actions and how those may affect others. But mostly, THINK before you speak. It's really quite an amazing concept!
Hey, daughter of the year #1...mommy loves you more than you will ever know. I could not be more proud of you for you truly have touched the hearts of many! I'm so lucky! And just for one day, I feel like maybe I've been holding that mom of the year award all along.
Daughter of the year #1 joined a Brownie Troop. She's only had a few meetings, but already knows many of the girls. She had a meeting last week and while I didn't stay for the meeting, I understand quite a thing happened. A thing I am so immensely proud of, I just had to write about it. A thing that we had no idea would happen. A thing that has been months in the making.
The girls were doing an exercise where they had to pass a ball but couldn't use their hands. Daughter of the year #1's friend dropped the ball and I guess some of the girls were disappointed it had happened. Not meaning to do it, they hurt the friend. She began to cry. I could never recite what daughter of the year stood up in front of those girls and said, but it was amazing. Seeing a friend who was hurting - hurting in a way that she hurt this past summer when we had a problem with bullying. She simply couldn't stand for it. She stood in the middle of the group and stated words from a poster in her classroom titled "Think." I did some major Google searching, but finally found the poster.
T - Is what you are saying true?
H - Will it be helpful?
I - Will it be inspiring?
N - Is it necessary?
K - Is it kind?
What a lesson from a second grader! While she couldn't remember the entire poster, she got most of it right when defending her friend.
One day a week, at a recommendation from her teacher, daughter of the year #1 spends one hour with the counselor and a high school buddy. She has grown to love this time each week and fondly looks forward to her meeting day. I will admit, at first I wasn't so sure this was a good idea. But they talk about many things including how bullying made her feel and how she can use words to stand up against it. I can't help but feel those sessions really did make a difference and this was a successful use of the skills she is learning. Her confidence soars and I love what I'm seeing in her. So proud in fact, I fired off an email to the counselor the night she stood up for her friend. How could I have been so skeptical? This was working!
So, when I, myself, was met with an incident with another person that didn't come off as kind, I tried to remember how wise daughter of the year #1 would have handled this. Looking back on it, I'm sure I failed miserably. However, I find it no coincidence the paper I cracked out of my fortune cookie that same day that said, "You will touch the hearts of many."
Be kind, my readers - simply be kind. It isn't a hard concept, but something I think we abandon from time to time in adulthood. Be aware of your actions and how those may affect others. But mostly, THINK before you speak. It's really quite an amazing concept!
Hey, daughter of the year #1...mommy loves you more than you will ever know. I could not be more proud of you for you truly have touched the hearts of many! I'm so lucky! And just for one day, I feel like maybe I've been holding that mom of the year award all along.
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