Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Our True Colors Counselor
Today I'm joyful because of a note I received from a third-grade superhero that sent my spirit soaring; it read, "Thank you for being our true colors counselor."
Her gratitude touched my heart so deeply.
What a cool job it is, to plant character seeds
and watch them take root and grow.
I've been writing about sprinkling kindness like glitter a lot lately.
Superhero Dr. Jean invited me to guest post at her blog on Tuesday and I'm over the moon with gratitude. Click {here} to read A Kinder World.
And in case you missed it, author Sue Scheff allowed me to share my thoughts about inspiring Kindness Footprints at her blog.
I'm so blessed to get to do what I do,
to be a true colors counselor
and share my ideas about
warming the world with compassion and kindness.
For more ideas, visit my friend Lisa at Ripple Kindness.
And {here} for a Christmas Kindness Countdown Calendar.
For more ideas, visit my friend Lisa at Ripple Kindness.
And {here} for a Christmas Kindness Countdown Calendar.
To our Veterans and their families:
Happy Veterans Day tomorrow.
We honor you, we celebrate you, we thank you,
and we will never forget your service and sacrifice.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Map
This morning as we were sitting on the window sill before school, one of my new students surprises me with this affirmation:
Mrs. Gruener, you're like my map.
I'd never really thought about being a map before,
so I asked him what he meant.
He said he'd follow me anywhere.
He said that I can help him get where he's going.
He said he doesn't feel so lost when he's with me.
And I almost started crying.
October is kind of crazy for a counselor and this week has been really challenging. I've been assigned a few new jobs and I've been learning some new things, many out of my comfort zone, and all way outside of my skill set. And I'm trying to do some extra stuff, like write a grant for a new program that we want to try. So I've been seriously considering retirement, thinking someone younger could do a better job than I feel like I'm doing. Even my principal has noticed that I've been a little stressed.
And then this Bucket Filler reminds me why I love doing what I do.
I get to be his map even though I'm sometimes as lost as he is.
Maybe more lost.
But blessed beyond measure.
Our high school PALs also serve as a map; check out these new capes
on our super PALs Wall of Fame.
Their superpowers include
empathy,
compassion,
and kindness.
Isn't their artwork strikingly engaging?
They took their tour of our campus this week and they start their visits with their PALees on Monday. We can't wait.
Grandparents can serve as a map, too.
As can mentors.
And teachers.
Coaches.
Parents.
And friends.
Who's your map?
Friday, April 15, 2016
There You Are Empathy Chat
Today I'm excited because I've been invited to lead a Twitter chat on Sunday night for a group of educators in Texas and beyond whom I really admire. We are going to have seven questions, based on this acrostic I created.
 |
| UPDATE: Click picture for a transcript of the chat! |
This week, I've been reflecting on something I heard on the radio about there being two kinds of people, those who enter a room and say, "Here I am."
and those who enter the room and instead say, "There you are."
And the latter sounded so much like empathy to me.
Here's a sneak peek at the questions we'll be discussing.
So this is your official invitation, to join us on Twitter Sunday night, April 17th, at 8 pm {CST}; use the hashtag #txeduchat to talk about elevating empathy. I'll be there, ready to welcome you enthusiastically and passionately with the words,
"There you are!"
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Limiting Mobility
Today I'm feeling vulnerable as we near the one-year mark of when I was told about my transfer from my school family of fourteen years to our sister school next door. I'm thinking a lot about who I am, where I belong, and what I'm meant to do. I'm also wrestling with the thoughts that get in the way,
that are limiting my mobility as I bounce forward into the future.
Ironically, I saw these parking spots when I dropped Joshua off for a French horn lesson this morning. And I laughed. Not because of their literal use, which I find the perfect example of empathy, compassion and kindness for people with physical limitations, but because of the metaphor they represent to me as I reflect more on the emotional challenges this year has brought with it.
Maybe some of my sometimes reflections will resonate with you.
Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of self-doubt.
Sometimes I lack trust and nothing seems to anchor me.
Sometimes my errant beliefs get in my way.
Sometimes my anxiety finds me stuck in the past.
Sometimes my worries find me stressed about the future.
When these sometimes that threaten to limit my mobility happen,
Through my struggle, I keep coming back to the gift of a
sidekick.
That's the friend who checks in on you.
The one who asks how you're doing.
The one who's okay with it if when you start to cry.
The one whose presence says, "You matter to me."
Sidekicks love unconditionally.
They extend grace lavishly and forgive over and over again.
They understand stuff about you
that you may not even understand yourself.
And they accept you for who you are, struggles and all.
So today I'm feeling vulnerable and overwhelmingly grateful
to the sidekicks who have been walking alongside of me this past year,
both literally and figuratively,
ready with a listening ear, a kind text or email, a smile, a hug.
{Even when I don't want a hug. Especially when I don't want a hug!}
For being strong when I'm not.
For telling me that that's okay.
For helping me love what is.
And let go of what no longer is.
For reminding me that there is a Higher Power.
And ensuring that I trust that it's all a part of His plan.
For helping me bloom where I'm planted.
And for seeing limitless possibilities instead of
limited mobility.
To my sidekicks:
You know who you are.
Please know how thankful I am.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Strength, Comfort, Hope & Peace
Today is a somber Sunday for my extended family;
a season of sorrow enshrouds us as we say good-bye to little Jack.
a season of sorrow enshrouds us as we say good-bye to little Jack.
This is how I want to remember my young cousin,
ready to take on the world of Kindergarten,
with his John Deere lunchbox in his hands
and a sweet sweet smile on his face.
ready to take on the world of Kindergarten,
with his John Deere lunchbox in his hands
and a sweet sweet smile on his face.
That's why this isn't a post that's coming very easily to me.
In fact, I wasn't going to write it at all.
But I don't want to miss the opportunity to honor and thank everyone who prayed with us during Jack's short illness and share our gratitude for the compassion and kindness you have shown during this difficult time.
You've lit prayer candles to give us hope.
You've lit prayer candles to give us hope.
You've written heartfelt poetry to make us smile.
You've sent us beautiful music to lift us up.
You've hosted a bootcamp to support us financially.
You've unified to draw on strength that we don't have right now.
And you've found inspirational words to help us heal.
You've called, texted and emailed; all of these treasures wrap us in a huge hug and bring us strength, comfort, hope and peace.
We are grateful to everyone who is willing to journey through this grief alongside of us. Because it won't be easy, to wade through this season of sadness.
In fact, because we love so deeply, it's going to be painful.
Excruciatingly painful.
Heartbreakingly painful.
Some days, it may seem impossible,
especially for those closest to Jack,
to keep going now that he's gone.
We might look lost.
Or feel angry.
We might just need you to sit and cry with us.
But our family's faith is strong, just like little Jack was,
and it will get us through what lies ahead, until we meet again.
So today, we ask that you remember Jack's parents, Jason and Renee, his big sister Ella, and his extended family and village of friends in your thoughts and prayers.
We celebrate the gift of five years that this little angel was here,
to make us laugh and bring us joy . . .
and we take comfort in knowing that Jack's guardian angel made an appearance in the nurses' station monitor just as he was about to fly to his heavenly home.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Under A Rest
If you're in a place like we are, where Labor Day is observed, it's likely you're enjoying a rest from your labors on this three-day weekend. Or at least I hope you are. Some of us find it harder than others to sit still, to just be. But since we cannot serve from an empty vessel, the holiday weekend begs this inquiry:
If the answer is yes, I'd love to know what your best strategies are,
to rest and restore,
to refresh and reinvigorate,
to rejuvenate and re-energize.
If the answer is no, what are you waiting for?
We've touched on the subject of self-care a few times before.
I also shared ideas for self-kindness on this inspirational mini:
What other tools can we add to our self-care arsenal?
Laughing: Treat yourself to a funny show or movie.
Connecting: Call someone you love, just to reconnect.
Reading: Escape into a fictional novel, just for fun.
Exercising: Take a long walk or bike ride with a friend.
Listening: Put on some soft music and meditate or pray.
Creating: Do something artsy to spark your creative juices.
Soaking: Relax with a long bubble bath or a hot-water foot soak.
Writing: Revisit something you wrote years ago and reflect.
Shopping: Give yourself permission to take in some retail therapy.
Being: Sit by the pool or on your porch & enjoy a sunrise or sunset.
What's your promising practice for spending quality time
under a rest?
Friday, September 4, 2015
Motivating Peace
Today I'm thinking about International Day of Peace as it quickly approaches. This year will be our third time to formally join the global celebration by creating and planting our Pinwheels For Peace.
Peacemaking must begin with the children ...
Have you met Rosie the Red by author Rosemary McCarney?
My friend Pat from Children's Books Heal introduced me to Rosie back in June and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this little superhero's story.
Check out this post to see why.
You can also read a review from the CanLit blog {here}.
Basically, she's a precocious seven-year-old who loves to wear that red cape, a cape that she checks at the door when she arrives as school, where she's not allowed to wear it. Not until, that is, she needs to come to the rescue of a friend from a foreign land who is being teased and excluded because of her differences.
Check out this post to see why.
You can also read a review from the CanLit blog {here}.
Basically, she's a precocious seven-year-old who loves to wear that red cape, a cape that she checks at the door when she arrives as school, where she's not allowed to wear it. Not until, that is, she needs to come to the rescue of a friend from a foreign land who is being teased and excluded because of her differences.
I don't want to spoil it for you, but let's just say that Rosie's cape comes in handy as she finds the perfect way to model empathy, compassion, kindness and peace.
Need some enrichment resources to use with this little gem?
*Make Pinwheels For Peace and plant the promise.
*Create your own superhero cape from a T-shirt:
*Make Pinwheels For Peace and plant the promise.
*Create your own superhero cape from a T-shirt:
*Sing along with the SuperYou FUNdation's I Am A Superhero:
*Ask your students' parents to write on a 4x6 index card what makes their child a peacemaking superhero. Then ask your students to do the same.
I wonder how closely the two cards would match.
How will you be motivating peace today?
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Raise A Hand For Teachers
It's mid-July, and you know what that means.
We'll be headed back to school {gasp} before we know it.
That's why today I'm excited to announce that
is celebrating by honoring our favorite teachers.
Why? From our friends at ThredUP:
According to AdoptAClassroom.org, teachers spend an average of $500 of their own money each year to equip their classrooms. 70% of teachers have even purchased apparel items like jackets, socks and shoes for their students. Teachers are extremely generous with their time as well as their money.
How? From today until August 23rd, nominate a teacher who has positively impacted your world. Then go back every day to vote!
Who am I nominating? you ask.
Well, that's a tough one!
We have been blessed with great teachers too numerous to count,
both with our own children and in my Westwood family.
But for this #raiseahand campaign,
I've selected first-grade teacher Jennifer Quigley.
Mrs. Quigley truly has a heart of gold.
I know this because I have been blessed with an office right across the hall and, for fourteen years, I've watched in awe as she nurtures hearts while stretching minds and sparking curiosity and creativity.
I've stopped in to sing along as she and her firsties proudly proclaim what they firmly believe, that they've got the power to change the world.
And I've experienced the warm and welcoming climate in which her can-doers plant, blossom, bloom, grow and thrive.
Moment by moment,
year after year.
Like magic.
Only better.
Because it's real.
Because it's real.
Thank you, Jennifer, for using your superpowers
to change the world ... for good!
Now, it's your turn.
Go ahead; pick someone.
That favorite teacher.
The one who changed your world ... forever.
Click the graphic above to nominate him or her.
Then join me in sharing the good news about this #raiseahand campaign with all of your social media connections so that we can honor and celebrate the world's
amazing superheroes, our teachers.
Go ahead; pick someone.
That favorite teacher.
The one who changed your world ... forever.
Click the graphic above to nominate him or her.
Then join me in sharing the good news about this #raiseahand campaign with all of your social media connections so that we can honor and celebrate the world's
amazing superheroes, our teachers.
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