What Does Compassion Sound Like?

From the desk of Alice… I went into the media center in search of an outlet to charge computer. I thought I hit the jackpot when I found a tiny outlet beside a small round table in the media center. I plugged in and was able to work while my computer recharged. I considered this…

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Each Kindness

“This is what kindness does, Ms. Albert said. Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.”  – Jacqueline Woodson, Each Kindness Whenever I look at a list of ways to help children become kinder or more compassionate, one suggestion is always to read books to them.  Books help all of…

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Compassionate Action

I quietly observed as several of my kindergartners were racing on the playground.  The first couple of races had been quite spirited, so I was watching closely as the third was ready to begin.  The starter counted 1-2-3-go and off they went. As they sprinted to the finish line, two boys became entangled and one…

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Building Compassion Under Duress

Imagine you’re a neurosurgery resident.  It’s your first time in the operating room with a world renowned surgeon.  You’re sweating profusely, and as it happens a bead of sweat drips down off of your face into the cavity of the man being operated on.  It, of course, contaminates the area.  The surgeon simply needs to…

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Compassion – World Changing Power

“The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without an understanding of compassion.”  – Socrates As I was exploring the concept of compassion, I ran across the work of Dr. Chris Kukk.  This intriguing professor of political science has a passion for giving his students “the bigger picture of the world they live in.” As…

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Who's Bad?

From the desk Alice… I cannot remember how I came across the link but in an era of visual clutter on social media, this one stuck with me. I made a mental note to watch it and even tried to find it on cable so I could DVR the next episode.  After a little more…

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Compassionate Classrooms

  “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them humanity cannot survive.”                                                                                    …

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Even More Books About Belonging

Here’s my final list of books about belonging.  These continue, in a different way, to address questions like:  Do I belong?  Where?  Does being different matter?  Does location define me?  Am I acceptable as I am?  Tough questions from highly readable books. The Other Boy written by M. G. Hennessey; illustrated by Sfe R. Monster;…

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The Power of a Smile

“I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.”  – Mother Teresa  I just read The 43 Habits of Absolutely Happy People by Brendan Baker and I found myself actively participating in habit #2 – smiling.  Then I came across an article in Psychology Today by Sarah Stevenson that reports smiling activates the “feel…

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Give Them a Purpose

My youngest child has developed a love for horses.  This love has grown exponentially over the last few years and honestly, as a busy mom, I have provided the minimum amount of support for this hobby.  Despite this, I am becoming a barn mom.  Because she is young and inexperienced, I have stayed at the…

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