It’s up to me?

There’s merit even in such a misattributed quote as this one that’s often attributed to Saint Francis.

I know in my heart that each of us serves as a role model for someone…a child, a friend, a stranger. We all look to others for guidance when we are confused or worried.

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream. 
One tree can start a forest,
And one bird can herald the spring.
One smile can begin a friendship.

One smile can begin a friendship,
One hand can lift a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
And one word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation.
One sunbeam can light a room.
One candle can wipe out the darkness,
And one laugh can conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope can raise our spirits,
And one touch can show we care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true,
One life can make the difference,
You see-it's up to you.

I don’t know who wrote this, but I feel a personal need for it in these current times whenever I’m confused and feel powerless.

Maybe folks all through history have experienced similar feelings, but I know in my heart that it really is up to me, up to each of us, to create what we wish to see in our world.

How can I shift?

As I’ve gotten older (and maybe somewhat wiser), I’m shifting what I tell myself… a bit away from just being productive and more towards creativity. Here’s what I can tell myself: Rather than complaining and saying “Look at everything on my list!” I can ask myself “What can I remove from my list (or just […]

2 days free from worry!

There are two days in every week that we don’t have to worry, two days which we can easily keep free from fear or apprehension. And it isn’t one of these! One of these days is YESTERDAY with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond […]

Your “yellow light” policy?

A number of years ago when I was riding as a passenger with my middle sister, the traffic light went from green to yellow. She gunned the engine and I let out a yelp. To me, a yellow light meant slow down and prepare to stop. To her, a yellow light meant speed up and […]

Legend of the “Three Sisters”

If you are familiar with companion planting, you’ll likely have heard the legend of the Three Sisters garden. This is a traditional Native American method for growing food in a resourceful way. It’s been used for many hundreds of years and is based on the idea that each plant has something vital to offer the […]

Are we lazy or just efficient?

If you look inside a beehive you’ll notice row and row of almost identical hexagons. It could be because the hexagon is a robust structure, but there’s something more than that at play. Nature is always trying to use the least amount of energy. The Canadian Honey Council has calculated that the wax that is […]

Remember Mr. Rogers?

Are any of you old enough to remember the TV program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? Or maybe the 2019 movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Tom Hanks? With each episode Mr. Rogers began by changing into one of his trademark cardigan sweaters and changing into his sneakers while singing the show’s theme song, “Won’t […]

“Mother, May I?”

Remember the childhood game of “Mother, May I?” When given an instruction by ‘mother’ we needed to remember to ask permission before taking those 2 giant steps forward. In addition to my being an ex-English teacher and this also being the month of May, I’ve found myself wondering about that word “may.” How does it […]

Oh no..a 2nd Mother Goose gem?!

Joe Scieszka did it again in his The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense! (This time with the rhyme of Old Mother Hubbard.) The English teacher in me loves this “re-verb” version! See what YOU can add to these verbs… Old Mother Hubbard moseyed/ progressed/ skipped/ highttailed it/ took a hike to […]

A unique book report!

English teachers get a lot of book reports to read… such as the following “book report” from the 2022 book The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense by Jon Scieszka! Do you remember this old nursery rhyme? Book Report: “The main character in this nursery rhyme is Jack. There is also a […]