Lori Magri

Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer is a powerfully written book.  The book is a translation of the Tao Te Ching and is a “valuable resource for achieving a way a life that guarantees integrity, joy, peace, and balance.”  The chapter that I would like to share is called “Living by Bending” and begins with the following quote:

A man is born gentle and weak;
at his death he is hard and stiff.
All things, including the grass and trees,
are soft and pliable in life;
dry and brittle in death.
Stiffness is thus a companion of death
flexibility a companion of life.
An army that cannot yield
will be defeated.
A tree that cannot bend
will crack in the wind.
The hard and the stiff will be broken;
the soft and supple will prevail.

 So, how does this relate to education?  It relates to education as the educational system at all levels is about people and relationships.  I think the message is clear.  If we want to be strong, we need to bend.  Strength is not measured by how fixed we are in our thinking or how inflexible we are in our opinions.  Rather, strength is gained by listening more, allowing our viewpoints to be challenged and bending when necessary.  So, let us be like the palm tree and “bend in the wind” when we encounter those day to day conflicts and trying situations.  As pointed out in the verse above, “the soft and supple will prevail.”  I believe this to be true.

Welcome to 2011!  It is hard to believe that we are beginning a new school year and that the fall term is actually over.  Time is indeed elusive.  It seems to have a way of silently slipping by with each day rolling endlessly into the next.  It seems like it was only yesterday that we were busy organizing our classes, planning our curriculums and getting to know the students within our immediate care. 

As I look back over the past four months of schooling, I am pleasantly reminded of all of the positive things that are happening within our school and surrounding community.  What stands out most in my mind, however, is the personal regard and care that many of our students show towards one and other.  Welcoming new students to our school, helping those when they are hurt and supporting each other in their learning are sure signs of success and that we, as parents and as educators, are doing our jobs well.  We know that we are having a positive impact on our children when we see them acting in kind and compassionate ways. 

Well, here we are – 2011!  There is no better place to begin than where we left off.  Let us start the New Year by making positive connections with others and promoting the good that exists in our world.  “The amount of good that kindness can bring is unparalleled.  Kindness allows us to connect to hearts, touch souls, and transform lives.” (excerpted from The Power of Kindness)  Let us continue to model the kinds of behaviour we want our children to emulate.  Let us all begin the New Year by performing random acts of kindness, so that we may bring unexpected goodness into the lives of others.  By doing so, we too, will reap the benefits from acting kindly.  I believe that the following quote from Princess Diana sums it up so nicely. 

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”  

Welcome back!  I am looking forward to another fabulous year of fun and learning!