Our Field Of Dreams May 18, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Less IS More, Writing & Writers.comments closed
Writing advice proliferates, as does advice on living life.
Writers are admonished to consider their intended audience in choosing what to write about and how to present their thoughts.
But how does a writer know who will be in the audience?
Most times, they don’t.
If a writer doesn’t know who’s in the audience reading their words, how can they accommodate the audience’s divergent views on life and love and the pursuit of happiness?
Most times, they can’t.
My advice, for writing and life . . . be yourself. Speak, write and act from the heart. Be authentic. Discard your masks. Be true to your inner voice.
Remember the movie Field of Dreams? And its catch-phrase?
If you build it . . . they will come.
Well, it doesn’t just apply to baseball or Kevin Costner. It applies to all of us as we author our thoughts, script our lives, and share ourselves with the world.
Life is our Field of Dreams . . .
Whether or not something I write resonates with a given reader depends on the reader. If I write honestly, my intended audience will appear while those who are not intended to be in my pool of readers will drift away.
When we are enjoying the journey, we stop worrying about finding our intended audience ~ we trust that our intended audience will find us.
No rules. Just write!
We See The World Behind Our Eyes May 18, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Humor, Mindfulness, People.comments closed
We create our reality by the thoughts that we think.
If we are in a dark and gloomy place in our mind, that darkness is reflected back to us. If we are full of light and hope and peace and joy, that is what is reflected back to us.
Don’t believe me?
Imagine that you are in a bad mood because you feel misunderstood and unappreciated. You are walking around the supermarket, with a frown on your face. Your life feels like one big chore after another.
Because of the scowl on your face, no one in the store smiles at you, which reinforces your view of the world as a negative place filled with negative people.
You scowl some more. Your energy level continues to drop. You feel worse.
This downward spiral (of your own creation) continues until something or someone snaps you out of it ~ causing you to switch from negative thinking to more positive thoughts.
Contrast the previous example with walking around the same store, in a good mood. You smile at the people you meet. They smile back. You feel your positive energy reflected back to you, and it makes you feel even better. The world is a wonderful place, filled with wonderful people.
We get what we give.
Related posts: Good Vibrations * The Pursuit of Happiness * The ABC’s of Happiness * Brave New Adventures * Happiness ~ Check it Out * The Last Lecture * Attack of the Killer ANTS
The Portable Classroom May 18, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in People.comments closed
For wee ones, the world is full of wonder ~ fascinating places to go (like the car wash, bank, or dry cleaners) and exciting sights to see (like mud puddles after a rain storm).
As you move through your daily “To Do” list with infants or toddlers in tow, make the most of everyday moments by using the world around you as a portable classroom:
1. Play games in the car ~ “I See Something,” “I Spy,” or “20 Questions.” Ask your kids to count to ten, or name colors, or tell you a story.
2. Sing songs to introduce your infants to sounds and to help your toddlers expand their vocabulary.
3. In stores, talk to your toddler about items on the shelves. In the produce aisle. See how many vegetables or fruits they can identify on their own. Or ask them how many “red fruits” they’ve tasted (strawberries, cherries, raspberries . . . ). Then move on to “yellow fruits” (bananas, lemons, papayas . . . ), or “green veggies” (broccoli, spinach, celery, green beans, green peppers . . . ).
4. Point out signs and read the words out loud. Play the opposite game. You say a word and ask them to give you the opposite: In~Out. Up~Down. High~Low. Kids love to look, listen, and learn.
5. While cooking dinner, talk about the steps you’re taking and the tools you’re using, and let them ask “why?“ as often as they want. Now I’m peeling carrots. Why? To get the dirt off. Why? Because it doesn’t taste good. Now I’m dicing carrots. Why? So that the pieces will cook faster. Why? Because I know you’re hungry, silly!
6. Practice colors, numbers, and words when they’re getting ready for bed or taking a bath. Ask them questions about what they did that day. Listen to their version of the days events.
7. Create a consistent bedtime ritual ~ bath, PJ’s, teeth, bed, storytime, goodnight hug, lights out. After each step, ask “What’s next?”
For more ideas on turning everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for you and your kids, visit bornlearning.org:
Everyday life is a learning experience for children. Born Learning is a public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.
Related posts: Ten FREE Activities To Enjoy With Kids * Ten Almost FREE Activities For Kids * Top Ten BETs * Ten More Fun Activities for Kids
Spirit Lights The Way 