My introduction to FLOW was when I read Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and subsequently introduced him at a conference.
I love how Adam Grant begins his TED Talk on how to stop languishing and start finding flow . . .
. . . insights on children and parenting and a resource for educators and parents on children, teaching, learning, and leadership.
My introduction to FLOW was when I read Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and subsequently introduced him at a conference.
I love how Adam Grant begins his TED Talk on how to stop languishing and start finding flow . . .
"Here are 8 ways to help children cultivate happiness:
• Foster strong social connections.
• Model grace and courtesy.
• Introduce and practice mindfulness.
• Lead an appreciation practice.
• Set goals.
• Provide opportunities for movement.
• Have a sense of humor.
• Help children identify and pursue their interests."
Article "8 Ways to Help Children Cultivate Happiness" and picture are from American Montessori Society Montessori Life magazine (8/7/24) and blog by author Heather White.
The power of words can make a huge difference in our lives — especially when children are learning how to use words well.
This video is amazing the way it helps one understand the power words have when used correctly . . . particularly when we are in the midst of elections.
Check out this video that takes you through 11 different optical illusions. Teachers and parents sitting with young people can have lots of fun learning more about optical illusions AND personality traits.
Emily Esfahani Smith's TED Talk "There's more to life than being happy" gives great insight on the differences in happiness in life and having meaning in life.
Smith goes on to say "Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but I came to see that seeking meaning is the more fulfilling path. And the studies show that people who have meaning in life, they're more resilient, they do better in school and at work, and they even live longer."
She goes on to talk clearly about . . .
. . . THE FOUR PILLARS OF MEANING
1) Belonging 2) Purpose 3) Transcendence 4) Storytelling
Here is here beautiful TED Talk that has over 13M views —
Since the beginning of April, the book The Anxious Generation has been on the New York Times bestsellers list.
Fifty-five year old Richard Goodall has been serving as a janitor at a local school for 23 years. He loves to sing and make people happy. He had the opportunity to be on stage at America's Got Talent TV show on May 28. As of June 14, his YouTube performance below has over 13.4M views! His story, wrapped around a popular song, moves everyone when he sings.
I read to preschool classes twice a week, and for the first time in six years, a class requested — almost demanded — one morning that I read for a second time Pretty Ugly. I easily understood why. This is a must-read book for children AND adults. It has such a clever story and is so beautifully illustrated.
If you don't have an hour to read the book or you want to share the story with a child, you can click over to this three minute YouTube graphic version.
Here is a very special TED Talk. See below for the 8-minute Talk by Adora Svitak — "What Adults Can Learn From Kids." As of this blog post it has 7M views.
This 7 minute TED Talk by seven-year-old Molly Wright is fantastic! Here is the introduction to this 11M viewed Talk:
"What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?" asks seven-year-old Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers. . . "
Here is a 5-star TED Talk for educators from the popular Sal Khan. He has such a good message—on the positive side—for AI.
If you have not met up with Sal Khan, click over to his Khan Academy.
Here are two quotes from the January 26, 2024 JAM – "Laugh at Yourself":
"It is so important to not take yourself too seriously. Laughing at yourself shows humility and brings us closer together."
"When you can laugh at yourself it displays a softened ego. It shows that you do not think you are better than others. Learn to laugh at yourself."
Author and NYTimes columnist, David Brooks's, newest book is so helpful in understanding and building relations with others, especially for parents and teachers working with each other in support of child education and role modeling.
"Is AI [Artificial Intelligence] as smart as it seems? Exploring the 'brain' behind machine learning, neural networker Alona Fyshe delves into the language processing abilities of talkative tech (like the groundbreaking chatbot and internet obsession ChatGPT) and explains how different it is from your own brain - even though it can sound convincingly human." (From TED Talk caption)
Here is her TED Talk on the subject. It is well done and helps in building a better understanding of AI.
I discovered GoodRx from a friend and physician and how it supports ongoing health information.
In Emily Esfahani Smith's TED Talk, she builds "there's more to life than being happy" with 4 pillars of a meaningful life:
1) Belonging
2) Purpose
3) Transcendence — stepping beyond yourself
4) Storytelling
Learn more by watching her 12-minute TED Talk video.
Humankind A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman is powerful and gives a comprehensive look at the history of humanity. It crosses paths with Yuval Noah Harari's book Sapiens.
There is one chapter — "The Best Remedy For Hate, Injustice and Prejudice" — that is excellent on presenting the best remedy for these humanity issues, and the remedy is "CONTACT." Here is an excerpt (page 358) from that chapter:
"Contact engenders more trust, more solidarity and more mutual kindness. It helps you see the world through other people's eyes. Moreover, it changes you as a person, because individuals with a diverse group of friends are more tolerant towards strangers. And contact is contagious: when you see a neighbor getting along with others, it makes you rethink your own biases."
A beautiful JAM (Inspiration for all in Just A Minute) lesson for parents, teachers, and adults who care for children.
Throughout my career and life, volunteering has been so important, especially once I retired. Helping children, schools, older folks, nonprofit organizations, and those in need have become a goal for my wife and me. I had the opportunity to share my experiences with volunteering via an interview for the Granite Senior Journal, a New Hampshire quarterly publication. The picture you see (with some others) in the article appears in this 2023 spring issue. Here is the link to the interview article: "A 'consultering' life — Staying Active Through Work, Volunteering and Leisure." Give it a read and see what you think.
"How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime" by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, is a very important follow-up to my April 28, 2023 blogpost "The Body Keeps the Score."
Take 15 minutes to hear what Dr. Harris has to say in her TED Talk. What she has to say and her presentation are so good!
Three important practices in life: Nutrition, Exercise, and Socialize . . .
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schultz is such a good resource for helping us with socializing and building relationships that are so critical to happiness in our lives. "Technologies like the smartphone and social media now play a role in shaping some of the most intimate parts of our lives. Quite often, when we connect with another person, there is a device and a piece of software between us." (page 126)
AND, give some thought to AI (Artificial Intelligence) and what it is doing to humanity at this point!
With the advent and persistence of AI and its impact on humanity, and with much more to come, I reviewed Dr. Montessori's Five Great Lessons — that are a part of the article — to see how they might be reviewed and used to prepare us for the unanticipated realities of AI and to make sure that love never goes away from our lives.
We have so much to do for ourselves AND our children to help all of us manage the rise in AI.
Here is a 96-second podcast by author Daniel Pink. Short as they always are, Daniel gives excellent advice. Watch and listen to what he has to say about reaching out to an old friend or colleague.
I will let Lara Hammock at Marble Jar Channel give you her excellent summary of the book. Invest the 10 minutes to view this excellent video.
Here is a beautiful story about Teddy, Mrs. Thompson—his elementary teacher—and how she adjusted her teaching based on what Teddy taught her. This video is 5:47 long, well worth investing the time, and it may bring tears to your eyes.
When you watch this Daniel Pink research-based two minute Pinkcast, you will get some simple, powerful advice when you are confronted with a problem.