NH Fish and Game will be hosting it’s 23rd Discover WILD New Hampshire Day on April 21, 2012 from 10 am -3 pm. This event originally began as an observance of Earth Day and continues to be held around the same date each year. Conservation groups, Fish and Game partners, local and regional environmental …
What a miraculous week we had here in theOssipeeMountains. The weather was unseasonably warm with Concord,NH breaking temperature records five days in a row. The 80 degree weather brought back the American Robins, my favorite harbingers of spring, which now share their courtship songs in the early morning hours, woo hoo!! Unfortunately those pesky mosquitoes …
Working as a teacher there are questions that you can anticipate in advance while reading a story or making cross curriculum connections with your students. And there are always those unexpected, out of the blue questions that really make you think how you are going to answer in a most truthful way while upholding …
As I reflect back on all my years as a teacher in the public school system both regular and special ed., I can’t help but think of all the various programs that I encountered along the way in the core subject areas especially. School districts were throwing money at new programs and training in …
The day began with a light dusting of snow here in New Hampshire which barely covered the frozen ground. It seems rather strange not to have at least a good foot this time of year. However, many older New Englanders prefer it this way. We were treated with the magical flurries prior to this …
NH Fish and Game will be hosting it’s 23rd Discover WILD New Hampshire Day on April 21, 2012 from 10 am -3 pm. This event originally began as an observance of Earth Day and continues to be held around the same date each year. Conservation groups, Fish and Game partners, local and regional environmental advocates and nature enthusiasts of all ages will be gathering in celebration of nature. Whether you enjoy just being outdoors, or polishing up your wilderness skills, you’ll be inspired. This is a rain or shine event. You already know what that may entail living in the Granite State. Check out all that is happening throughout the day and Discover WILD, NH.
If you’re like me, you wish Earth Day was celebrated everyday. I couldn’t imagine life without starting my day being serenaded by bird songs or being connected to the rhythm of the seasons. Every life form, both seen and unseen, collaborating in unison building such a beautiful harmonic system is an incredible gift we all share and are part of. Our planet is what sustains us. The Earth is Mother to us all.
Now is the time like no other in the history of our planetary existence to work collectively and consciously to improve the quality of all life. The little baby steps do add up to create momentum towards positive change. Discover what resonates with you in our Wild world and become an advocate for environmental justice. If activism is not your thing, just allowing yourself time to BE in Nature will make a difference. You will be a better person when you make this connection.
Imagine if there were no litter or waste, clean air, water and soil. Imagine if the planet we are borrowing from our children was healthy and thriving and we all were teaching them how to care for it for their children.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of getting outdoors, sustainability or ways to discover your WILD side, here are some great resources. Imagine, create, explore and discover….
What a miraculous week we had here in theOssipeeMountains. The weather was unseasonably warm with Concord,NH breaking temperature records five days in a row. The 80 degree weather brought back the American Robins, my favorite harbingers of spring, which now share their courtship songs in the early morning hours, woo hoo!! Unfortunately those pesky mosquitoes and ticks are back too.
We went from having banks of snow almost four feet high in some places, to no snow at all in a matter of days. The shorts came out with enthusiasm despite our wintered skin, while snow pants and gloves were temporarily forgotten. Mother Nature played an April Fool’s joke on us last year, so packing away winter can’t happen just yet.
With the weather being so warm, I wanted to check on the vernal pool I have been monitoring for the last ten years. My boys and I finally experienced the migration of the yellow spotted salamanders last spring after many years of being disappointed. I understand it may seem strange to go into the dark wet woods on a cold spring night just to experience these nocturnal creatures, but once I learned more about how amazing they are, my curiosity grew. My desire to learn more brought me on a journey of appreciation that will never end.
I have cared for their eggs, released larvae back to the very sensitive habitat where they were born and have a much stronger awareness of our global interconnectedness with all of life on this planet. I know my family and students do as well.
Rain is in the forecast for the weekend, the first of the spring season. Although it is a month earlier than last year’s migration, after seeing the water level of the vernal pool & the dry forest floor, I think this will be the only opportunity for the yellow spotted salamanders to share in their dance, ensuring the survival of their species.
If you enjoy exploring nature and contribute to environmental sustainability in any way, I’m sure you will appreciate these resources.
I had the pleasure of meeting David Carroll several years ago, truly one of our NH treasures. He’s my turtle friend( perhaps I’ll share in another post)!
Please share your stories from the field. Good luck and safe travels to all of our yellow spotted friends!
Working as a teacher there are questions that you can anticipate in advance while reading a story or making cross curriculum connections with your students. And there are always those unexpected, out of the blue questions that really make you think how you are going to answer in a most truthful way while upholding your integrity.
Nowadays, we have to be so politically correct, gingerly walking around particular dialogue and conversations. Depending on the question, perhaps even evoking worry in regards to providing the best possible answer without offending anyone. For example, Valentine’s Day is now celebrated as Friendship Day in case you missed the memo.
While recently researching resources for Black History Month, I discovered new information that for some reason I had never come across regarding Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assignation. It was not James Earl Ray, who died in prison while serving part of his 99 years of sentencing for this crime. No, it wasn’t the James Earl Ray whose name we have our students learn in public school while we share timelines about Dr. King’s life and celebrate his beautiful work for human rights. Apparently there was a conspiracy involving government agencies and the mafia who collaborated and acted.
As educators for future generations, we must be able to discuss new findings with our children. They deserve to know the truth, no matter how hypercritical or outrageous the new discoveries may be from what we originally taught them. Of course providing them with age appropriate information and opportunities to explore.
It took me awhile to filter through my emotional screening process regarding this new information. My emotions ran the gamut of outrage, disbelief, sadness, fear and shame. How could the conspirators, many whom were in positions to protect us, engage in these types of acts?
What would I tell my students if they were to learn this truth and ask me,”why”? As I let these emotions flow through me, I could see my students standing up tall, right hands over their hearts, pledging allegiance. I could hear the pride in their voices when they sang, Lee Greenwood’s, “God Bless the USA.” I recalled how important peace was for them all as we studied and put into practice Martin Luther King’s lessons. I took personal pride knowing these lessons were to be a part of them not only for the weeks and months ahead, but for life.
Evidence from 70 different witnesses was shared in a trial that occurred in 1999, 32 years after Dr.King’s tragic death. The truth was revealed. In a press release from the King family after their civil suit in 1999, Coretta Scott King, Martin’s widow, hailed the verdict as “a great victory for justice and truth.” She added: “there is abundant evidence of a major high level conspiracy in the assassination of my husband and the civil court’s unanimous verdict has validated our belief.” Dexter King, one of Martin’s four children, said that his father was killed “because he challenged the establishment..”
Dr. King represented truth through the core of his being. Today this truth continues through his legacy, supporters and his loving family. Teaching the truth about his life’s work, the importance of peace and justice, and how to love one another despite our differences, are foundational values that we all as human beings must share with our children.
If a student were to ask me the question, “who assassinated Matin Lther King, Jr.”?, I could answer the child with love in my heart and say, as his family members did after the trial,” it is not impportant who killed Martin Luther King, Jr., but what killed him and why was he killed. He was killed because he was addressing injustices that today still have not been addressed.”
This would create an opportunity for a class discussion about, “how can we make it better”?
I know I will be in integrity with my core beliefs and values by leading my life each day as Dr. King inspired so many of us to do promoting nonviolence, justice, equality and freedom for all in service to humanity.
We all dream about a better world. Peace begins within. The sustainability for humanity requires each of us to recognize this and be the best versions of ourselves we can be. Making a choice shouldn’t be a daunting task.
It is my heartfelt intention that we expand our a global conherence for peace, our children’s future depends on it.
“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let’s make it a better world together. Thank you for everyone who believes in living their lives in service to others, blessings to all!
As I reflect back on all my years as a teacher in the public school system both regular and special ed., I can’t help but think of all the various programs that I encountered along the way in the core subject areas especially. School districts were throwing money at new programs and training in order to keep up with the latest research and trends for improving test scores.
I recently spoke with some former colleagues in regards to the daily demands and feeling like there wasn’t enough time to teach. I felt their pain when recollecting all the meetings, trainings, updates on policy and procedures, policing of bullying and now cyber bullying, differentiating instruction, inclusion and safety protocol…when is there time? And now with budget cuts and an expected 60,000 school employee layoffs…the magic wand can never be big enough.
So what can we do to make a positive contribution to empower our youth during this transitional time as we leave one paradigm and move into the next? Teaching our children from a very young age how to be aware of and manage their emotions is vital. Social emotional learning opportunities when provided are the catalyst for education in the new paradigm.
Social emotional learning has always been accessed in the classroom, tucked in conversations here or modeled briefly there depending on the teachable moments that the day provides. Some schools providing a stronger foundation than others.
Today however, the emotional landscape has changed dramatically. The decimation of our school environments can easily be compared to the human impact on our physical environment. Our Human Beingness can not continue down this path of destruction for our children’s sake.
There are more children at risk, more coming from poverty, increased numbers of teen pregnancies, higher suicide rates, children medicated & coming from broken homes. Many schools are required to staff Student Resource Officers, use metal detectors and or surveillance cameras. And I haven’t even touched on substance abuse challenges. Kids are exposed to the chaos as quickly as they can Google or text. They need our help!
We as a society should all feel the urgency for improving these conditions. This daunting task can not be the sole responsibility of our public schools. When a child is worried about food and safety, drugs or telling authorities of injustices, blame can not be placed on educators when a child’s basic needs aren’t being met.
If we are to equip our children with the tools for life, we must provide them first with their basic needs then social and emotional learning as the catalyst for the new paradigm. Our youth today face the greatest challenges having to navigate through a world where systems that no longer serve us are collapsing. In order for them to make sense of their outer world, they must have awareness of their inner world so they are able to discover solutions, as well as hope for the future. Only when they can recognize their inner strengths and abilities to release the negative emotions or listen to their inner guidance to help them in a positive way, will they be capable of learning.
Social and emotional learning provides our youth with strategies to turn painful feeling into a tool for improving the quality of life for themselves and others. These lessons are ones they desperately need to survive, succeed and cooperate on a global level.
Whether a person has children or not they should be able to recognize the significant role our children will play in the future for us all. Social and emotional learning is taught by each of us every day, whether we are aware of it or not, children are watching us.
The day began with a light dusting of snow here in New Hampshire which barely covered the frozen ground. It seems rather strange not to have at least a good foot this time of year. However, many older New Englanders prefer it this way. We were treated with the magical flurries prior to this dusting just in time for us all to receive the gift of a white Christmas!
As we begin the New Year after all of our global celebrations of solstice to family feasts and gatherings, it is my heartfelt intention for us all to share many more blessings in 2012. I am grateful for these gifts we are about to receive during this rebirthing process of the New Earth and look forward to contributing to a peaceful, beautiful transformation.
Over the last few months I personally experienced a very strong desire to connect to Source and allow myself to go within and explore. Information was coming too quickly and my Spirit beckoned for retreat. I purposely have not been online in order to alleviate distractions so I could listen to my heart. I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment, each breath I was aware and all the love that I received, gave and witnessed during this time. Thank you to all who directly, indirectly, consciously or subconsciously expand their greatness and love to others. Our kindness, compassion, unconditional love and understanding are truly the greatest gifts we can share.
I wanted to share with you a very special young girl and her family who came into my life recently. From the first day I met her she brought Joy into my life!
Love and Blessings to the Rees Family and to Jessica Joy Rees for inspiring us all in so many ways teaching us to Never Ever Give UP! May your smile and courage always bring joy to others and your life be a celebration.
I recently pulled the plants from our garden that were no longer producing their delicious treats. All that is left are some swiss chard plants that are growing again after their last trim, a few chilli peppers, herbs and brocolli. The pears and apples still have to be boxed. However, the sauces and relishes are already canned and shelved in preparation for the winter season.
Gardens to me are a metaphor for relationships. Throughout the journey in my life this included the relationship with myself, my husband,my family, my community and our Earth Mother. The nurturing and caring that is required for a flourishing garden is quite similar to how a relationship must be cared for and nurtured in order for it to flourish and grow. All components must be present so that a harmonic balance can be shared in order for a garden and a relationship to thrive. If there is too much of something and not enough of another there is bound to be a breakdown.
Children are the seeds for our sustainable future. Like the seeds that are planted in the ground each growing season that must have sufficient nutrients, warmth from sunlight, water, and air so do our children. So why are we still experiencing social systems and governments around the globe cutting back or disregarding the urgency for the necessary components for our children?
According to the USDA, over 16 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2010. During the 2010 federal fiscal year, 20.6 million low-income children received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, just 2.3 million of these same income-eligible children participated in the Summer Food Service Program that same year. The UN and Unicef state 15 million children die each year from starvation globally.
Research indicates that hungry children do more poorly in school, have lower academic achievement because they are not well prepared, have increased behavior issues and are less likely to have the potential to contribute to the global community. Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues.
I’m sure there are millions of people around the globe that are not concerned with starving children from different countries. Just as there are many who believe government funded food programs are a burden to society. There is no country completely independent from others. We are truly a global family and children are the seeds for our sustainable future.
There are many great organizations and devoted people making a difference to eliminate hunger across the planet, especially for children. If prospering and thriving is necessary for the seeds in our garden to provide us the greatest yeild for a sustainable future, so must it be for our children. We must collaborate to support these precious seeds and all take a part in their nurturing and care.
If you are not comfortable with your global family connection, start by supporting your local community. Donate to a local food pantry, community center, church or local school. There is a need everywhere on this planet and your support will make difference.
Here are some links to help you get started today.
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Let’s all work together to provide children, the seeds for our sustainable future, the greatest care and nourishment so they may continue to grow and thrive on this planet.
I am so happy to announce my availability and eagerness to serve children and families in a new way. As many of you know, I had been working in the public school system for over 10 years and found myself unemployed. During that transitional time, I found an on-line community of entrepreneurs with whom up until recently, had spent the last year working with. I learned all about the opportunities and possibilities of running an on-line business in addition to greatly improving my skill sets as an entrepreneur. However, I was missing in my business two things that I am most passionate about, children and nature which both bring me closer to Spirit. I was so consumed with trying to help support our family financially, that I wasn’t in alignment with my true self.
My journey has led me to where I am today working from my home to best meet the needs of my family and yours. I have discovered my personal gifts that I can share with others in a more meaningful way that I am passionate about.
Mohandas Gandhi once said, “If we are to have real peace in the world, we will have to begin withthe children.” I am on a mission to improve the quality of life for as many children as I can world wide. I know I will need a lot of other people to help me in this urgent cause, as well as infinite resources . However, every journey must begin with that first step and I have faith in my inner guidance.
If you are reading this, I would be forever grateful if you could share it with others who would find comfort in this kind of support if it does not pertain to you. Just in the United States this year alone, 60,000 school staff employees are expected to be out of work. This will have repercussions on our children that I can’t even imagine.
I applaud parents for taking control of their child’s education and their awareness for creating a better way. Our children truly deserve the best!
I look forward to sharing inspirational stories with you along the way. It would be wonderful for you to share yours as well.
I am so grateful for this week working on my new e-book and aligning with Source. My husband has been gone travelling for work all week, our youngest returned back to school and my 20 year old moved out (it’s easier the fourth time) . So it has been a quiet week with the animals.
I recently discovered a much clearer path on this journey called “Life”. Throughout my years growing up, ever since I was a little girl my wish on every birthday candle, wishbone, dandelion fluff…was always for Peace, Health and Happiness throughout the world.
My mother worked three jobs from the time I could remember. In her absence, I discovered Love through Nature. Mother Earth was my mother always, when my real Mom was away working to support her four kids on her own.
I have been working for over a year and a half now as a CarbonCopyPRO affiliate, unveiling my entrepreneurial wings and helping others.
I Love underdog success stories and Jay Kubassek’s is one of the best!
I Love having the opportunity to share in another’s success.
I Love quality education.
I Love having the opportunity to take financial control of my life
I Love Being able to give back to our global community in a much bigger way
I Love Community & John Jackson!
Before joining PRO, I became an unemployed teacher. One of my boys was sexually assaulted & I was an emotional wreck. The injustices, our system, the loss of trust…Led me to lose faith in humanity. I listened to the The Morning Wake Up Call each day during my student membership. John’s leadership and inspirational stories resonated with me. I discovered something new about myself everyday I was on the call with him.
I Love Learning. I enjoyed taking the PRO U courses. I have definitely have greatly improved my skills in regards to on-line marketing, advertising, leadership and personal development. I also learned to Start with Why. I discovered “My Why” after taking Simon Sinek’s course, which is to “Co-create with the Divine to improve the quality of life for at least a million children world wide.” I told Simon that I wanted to help children when I met him.
Having time to reflect and go within this week, I’ve realized I haven’t been living” my why, my purpose.” I’ve been feeling it for awhile now. However, I recently have had an awakening.
I know I want to improve the quality of life for at least a million kids world wide.
And each day with PRO I would write articles or blog posts about working from home, creating financial freedom, spend hours training, implementing various marketing strategies and working on personal development so that others would join my team. My team members would want to help at least improve the quality of life for their children, so I planned on starting there. I figured when I was making more money, I would be improving the quality of life for my kids, my families’ and our local community as well. My income would grow, my team would grow and the amount of children helped would grow.
Everything I learned was exactly as it was meant to be in that moment. I enjoyed the journey and the growth process tremendously. However, there was so much that I’m passionate about that I was not including in my business, environmental sustainability, connecting children with nature and the arts & energy work. I was also trying so hard to make it all work I wasn’t spending enough time with my family or source in the best way. I was not in alignment. I can see that now, before I was not ready to see.
I wanted to take this time to thank my sponsor Adrian Hines for sharing the opportunity, marketing partner Aniko’ Fekete Giampietro for sharing her Grace, Steve Nyhof for his friendship, Jay Kubassek for his vision, the PRO Community for their commitment to one another, all the incredible leaders for blazing the trail for others creating your own products but especially to John Jackson for showing up the way you do each and every day for yourself, your wife, your children, your community, the PRO community and for me.
John Jackson, You inspire me! Thank you for being with me on this journey.
The synchronistic flood gates are opening up all around me and I am aware of my alignment. I have so many fun projects I am working on encompassing what I am most passionate about.
My book is a parent’s guide for helping children find comfort in the chaos during this transitional time on our planet. Connecting children with nature is one such opportunity we should provide them throughout the months ahead. While I was teaching in the public school system I taught naturalist programs. Definitely one of the highlights of my work day and an aspect of who I am that I wasn’t including with PRO. I tried by staying active with kids and conservation but I couldn’t possibly start with my why when just starting out.
This Cat Steven’s song came to me today. I may have heard it before when I was growing up listening to him, but I don’t recall. Just as my eyes weren’t ready to see my clear path, apparently my ears weren’t ready to hear the words of his song. I’m hoping to get permission to put it on my new website which will include building leadership and sustainability skills for Gen Y.
Peace, health and hapiness,
P.S. Daegan Smith’s Inner Circle and Maximum Leveragealso played a big part in my decision too. Many of the sponsors and partners in PRO are Inner Circle members and weren’t sharing what they were learning with their PRO teams. Total transparency is the way it should be to have the greatest Win, Win for everyone and that’s what Daegan teaches, truly. I am excited to share an opportunity that people can afford and can immediately start getting results while leveraging Daegan’s advertising dollars and expertise. Leveraging another person’s advertising alone is so valuable but Daegan’s membership has so much more. The yearly membership is at a Crazy price right now and opportunity will be missed if you don’t grab your chance now.
Wow, what a cataclysmic series of events that have taken place since The No Excuses II Summit led by Raymond Fong & Fernando Ceballos of SEO Networker. Launch after launch of new products created by industry leaders have been unleashed since the event. The dynamic duo of SEO Networker really got the creative juices flowing. Many of the presenters have since created new products contributing incredible value to the on-line community of entrepreneurs but what is even better is that the ripple effect is now happening. Attendees are launching their own products. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Aren’t we all here to provide incredible value, mentor others and celebrate their success?
Raymond Fong & Fernando Ceballos of SEO Networker do just that. I have been fortunate to have these guys in my inner circle with my primary company. I have yet to shake their hands, give them a hug or do shots of tequila with them, although I want to because they are both really handsome:-> I attended the Summit in the first ever Live Stream Event watching them weave their magic on stage. How can you not like these guys? I love being in their space whether it’s on a webinar, conference call, live event, or visiting their website.
Speaking of visiting their website, have you checked it out lately? They have a clean design that is attractive to the eye. There’s a lot to learn about copy, connecting and most importantly, search engine optimization. If you are have any interest at all in ranking #1 in the Google Search Engine, you will want to check it out. They provide a wealth of information to learn from in regards to SEO and getting the greatest ROI for your business. The ripples keep spreading farther and farther. You guys are great Ray and Fernie! It’s truly been a pleasure sharing in your celebrations on this journey. It’s exciting to watch the impact of what you both as individuals, as a team and as business partners have been creating to improve the quality of lives for others.
It is a tragedy what is happening in our local school districts. The budget crunch is depleting jobs in the public sector at rapid rates. Collective bargaining agreements are no longer available in many states. If you are experiencing teacher unemployment, I can empathize with you, I too became an unemployed teacher.
Recently on an NPR broadcast Sean Cavanagh, who covers state education policy for Education Week, was interviewed about the current cuts. Mr. Cavanagh shared that “inMilwaukee, 354 teachers will be laid off, inChicago a thousand. Nationwide the total estimated layoffs for school employees were around 60,000.”It is hard to wrap your head around this actually happening to our children nation wide.
As if the challenges of assessments, the increase of students at risk and over crowded classroom weren’t enough, can you imagine what an increase in teacher unemployment will have? The children didn’t have the support they deserved in many states before these layoffs occurred.
When I experienced teacher unemployment, I immediately began researching other options. Being resourceful is a skill we have learned to master. I was not willing to be a victim of the political agendas and economic downturn. I took control of my destiny and economy. I believed in my worthiness and would not allow the self sabotaging conversations to begin.
It was scary at first I have to admit, leaving my teaching job, my benefits, and my students. There are other ways however, if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone where you can use your creative talents and communication skills in service to others. I can share with you first hand trying something new was a relief compared to struggling financially and worrying about how my family and I were going to survive. Didn’t you always teach your students to “not be afraid to try new things and that they could be anything they wanted to be?” Well, the same goes for you.
Did you ever dream about writing your own book? Or helping more children around the world? Did you want to travel somewhere but couldn’t because of your school schedule? Did you ever feel as a teacher you weren’t properly compensated for all of the time and extra hours you put in? I know I have.
Our purpose as a teacher is to improve the quality of life for children. If you are experiencing teacher unemployment, know that you have other options.
What if I told you, I knew a way? This new way will absolutely boggle your mind. You will be able to work your own schedule leveraging the power of the internet. You are already internet savvy. No more late nights of correcting papers, bus duty or dealing with absentee parents. No more teachers’ room gossip to drag you down or worrying if a cyber bullying report needs to be filled out.
Instead of experiencing teacher unemployment, you can become a business owner working from home or wherever you wish as long as there’s internet access. You can use your skills and talents you already have, build upon them and generate your former annual salary in a fraction of the time. I discovered there were people on-line making my former annual salary by10 inthe morning. They generated that income while they slept.
I never knew this world existed from the confines of my classroom walls. I still teach but my audience is different. Now, my goal is to help millions of children across the globe.
Take the time to research your options available. Contact me if you are interested in learning more. Thank you for inspiring and empowering so many children and creating a better world.
I cannot begin to tell you what an extraordinary teacher and person Mrs. Clarke is. She has been at all times professional, caring and involved in everything we try to do for our students. Our teachers respect her hard work and dedication. Our parents appreciate her communication and follow through. Our students look to her for guidance and support. I admire her ability to accept challenges and willingness to participate-and her obvious love of children. She is always an advocate for her children.
I cannot begin to tell you what an extraordinary teacher and person Mrs. Clarke is. She has been at all times professional, caring and involved in everything we try to do for our students. Our teachers respect her hard work and dedication. Our parents appreciate her communication and follow through. Our students look to her for guidance and support. I admire her ability to accept challenges and willingness to participate-and her obvious love of children. She is always an advocate for her children.
