So honored to have the opportunity to bring Mindfulness practices to 8 classrooms this morning. This was the first session for these classes. I taught the same lesson to all 8 rooms and left feeling like I was on Cloud Nine! A few years ago, I discovered Mindfulness and dove in deep. Learning all I could and having a strong desire to bring this to children. As I took courses, through mindfulschools.org I felt that I could have used the practices when I was a kid. As I stood teaching the lesson today, I paused in between sessions and realized that my dream is coming true. I am bringing Mindfulness to children. I left the school after teaching the first lesson knowing that this was what I was truly meant to do. I am blessed!
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"The Mindfulness program grows out of a seed SPEF planted at Marengo Elementary School a few years ago. Teachers there had obtained a direct grant from SPEF to fund an eight-week mindfulness initiative, which had a special instructor come in twice a week to lead 15- to 20-minute sessions on such mindfulness activities as focusing on ones breathing, on sounds and on thoughts. The point was to give students tools that help them reduce anxiety, improve focus and heighten empathy by helping them to better identify, talk about and cope with their emotions.
The effort was so well received and effective, the district sought to expand it. And now with a $45,540 grant from SPEF, the district expects to bring the mindfulness curriculum right away to 45 classrooms across all elementary schools, and to 54 classrooms in 2019-20. It's a timely effort, considering the surge in children being diagnosed with anxiety." Fellow Mindfulness educator, Christine Chin and I will be teaching the curriculum to students in grades K-5. I am so grateful to be apart of this process. When I began my courses on Mindfulness, I knew that I was meant to bring this to children. I would have loved to have had mindfulness lessons when I was a child. The benefits that I have gained as an adult have been tremendous. I truly believe that planting these seeds at an early age can do wonders for the well-being of our youth today. Thank you to SPEF for funding this grant! "You don't need to justify your love, explain your love, you just need to practice your love. Practice creates the master." -Don Miguel Ruiz I had been thinking about my Valentine's day post for about a week. I knew I wanted to write about love being love. I was trying to think creatively with the visual I wanted to use and then I found it. Looking around a children's toy store, I spotted this book titled, Love is Love. It was a sign that the title I chose for today's post was the perfect one.
As I quickly glanced through this lovely book, a few thoughts crossed my mind. First, there is no set way to love. We just love. If we love ourselves first, we can love others and love the right way. Another thought was the fact that no one can say whether the person we choose to love is right or wrong. You know deep in your heart and soul when you love someone. The right kind of love is a love that is free from pain or heartache. The right one will allow you to be you and love you unconditionally. I set an intention every morning for myself to go through my day spreading light and love. I accept everyone that I work with, interact with or walk by throughout the day. I do not have judgements or assumptions on anyone. I have created a love for myself where I don't need to make someone feel unloved. Let's just love and allow all humans to love the way they want to love. Happy Valentine's Day! Love is everywhere. It is the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the wind, the laughter of a child, the comfort of a friend, the stillness in a moment...
We have to open our eyes to see it, we have to appreciate all that is in front of us. Take this moment and look around you. Think about all the love that is right in front of you. Having this approach every second of the day can change the way you look at life. Think with love, live with love, be love. It is all around you-everywhere. Thank you for stopping by! |
Kristin Pittman"Quit hanging on to the handrails...Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Archives
January 2024
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