It has been a while since I have blogged. A couple of months actually. I have been very aware that it is something I really enjoy doing and I have missed it. Regardless of the number of people that read my blogs from week to week, if it resonates with one person and helps them to think about things a little differently or find that 2mm shift in perspective, then it is all worth it.

Today, as I sat back down to begin writing again, I was contemplating what it was that I wanted to write about and I realised this was a topic that we all talk about but sometimes don't do very well.

At this time of the year, with Christmas literally around the corner, life gets hectic and let's be honest, at times, downright chaotic! It feels like life picks up speed as we rush everywhere. Everyone is rushing. But this is the most important time to slow down a little and be present. 

I spent the year in my grade 5 class, teaching my students, among many things, about gratitude. It is so easy to...

Gratitude

It's a simple concept but I am going to be very honest with you...

I used to think I was grateful. I would say how thankful and grateful I was for many things in my life - and I really was. But what I had not experienced until earlier this year was - 

Deep, true, heartfelt, to my very core - Gratitude.

The kind of gratitude that moves you so much you wonder how you could have gotten so lucky in this lifetime to have experienced what you have.

Have you ever experienced a moment like that?

Where you have had an experience or a moment in time or a memory and have been truly grateful?

This is my heart today -  for my kids and their parents I have had the greatest pleasure of getting to know this year. This blog is for them.

I have often heard it said that we should aim to develop an attitude of gratitude. But recently I heard that what we really want to aim for is having a Practice of Gratitude - as it is...

Wellbeing

It is a word that we hear so often these days. 

We all know the importance of taking care of our wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us - both adults and children - and yet...it seems to be something that a lot of people seem to still struggle with today.

Life is busy. People, in general, live in scarcity - not enough time, not enough money, not getting enough sleep etc. Our mind is so busy and full of everything we think we should be doing and this all creates a level of stress that takes a considerable toll on our bodies - big and little humans alike.

I think as a general population, we underestimate the effect that stress has on our bodies and those of our little humans. 

However, I also do think that we are becoming a lot more mindful as well. It is a journey that I am noticing more and more people are on.

As the year kicks on though, the stress creeps in and some of us find being mindful more...

How often do you say or hear someone say - 

I will celebrate when I have completed this... project, job, goal...etc

(You can insert anything you might be working on or towards here!)

All the time, right?

Now, I personally do love a good celebration but I know that I have said this phrase many times over the years and the problem I started noticing was....I wasn't getting to celebrate very often!

I know this sounds like I wasn't getting jobs completed or goals achieved - which is true in some instances but not in others. 

The problem is...I think it is human nature to 'save' our celebrations for what we consider 'the big things' or 'big milestones' - which is great, don't get me wrong! They are absolutely worth celebrating.

But...

 Why aren't we celebrating along the way?

Why aren't we celebrating the journey? The baby steps? The small wins? The distance travelled?

Over the course of the last couple of years, I have learned,...

This last week we had National Testing in Australia. Four tests for grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 students all around the country. The lead up to the testing week can create all sorts of concern, worry and anxiety for kids, parents and teachers alike.

There is a letter that had gone around social media for years around Naplan time. It holds the same content I say to my students whenever they have to complete any test at any time. The tests don't tell us what kind of person you are. They don't tell us if you're good at sport or music or if you are a great sibling. They don't tell us what kind of friend you are or how kind you are. They don't even tell us where you are going to be in 6 months time or what you will do or be when you are older. The only thing tests ever tell us is where you are at that moment. They tell us what skills you have in that particular area right now and give an indication of what steps you might need to take next to learn more skills.

Both kids and adults...