Counting Your Blessings

"We count our miseries carefully, and accept our blessings without much thought." -- Chinese proverb

It's easy to focus on all that's wrong in our lives. A traffic jam on our way to work. A person who is rude to us. Food that we don't like being served at lunch. Someone who missed a deadline or made a mistake.

How wondrous it would be to focus on what's good. All the times we experience smooth sailing on the way to work. All the people who are nice to us. All the food that people take the time to prepare and offer us. All the times someone does something right.

I was talking to Tracey Hamill, our Parents Assocation President, and for all the concerns that come her way as a school leader, she chooses to focus on the many words of thanks that she receives from fellow parents and faculty.  When she shared some of these lovely comments, her face lit up with the knowledge that her and others' work was meaningful. Her smile was dazzling.  She made me smile too.

Tracey's got the right idea.  Count your blessings and share the wealth.

Gifts Come in Unexpected Packages

I am an avid Facebook user. I don't play the many games that people play, but there is one application that I really appreciate. It's called Message from God.

Every day I receive pearls of wisdom that inspire me.

Here was today's gem:

"The way you treat others is the way you treat yourself. True respect for another comes from self respect. True love for another comes from self love. True forgiveness for another comes from self forgiveness."

How true. Philanthropy, or "love of mankind" which is what the word means, starts at home, in the heart of the individual.

Help to Haiti

Picture from here


In adversity, we often show our true humanity.

Despite everyone's economic woes, the outpouring of help to those in Haiti has been overwhelming. Even when things seem scarce, we all realize how much we have in times like these.

Here at school, students are gathering funds, and I'm sure many of us have made donations to the American Red Cross, Americares, Unicef, Doctors without Borders, Hope for Haiti Now, and other organizations so they can extend much needed aid, supplies, and support.

My thoughts are with the people of Port-au-Prince and those who are on the ground.

Happy Holidays!

You must watch this.

You will break out into a big smile, your heart will expand, and you will be filled with all the good cheer of the holidays.

Happy Holidays!

The Message of the Christmas Carol

Click here for original picture source.

I went to see the new remake of Scrooge with my family soon after Thanksgiving.

I've been watching variations of this story since I was a child, including the first black and white version (scary!), the Donald Duck version, and now this one with performance capture technology.

This story never loses its edge, because its message is wired into our DNA. It turns on our gift to choose. Our destiny is made by the choice of good or bad, selfishness or generosity, to be alone or to be with others.

We don't even need the science of the "helper's high" to know that giving is good for your health, happiness, and your soul.

And it's not only good for you but for those around you.

As Tiny Tim says, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Click here for original picture source.

Brothers

One of the best things about St. Luke's is that colleagues are friends. We work hard together, but we always make time to laugh and to enjoy each other's company.

While I have two siblings who are brothers, I have brothers here too. They tease me, give me advice, encourage me, and scold me. I always look forward to seeing them and deeply respect their intelligence, talent, and what they do for St. Luke's.

Two of my brothers are Dale Griffa and Rick Holyfield.

On Facebook, I said I loved Dale, and he wrote back that I should join the All Hail Dale Griffa fan club. Thinking he was joking, I laughed to myself and went to create a Facebook group of the same name.

He wasn't joking.

A student created the group, and I was the 154th person to join. Go figure. I should have known students love Dale as I do. He's strict and demands the best from his students, but he cares deeply about his kids.

Rick and I came to St. Luke's within a few months of each other. I came in late February, he in July. In September, he pulled me aside and said, "Okay, Ninette, when am I going to see the 'real' St. Luke's." I replied, "I've been here six months, and I think this IS the real St. Luke's. Everyone is nice, friendly, hardworking, and committed."

Seven years later, Rick and I are still here.

Rick is funny, honest, and a wonderful public speaker. He's also done so much to integrate everyone into the community and make sure they feel welcome.

Bravo to my brothers.

Even though they are a big pain in my side. ;)

Your Kids Will Be Known ... and Needed

At today's Open House for new families, Mark Davis spoke to the parents about the school. He talked about all the many opportunities available to students who come here, about taking risks in a safe environment, and how our deep sense of community provides the foundation for everything we do.

What struck a deep chord in me, like the bass timbre of a large Buddhist bell gong, was Mark's sharing,

"Your kids will be known ... and needed."

We all want to be known, but to be needed is deeply embedded in our humanity.

To be needed is to be valued.

And to be valued is priceless.