Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — I was going to post some quotes about April Fool’s Day, but I can’t. I don’t want any of us thinking about or discussing the quotes I found. Just a sad and disgusting perspective on people. Friends are worthy to be fooled. You can’t hurt anyone. You get the picture. What do you think? Is April Fool’s Day harmless? Harmful? Does your motive matter? For instance, if you played a joke on someone, but you didn’t want them hurt by it, would that make it okay when they were hurt? If those questions don’t interest you, how about discussing these quotes? There’s much here worth unpacking. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #13: Is April Fool’s Day Harmless?
March 30, 2012 by · 10 Comments
How Can We Help Children and Teens Use Their Smarts? (Part 2)
March 28, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Last week, I was privileged to teach about multiple intelligences at the Great Homeschool Convention in Greenville, SC. Hundreds of parents were encouraged to look at their children differently. I loved watching their reactions to this refreshing truth. One mom shared with me that she arrived at the convention the day before assuming her son had a learning disability. She thanked me several times for helping her develop a healthier perspective about her son. What a privilege for me! This week, this mom and hundreds of other parents are charged with the task of helping their children believe they’re … [Read more...]
Naming “Things” Empowers You
March 26, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Naming "Things" Empowers You Do you name things? You name your children, for sure, but what else? When I was young, I named my stuffed dog Shniglefritz. Don’t ask…. Friends of mine name their cars. Absolutely! I never have. Do you? Whether we do or we don’t has something to do with our personality and style. Did its color or make influence its name? A memory associated with your car? Nothing in particular? Names are powerful and empowering. What if we named our houses? Naming it something doesn’t make it true. But, it gives us something to aim for. If you named yours today, what name would fit? Be a … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #12: Not Beating Myself Up = Growth
March 23, 2012 by · 3 Comments
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — We didn’t post a new blog this Wednesday. Did you miss it? I’ve been posting new material every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for quite a while now, but not this week. I’ve been in South Carolina all week and just became overwhelmed by all there was to do to get ready for the large convention I’m speaking at. I should have written Wednesday’s post a few days earlier, knowing that I’d be busy and distracted. But, I didn’t. I was busy then, too! The “Old Kathy” would have beaten herself up over this “bad” planning. The new one didn’t. I decided the world would not end. I chose to believe that if people missed Wednesday’s blog, they’d … [Read more...]
Remember: Encourage a Cowgirl Today
March 19, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Fort Worth, where I live, is a unique city for several reasons. We’re the 16th largest city in America, but you’d never know it. It feels so much smaller. We probably have the only water garden in the world. You read that right – it’s a garden of water and not flowers and it’s amazing. Our downtown is named Sundance Square after the famous Sundance Kid. During the great cattle drives of the late 1800's, Fort Worth was one of the major stops on the legendary Chisholm Trail. Cowboys on the trail would drop their cattle off at the Stockyards up the road and then visit downtown Fort Worth for the saloons, gambling … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #11: St. Patrick’s Day Edition – Can We Trust in Luck?
March 16, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — My Great Aunt Erna had an uncanny ability to find four-leaf-clovers. It was the strangest thing. The whole family would be at a park or an outdoor concert and she would look around where she was sitting and find one or more. The rest of us rarely found one. Many believe they bring good luck to the finder. I’m not sure that was the case with my Great Aunt. In honor of her and tomorrow’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, here are some quotes about luck. Think about these questions as you read them: Do you agree with one more than another? Why or why not? How might you convince someone that the ones you disagree with are not true? “Those who have … [Read more...]
How Can We Help Children and Teens Use Their Smarts? (Part 1)
March 14, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Word smart. Logic smart. Picture smart. Music smart. Body smart. Nature smart. People smart. Self smart. All adults and all children have all eight smarts. Having a smart and using the smart are two different things. How can we help children and teens use their smarts? Affirm children when they do use them. Children may not even know they’re doing well because they used one of their smarts. Complimenting their specific use encourages and empowers children. It can change their identity from “I can’t do this” to “I’m music smart and I can do this!” Compliments for some of the intelligences … [Read more...]
Five Core Needs for Healthy Living
March 12, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last Monday, I posted about not being as nature smart as some people are. While in Galveston the previous week, I had no need to step into the Gulf. Others would have done that immediately upon arriving. Because the post was about one of our intelligences, it was really better designed for Wednesdays, when that’s the theme. I got my days mixed up. Upon reflection, though, the post did fit Monday’s theme of “discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life.” We’ll more likely live a healthier, more fulfilled life, when we meet all five of our needs in healthy ways. The same is true for … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #10: Springing Forward and Perspective on Time
March 9, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — Some of us in the world will move our clocks ahead for daylight savings time tomorrow night. We’ll lose an hour. If you’re like many, you’ll complain. But, think about it. Don’t you lose other time by wasting it? It’s in your power to use it well, but you don’t? Does that bother you? Why or why not? So which is it? Is time valuable to you or not? Does your behavior line up with how you answer this question? … [Read more...]
Self-Smart People = Confidence in Their Own Opinions
March 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Each of our eight intelligences has value in life and in school. The self-smart intelligence has unique value. Those with this strength are comfortable and confident with their own opinions. They think deeply inside of themselves and reflect on their ideas and what they hear and see around them. They may not highly value other people’s opinions so it’s extremely important that they remain teachable. Do you want and even need quiet, peace, privacy, and space? This would mean you’re self smart. It also might explain a portion of the stress you feel. We live in a loud, hurried, crowded culture … [Read more...]
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