Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Did you get what you wanted for Mother’s Day? Did you give what your mother wanted? I’ve turned my blog over to Tina Hollenbeck today. She wrote this as her column for tomorrow’s Celebrate Kids newsletter, but I wanted you to read it. Not only are her ideas important, I hope it will encourage you to subscribe to the free newsletter here so you get quality thoughts like this every other Tuesday. --- The Heart of the Matter by Tina Hollenbeck A few days before Mother’s Day, my husband asked me what I’d like for a gift. I knew he wanted to show his genuine appreciation and that my daughters would want … [Read more...]
Employing the Power of all 8 Intelligences
January 23, 2013 by · 1 Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — One of the best ways to discover the power of our eight intelligences is to think about one topic with all of them. You’ll see how much more complete your understandings become. Using all eight smarts usually increases motivation, too. Back in June, I demonstrated that in this post using a pine cone as the thing to think about. Because more than one example is helpful, here’s a brief look at using all our smarts when learning about volcanoes: Word - write a story or make a speech Logic - list 10 questions and find answers to at least 3 Picture - watch a video Music - write a poem or song … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #43: What’s going to be left when you’ve left?
November 30, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — What’s going to be left when you’ve left? Did you notice, perhaps with announcements on Facebook, that Zig Ziglar passed away? He’s known as the Master of Motivation, Ambassador of Hope, and Mentor to Millions. I’ve read several of his 30 books, heard him speak live several times, and even been privileged to share a devotional with him and his staff many years ago. When you pass away, will enough people care that your passing will be announced? What are you known for? What do you want to be known for? What do you want to be remembered for? What will you be remembered for? Are you purposefully influencing people now? If you’d like to watch … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #42: Pre-Thanksgiving Thanks!
November 16, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — If we reflect on gratitude between now and Thanksgiving day, maybe the day will mean more to us. Can you imagine what we and the world would be like if we were truly grateful each day and expressed it when we felt it? I love how Melody Beattie expresses the value of gratitude: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Do you agree? Can you provide evidence from your … [Read more...]
Identity Controls Behavior
October 22, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. --- On Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m., I was on the phone with a great friend discussing an idea for a new book. It was a stimulating discussion. By 7:00 p.m., my throat was sore. By 9:00 p.m., congestion had set in and I was feeling rather miserable. It came out of nowhere. Fine one minute. Sick the next. A quick identity change! As I explained on last week’s Kathyism video, identity controls behavior. I became sick (identity) and, therefore, changed my behavior. I took over-the-counter medicine. I went to sleep earlier than normal and slept later, too. I worked at home so I could rest when I needed to. I drank Hawaiian … [Read more...]
The Question of Legacy: What can you do today, tomorrow, and in the days that follow to be more certain that your beliefs are passed on? Will you?
September 28, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Click image to see larger version. Yesterday would have been my mom’s 87th birthday. She’s been alive in heaven now for just over 3 years. I still miss her. So does my entire extended family. I’m surrounded by things that remind me of her. Many are beautiful, valuable, and meaningful. More important to me, though, are the beliefs I inherited from her and my dad. They’re way more valuable than anything I now own. What can you do today, tomorrow, and in the days that follow to be more certain that your beliefs are passed on? Will you? … [Read more...]
Celebrating Flag Day, In A Whole New Light
June 13, 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. — I joke with people that I bleed red, white, and blue because I love America so much. I was raised in a flag waving, politically active family. My grandfather (my mom’s dad) was an alderman in my city for over 25 years and then elected the first full-time mayor. I have fabulous childhood memories of not only waving flags, but pushing tiny ones into our front yard to decorate on different holidays, including the oft-ignored Flag Day. That’s tomorrow – June 14th. When we use all 8 of our smarts when thinking and learning, we draw conclusions we wouldn’t have when thinking with just our 1-3 … [Read more...]
The Importance, and Influence, of Our Name
April 16, 2012 by · 8 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last week, while at the homeschool convention in Memphis, I was reminded of the value of our names. We read in Isaiah 43:1 that we are called or summoned by name. Our name is important to us and can influence our identity. It can influence our security, too. And, our belonging. Would you believe our name can even influence our purpose and competence? If you’ve never told your children why you named them what you did, please share your story. Knowing is better than not knowing. Don’t assume the story wouldn’t bless them. It could increase their hope in their purpose and in their tomorrows. If you didn’t have a … [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...]
Four More Awakening Strategies for Multiple Intelligences
February 29, 2012 by · 3 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — As I wrote about last Wednesday, in Four Awakening Strategies for Multiple Intelligences, all of us are born with the capacity to develop eight intelligences. Our Creator generously creates us with each, but relies on parents and others to awaken each part of the brain in children. The earlier they’re awakened, the better. It’s more likely that they’ll become strengths. Creating “crystallizing experiences” to spark the birth of intelligences is a privilege. The first four ways of doing this that I explained were creating new experiences, attending cultural events, going exploring, and engaging … [Read more...]
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