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9.24.2016

On Kindness // On Children (The Prophet)

Kindness 

Naomi Shihab Nye


Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness, you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore, only kindness that ties your shoes and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread, only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say It is I you have been looking for, and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.

Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet and author who has published many books. This poem references her experience as a tourist in Columbia when her bus was attacked and one person was killed.



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Are We Reaching The End of The Trend of Living Longer?

Does Our Parenting Really Matter?

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On Children Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.



9.17.2016

Unique Recipes for Fall

Butternut Squash Pancakes 
Vegan Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Chunk Granola Bars 
Best Banana Bread
Chickpea Cookie Dough




"Almost every problem is solvable at the start."

Henry Kissinger

"I want bad news as soon as possible."

First female CEO of GM, Mary Barra

"What did you know and when did you know it?"

Howard Baker, during Watergate


9.14.2016

Teen Crisis Text Line 741-741


Crisis Text Line: 741-741

Since 2013, this text line has received and sent more than 6 million text messages, answering notes from young people who struggle with suicidal thoughts, bullying, depression, and other tough issues. The service is free and confidential. Read More



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Carlos Zalaquett's Rendering of Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs




9.13.2016

Free Food to Share in North County - The Foundry

The Foundry’s Food Pantry at 120 North Ash Street, Escondido, has free food to share! 

Over 5,000 lbs of food was given out in August.

Tuesday: 11-1 pm

Wednesday: 4-6 pm

Thursday: 11-1 pm 





Two September Book Recommendations:

The Bridge Ladies (touches on the relationships between mothers and daughters)
Night by Elie Weisel (the classic and powerful Holocaust memoir)

9.12.2016

Parent Support Group // Blind Surfing Event // Urban Surf 4Kids

Blind Surfing Event, Carlsbad State Beach September 11, 2016




I spent 9/11 hanging out with three groups that are brand new to me:
UrbanSurf4Kids, Lions Club of Encinitas, 
and Stella Maris Surf Academy. 

I was there to encourage my teenage son towards volunteerism. I didn't expect the event to be so emotionally powerful for me as well. Wow. Good people having a lot of fun and several new surfers getting to touch the ocean for the very first time. In addition to the vision-impaired, a group of foster children were also invited to jump into a wet suit and onto a board. 


Event to be repeated Sunday, 9/18, 9-2pm, @ Ponto Beach. Just show up!



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Check out Coastal Roots Farm - Locally grown, organic produce is now more readily available and affordable, thanks to a new farm stand in the North County.
The weekly Farm Stand in Encinitas is run by the non-profit Coastal Roots Farm and has a "pay what you can afford" philosophy. The Farm Stand sells produce to the public every Thursday from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the farm, located at 441 Saxony Road.

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The Opposite of Isolation is Connection


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Join Me! 

A Free Parents Support Group

Begins Thursday, September 22nd
12:00pm

Will Meet Weekly thru October 27th

2777 Jefferson Dr, #201Carlsbad, CA

(limited to 6 spaces -  two left)

I envision this group as a peer-to-peer support group, only gently facilitated by me.
My best description at this time is that we will focus on the parenting “experience” versus parenting “skills.”
All ages and stages of wisdom and heartache will be discussed.
Attendees may be a grandmother raising her grandchild, or a successful parent (as in, successfully parenting) who just enjoys or ponders the journey enough to reflect on it out loud.
I will introduce a topic or materials each week as a way of thoughtful provocation.
I do not envision this group as “tough love” or “tough kid” helpful.

Call  Christina to register 760.522.5659