Category Archives: Setting Good Examples for Our Children

Life? Do We Learn From Our Past or Are We Condemned to Repeat It? 2

Bully Free, Differences, Education, Famous Quotes, Gratitude, Inspiring People, Life Lessons, Parenting, Setting Good Examples for Our Children • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Quote

Most of us know some variation of the famous line by George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet, we keep repeating past mistakes again and again.

Those We Admire

Most of us admire people like His Holiness, the fourteen Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others who showed the world that there are gentler solutions to problems facing society. So, why do we continue to support meanness by failing to speak up when we see it and when we know it is wrong? How can we teach our children to learn from their mistakes if we fail as citizens of the world to learn from ours?

Mistakes

You may be asking yourself, “What mistakes?” Only you can answer for yourself. Let your heart be your guide.

I firmly believe mistakes are our best teachers. I hope so anyway since I have made more than I like. However, this post is about our future, our children.

The Way We Fail

We are failing the next generation when we say things like:

  • What’s the big deal?
  • Bullying has been around forever.
  • Kids will be kids.
  • That kid had it coming!
  • That kid is strange!
  • Don’t play with that kid!
  • I don’t like their parents.

or

When we say:

  • The school is responsible.
  • The parents are responsible.
  • I blame the Internet.
  • I blame social media.
  • That kid just needs a spanking!
  • That kid should be expelled!
  • Those parents should be sued!

or

When we are silent.

The Truth

The truth is everyone in society plays a part. Look around you! Work toward becoming a more compassionate person and setting a better example for our children by speaking up when your heart says:

  • This does not feel right!
  • Why would this be okay?
  • Should we really do that?
  • What happened to liberty and justice for all? That is what it says right? Not liberty for the majority, or just some, or just the ones who are like us?

Make a Difference

Refuse to believe those who say:

  • What can I do?
  • I’m just one person!
  • No one will listen to me!
  • What is the point?

Here’s what you can do if you do not trust your own voice:

  • Support those in your community who speak out if you are not comfortable speaking out yourself.
  • Contact someone you admire who is speaking out and let them know that you are grateful for their voice.
  • Tell your children why it is important to speak out and to back up other children who speak up if they do not feel they can do it themselves.

Inspiring Quotes From Those We Admire

Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.  ~ Dalai Lama XIV

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.  ~ Dalai Lama XIV

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.  ~Nelson Mandela

There is no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children. ~Nelson Mandela

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.  ~Mother Teresa

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.  ~Mother Teresa

Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.  ~Martin Luther King, Jr., The Purpose of Education

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’  ~Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963

Please Unite in the Aftermath of Arizona Shooting 12

Bullying, Setting Good Examples for Our Children • Tags: , , , , ,

American flag - Copy

My hope is that our country will come together over this tragedy and maybe learn something about how words might influence people in a negative way. It would be nice if “the powers that be,” be they political leaders, journalist, or just commentators, would learn to set a better example and stop trying to bully each other.

How can we hope to get our children to stop bullying each other when so many adults speak and post without thinking of the consequences of their words? Did the politicians pull the trigger in Arizona? No, they did not, but do they need to learn the same lessons that our youth need to learn? Yes, they do. They need to learn kindness, respect, and tolerance of differences just like we want our children to learn.

I would love to see our country united instead of being so angry that we divide. Anger is a scary emotion that ultimately causes more harm unless it is redirected toward positive change. Look at the history of the world including more recent history in countries such as Rwanda and you’ll see the devastation that anger causes. Please let’s learn something from the bad examples instead of perpetuating them.

See the blog post below for a wonderful take on this:

Try Defying Gravity

I’m sending love and prayers to the victims of Saturday’s shooting and to their families. I hope and pray the adults in our country grow up and learn to set better examples. Leaders lead by example too! Is there hope for our country? I hope so and I honestly do have faith that there are more good people than bad, so let me know what you think.

Oh one more thing, a blogger over at Blog Her was among the victims, who thankfully survived the shooting, but please send her good wishes at the blog below:

The Burrow: Tough

Mahalo,

Sue