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When looking at your child is more like looking in the mirror
Looking in the mirror is an experience that is different for every person. Some like it. A lot. And others avoid it like the plague. Some look selectively and focus on only the good, while others become consumed with their minor flaws. Either way, looking in the mirror has an important purpose: It shows us what is really there. What other people see. It is important to appreciate the good we see in ourselves, but also to be honest and willing to do something about things we want to and are able to change. In my short time as a parent I have come to the realization of a couple…
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Restraint.
While completing an interior design course a couple years ago it dawned on me. That all good design rests on the ability to show restraint. (Restraint: A measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control.) Restraint is the ability to hold yourself back from the many options available to you so that you can achieve a specific result. I am someone who enjoys many different interior styles. In the past I have tried to include too many of these within one room or home. The end result is cluttered and messy. It is far less impactful than when I have limited myself and been really fussy about…
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Why we should bother working at meaningless tasks
This one goes out to the Millennial Generation. And beyond. We are a generation that were born for purpose. We are driven towards living meaningful lives and doing things that will change the world. And rightly so. Growing up I was such a thinker. I could see no purpose in meaningless tasks such as tidying my room and helping around the home. I spent much time pondering the purposeful activities I would get involved in and avoided the others. I was a generally well-behaved, compliant child. But had great difficulty applying myself to real life tasks. As life has progressed, a massive reality has dawned on me. The seemingly meaningless…
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When learning feels like failing
There have been a number of times that I have made a life change or put myself in a challenging situation in order to learn something new. My first year of teaching was such an experience. I was desperate to learn and to grow as much as I possibly could in my first year. And I got exactly that. I started with the largest class in the school and a number of challenging kids. Not to mention the challenge of trying to get myself past some of my own weaknesses in bringing routine and order. I realized that learning is not as glamorous as it seems. I constantly felt like…