During this heart month, I would like to share some thoughts about teacher student relationships. I was recently made aware of a survey that was taken by researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo a number of years ago, the survey examined high school students perceptions of their teachers and classes. The researchers asked juniors and seniors in 18 high schools across the nation to write essays on various aspects of their educational experience.
Episode 254: President's Day →
Once again, I would like to take my readers to that one room country school where I experienced many warm thoughts as a very young student of the four R's. As I stated in last week's column, I would often look at the wall, where one would see the pictures of two presidents. These two presidents, Abraham, Lincoln and George Washington, became my hero presidents. Our Pledge of Allegiance and respect for the flag was a part of the old country school. Oh yes, I did whisper in that one room school, and since this was against school rules, I would often find myself standing in the corner of the room near the bucket of water with a dipper and a row of library books on the shelf.
Episode 253: The One Room Country School →
Perhaps some of my readers of this column will remember the days of the one room country school as the birth date of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th approaches. My thoughts go to the old one room country school, where I would often look on the wall and see the pictures of two great presidents: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, who were both born in February. It was back in the good old days when both birthdays were a holiday. It was also the age when children were "to be seen and not heard," and one did not whisper, as "silence was golden."
Episode 252: The Power of Forgiveness →
In last week's column, it was mentioned that January 21 is national hugging day. I also read about Thank you day being in January, and the last week in January has long been known as international forgiveness week. The other morning, I was listening on the radio and heard it say that a noted Doctor stated that "70% of the people would be released from hospitals in 24 hours if they knew they were forgiven." A French philosopher once said that "to know all is to forgive all."
Episode 251: Warm Thoughts & Hugs →
The home fires may be burning in your home as we together listen on the radio and watch TV about the travel challenges many are facing throughout the country. Upon my return from travel to Seattle during the holiday season, I was welcomed with 20 degree below zero weather. However, my heart was warmed as I listened to the phone messages and read the many cards, letters, and precious thoughts which I received - you all really made my day.
Episode 250: Fresh Dreams for the New Year →
This is the first Warm Thoughts column for 1998. An unknown author once wrote this New Year's thought, "What the new year will bring us depends a great deal on what we bring into the new year." Among the many Christmas greeting cards received were many warm thoughts: A Prayer for Peace. "Dear Lord, let this be a year that moves us one step closer to each other. Let this be a year that brings us understanding in our hearts. Let this be a year that fills us with a yearning, burning, feeling for peace with one another and a oneness, Lord, with you."
Episode 249: Winter Commencement →
Many warm thoughts crossed my mind as I attended the 20th Winter Commencement at the University of South Dakota. Amid all the pomp and circumstance, I was in the audience giving cheers to my colleagues for their achievements. Graduation at Christmas time with holiday festivities seems to have special meaning for many families. The commencement address was given by a very successful businessman, who also received the Distinguished Service Award from President Betty Turner Asher. The speaker, Doug Scholl, spoke on the "A" life - our advanced thinking can help us to give something back, we can soar with the eagles, our attitude is important in making choices...He warned us not to associate with people who hate.
Episode 248: Singing in the Shepherd Hills →
Every year now, as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day approaches, my memories take me to the little town of Bethlehem. How special it was to be able to worship in a cave on the shepherd hills in Bethlehem, the night I worshiped in a cave on those Shepherd hills will long remain in my memories. We traveled the winding roads of those hills with Abraham as the driver of the bus called "the guiding star," and Elijah and Gabriel guided the driver as we sang those beautiful Christmas carols. It seems that the angels in heaven were helping us to sing on those Shepherd hills.
Episode 247: Christmas Epistles →
It is National Family Week. As I write this warm thoughts column, families have traveled from far and near to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is more travel over the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year. How wonderful for families to be together and celebrate the family ties. Every day is a day to celebrate the family.
Episode 246: National Family Week →
It is National Family Week. As I write this warm thoughts column, families have traveled from far and near to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is more travel over the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year. How wonderful for families to be together and celebrate the family ties. Every day is a day to celebrate the family.
Episode 245: That First Thanksgiving Day →
Thanksgiving Day. Have you wondered about that first Thanksgiving Day? I found it very interesting that 200 years ago, in 1789 George Washington declared November 26th the official day of Thanksgiving. This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26th. After 1789, the States continued to celebrate on different days.
Episode 244: The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving →
Are you making preparation for the family Thanksgiving? This week, I will share some thoughts from the book, "Just Folks," by a very favorite author, Edgar A Guest.
Episode 243: Golden Anniversary →
November. Can it really be November? Already, it seems, the year has it's last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow.
Episode 242: Make a Difference →
A recent warm thoughts column provided information about Make a Difference Day, which is October 26th. It is a day when everyone is encouraged to make a difference in their community and world by making it a Day of Caring, an annual National Day of helping others. Across the nation, about 1 million Americans will help others on this Make a Difference Day.
Episode 241: More than Money →
While in southern Nebraska on a weekend retreat, my daughter called the Little Home on the Prairie from Texas. Thanks to answering machines, she informed me that in their area in Texas, they got their first cold front. The temperature got to a lovely 70 degrees. I also was made aware that Boulder, Colorado had a storm, no school, and in Denver, many of the trees were destroyed because of an ice storm. And my friend in Florida informs me about the challenges their state experiences in Love Bug month. This time traveling back home throughout the heartland of America, I saw many fields not yet ready for harvest that had been damaged by the early frost. It brought back memories of the challenging years that many of us experienced as a child in those years of depression, which now seem to be history.
Episode 240: Towards a Society of All Ages →
A recent article I read states that the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1999 as International Year of Older Persons. The theme will be "Towards a Society of All Ages." This theme was chosen to promote the philosophy that societies should be inclusive in nature, should embrace all population groups, and share their resources equally. October 1st, 1998 will be the day that the UN launches this year long celebration, which is also the International Day of Older Persons, having its beginning in 1990.
Episode 239: We Are Survivors →
Recently, one of the readers of this column from Texas sent me an article entitled, "We Are Survivors: Consider the Changes We Witnessed." I thought it appropriate to share some of the thoughts from this article. Individuals who were born prior to 1945 will especially understand the changes in their lives.
Episode 238: Make a Difference Day →
One of the very faithful readers of this Warm Thoughts column recently sent me an article entitled, "You Can Make a Difference." It was an article informing the public to take action on October 26th and make that day a day of caring, a national day to inform us that the Make a Difference Day can help everyone to help others. The sixth annual event, in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, takes place on October 26th. Mark your calendar!
Episode 237: Count Your Blessings →
Some time ago, a dear friend and great grandma who has faced many emotional challenges in her life, shared some thoughts about counting. This dear friend regularly reads this Warm Thoughts column and wanted to share the thoughts by an unknown author with all you dear readers out there, somewhere. We live in an age where we have many choices and changes. Some time ago, I heard someone state that "pain is inevitable, but misery and being miserable is a choice." In the School of learning and hard knocks, the following thoughts may warm our hearts and perhaps motivate us in our own countdown.
Episode 236: The Challenges of Aging →
Recently, I read a very interesting article on the challenges of aging. Studies by the experts state that "the generation who are celebrating their 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries have succeeded in kicking the blabbers out of the stereotypes of aging." Perhaps this can be explained by one word - attitude. The experts stated, "the attitudes of a 70-year-old today are equivalent to those of a 50-year-old, but only a decade or two ago." It is interesting how many couples are in their 50th, 60th and even 70th wedding anniversaries. More individuals are also reaching that century mark. The late George Burns stated, "I see people who, the minute they get to be 60, start rehearsing to be old. They practice when they sit down and grunting when they get up, and by the time they get to be 70, they're a hit. They've got the part - they're old."