This week Awesome Stories brings you the poetry of seas, feeding our dreams, creative schools, native bees and empathy.
The Poetry of Seas
This is a beautiful BBC video that touches my heart and reminds me that I have a passion for the ocean. Maybe it’s time to make a short bucket list of those things that really matter to me. I hope this video moves you too.
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20140909-life-in-the-extreme-blue
Stop Hiding
A friend of mine is doing good work with helping people understand the ways that they hide and keep from shining their light and moving forward with their dreams. Christi Daniels gave a talk at Unity recently, making a public commitment to stop hiding, and start sharing her gifts with the world. She helps those of us who are fearful, vulnerable, introverted, sensitive and cultural creatives find ways to get support, nourish our imaginal selves, and feed our dreams. I tend to hide in confusion, collecting more information and not making decisions. Would you like to join us in finding ways to act on your dreams?
Creative Schools
I know personally how much space, light and nature can affect my mental and emotional states. I’m delighted that this knowledge is being used to design schools and education. This school in Japan offers students a much livelier space to learn and play, mixing the indoors with the outdoors. One of the wonderful features is a central courtyard designed to collect rainwater and be a place for kids to play in the puddles! The courtyard is also used for eating, ice skating and other games. The whole school is designed to be flexible, happy and connected to nature. Playtime!
The Truth about Bees
I learned a lot about bees in this article, discovering that we’re worrying about the wrong bees. Most surprising is that only about 14% of our crops are pollinated by honeybees. The 3999 native bee species are who pollinate the vast majority of our crops! It’s nice that honeybees are raising awareness of pesticides and the impact on bee health, but we need to pay more attention to the health of our native bees. Their numbers are way down, and more important to our food production and survival. Protect native bees!
I Wish My Teacher Had Known
This is a great project started by Kyle Schwartz to help her understand and empathize with her students. Kyle, an elementary teacher in Denver, had the idea to ask her students to finish the statement “I wish my teacher had known“. The answers were poignant and heart opening. The idea has gone viral as a wonderful way to encourage empathy. The author of the article, Lindsey Weedston, used it to better understand her friends and the challenges they faced in school. She makes a good point that our schools could do a lot better at offering alternative ways to address poverty, disability and illness in our education. May we learn the beauty of empathy to help cross the bridges of ignorance and judgment.
How has empathy touched your life?
Would you care to share something you wish your teachers, friends or parents had known?
writing to freedom 
Thanks for another lovely weekly update from the frontiers of goodness, Brad. I enjoyed the video of the ocean very much, particularly discovering the way those birds swim through the water in search of prey! And the article from Christi was an inspiring reminder as well of the importance of letting our light shine… What else are we here to do!?
The glass-walled “urinal carousel” in the center of such open space was intriguing. I think if they actually made it a functional carousel that rotated they’d have a hard time keeping the kids off of it! There’s a superior potty-training mentality at work here…. 🙂
Michael
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You are most welcome Michael. Thanks for diving into the waters and sharing your wonderful ideas like the carousel! Who could resist playing and peeing! I’m grateful to know Christi and appreciate her reminders too. Have a peaceful and joyful week!
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Great one, Brad. I’ve shared some of these stories. Most surprised by the one about bees.
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Thanks Cynthia. I had no idea that native bees were such a large factor and being affected so much too.
Bee well! 🙂
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Brad thank you again for these.. I only stopped by the BBC’s Earth video.. fabulous as I am on a mission today trying to catch up with friends… 🙂 I thank you for all you share and for always finding time to visit me at Dreamwalkers..
Now I have to go as its time to cook dinner.. 🙂
Love and Blessing Enjoy a fab weekend.. Hugs Sue ❤
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Thanks for the hugs and blessings Sue. 🙂 I appreciate any visits, especially when food and compliments are involved! I bet you have some wonderful garden vegetables to cook. Good night my friend. 🙂
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Love the story about the bees.
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Thanks for buzzing by today Lee! XD
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Wow, what a plelthora of interesting topics. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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I’m glad you enjoyed them Natalie and I love the word plethora! You made me smile with a great word I forget to use. 🙂
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Wonderful post, Brad! I’ll keep that last question in mind for my next school year for sure…
Have a great summer, my dear friend!
Camelia
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Thank you Camelia. It’nice to hear from you and I hope you’re enjoying your summer break. That would be fantastic if you used that question in your class. to empathy, summer dreams and good friends. 🙂
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I read Christi Daniels’ post since I posted a similar article on FB recently and got a great response,even from usually apathetic commenters. Problem with Christi’s post – there’s no room to leave a comment. part of coming out of hiding would be an opportunity to interact with her readers…..
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Thanks for exploring and contributing Annette. That is an interesting reflection on Christi’s post.
Have a beautiful week, Brad
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Happy Sunday, Darling Brad!! Being a coastal creature, I loved the Poetry of Seas and watched it whilst enjoying my morning coffee. Then, Christi arrived and took the words straight out of my heart, soul, and mind so swiftly I had to sit down. Did she know me?? It sounded like my story to a tee! And now, thanks to you leading me to her, I may just muster the courage to publish my next post…😘
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Your comments are like a big warm hug. 🙂 Thank You Shauna! I love your description of being a “coastal creature”. I’ve often wondered if I’m one too or at least a water creature who is drying up here in the middle of the country. I’m both glad and surprised to hear that you resonate with Chrisit’s post so much. You seem so bold, living, loving, serving and traveling. I look to you as a model of how I wish I was living. 🙂 I look forward to reading your next post, and I’m grateful to know you. blessings my friend.
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Wonderful stories this week Brad, thanks so much! 🙂
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You’re welcome Julie. Thanks for visiting. I hope you have an inspired week! 🙂
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Hi Brad I have invited you to a challenge 🙂 Here is the link https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/allergic-to-e-challenge/
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Thanks Neha. Your timing is funny. I just wrote a different challenge post and offered you to join! Maybe we’ll both play along. 🙂
Here is my challenge to you! https://writingtofreedom.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/fumbling-forward-the-f-challenge/
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Great again Brad! I wish my teacher’s had known about my dyslexia. More that they acknowledged it rather than knew it, I was put down as a poor worker and a bit disruptive. Fortunately its more recognised in schools now!
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Thanks. Sorry for your challenges. It does seem schools are doing better at offering options, tools and learning styles for a whole range of folks.
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