a belief in each other

Jessica Jackley: Poverty, Money, Love, and her story.


(Love+Money) > Money

Be sure to check out Kiva 

do what you love

 28,835 beans represent the days of the average human lifespan.

check out ZeFrank on youtube

This is the way we’ve always ridden this horse

I have been reading a couple of books and articles on school culture or 'school climate'.  A positive school culture is the cornerstone of a good school. It is the foundation for a school's improvement. Yet... it often goes unmentioned and unaddressed. 

I also read a great article on Venspired, Is Your School Leaking?

And another on the Huffington Post: Why School Culture Matters, and How to Improve It.

But the one thing I learned, the one thing that has 'stuck'... is this following bit of final advice I received comparing school culture to horse training:

"Common advice from knowledgeable horse trainers includes the adage, “If the horse you’re riding dies, get off.” Seems simple enough, yet, in the education business we don’t always follow that advice. Instead, we often choose from an array of alternatives which include: 

• Buying a stronger whip.
• Trying a new bit or bridle.
• Switching riders.
• Moving the horse to a new location.
• Riding the horse for longer periods of time.
• Saying things like, “This is the way we’ve always ridden this horse.”
• Appointing a committee to study horses.
• Arranging to visit other sites where they ride dead horses efficiently.
• Increasing the standards for riding dead horses.
• Creating a test for measuring our riding ability.
• Comparing how we’re riding now with how we did it 10 or 20 years ago.  
• Complaining about the state of horses these days.
• Coming up with new styles of riding.
• Blaming the horse’s parents. The problem is in the breeding. "

Best to always remember that if the horse you're riding dies, get off. Get yourself a new horse. No amount of testing or measuring or complaining will help.

I'm with Coco

Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality, it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, it's just true!

a life well lived

Fifty years ago, Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Mt. Everest.



On the edge is where you learn and grow the most.

Where do you fit in the vastness of creation?

produce joy

"My intent today is that my words and actions produce joy in all those they touch."

aspire and inspire to end bullying

I really like Gotham Chopra and his Aspire to Inspire series. In his most recent google hangout, Gotham talks with panelists Shane Koyczan, Kevin Epling, Margot Leitman, and Martin Shervington on how to deal with bullying. The conversation hits on how kids are bullied - even into adulthood. How bullying has long term affects, and, most importantly, what we can all do to change the societal view of bullying.





You can visit Shane Koyczan's website and see his inspiring "To This Day" video.

Check out Kevin Epling and his organization Defeat the Label.

Also, she wasn't able to always stay on the panel, but check out Margot Leitman's website for information on her upcoming shows, classes, and get a copy of her book "Gawky".