Heart of the Matter

In the book, Heart-Centered Teaching Inspired by Nature, author Nancy Rosenow encourages administrators and teachers to use a variety of “tools” to help cultivate flourishing inner “gardens” as a way to build reserves of strength necessary to thrive in the very rewarding, but challenging world of early childhood education.

One of the tools recommended is “celebration,” described like this:

“I invite you to begin collecting ideas for healthy ways to celebrate ‘just because.’ You might want to try out one of your ideas at least once a week. Here are some possibilities to get you started: Listen to favorite music until you feel totally relaxed; buy or pick a bouquet of fresh flowers; go to a favorite sporting event; get a massage; read a fun book; go out to dinner with friends; cook a special dinner at home; take a walk in a beautiful park, arboretum, or botanical garden; go to a comedy club; soak in the tub; eat some delicious fresh fruit, watch a favorite movie; sit by the fire and enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea; eat breakfast in bed on a weekend morning; do something you used to enjoy as a child; go to a play put on by a local high school or college; buy yourself a present that costs less than five dollars (see how creative you can be in finding something fun).”

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