May the rays of the summer sun settle around you like a warm mantle and a splash of cool rain wake you up to the beauty and joy of the moment.
Thank you all for your comments and emails. New beginnings are awesome. Katie Brocklehurst shared a great response to last week’s blog. Her five year old daughter choose God as her hero and described the three qualities “He died, He raised from the dead, and He saves us all the time.” A child’s heroes can unveil so much about what they value and what visions will guide them in their decision making and life choices. Her words reveal the traits of self-sacrifice (a major component of emotional intelligence), of power used in the service of life (a major component of leadership), and of compassion and a desire to serve the vulnerable (another great leadership component). Heroes can inspire 21st century skills, skills that can be cultivated by parents, caregivers and communities.
I watched the twin pillars of fire beneath the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on Friday and remembered one of my personal heroes.
This week’s hero: Christa McAuliffe, the teacher from New Hampshire chosen in 1985 for the NASA teacher in space and tragically killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. Her recorded images and words tell of her heroes. She describes being inspired as a young girl by NASA astronauts of the 60s and 70s and her desire to inspire a generation. “If I can get some student interested in science, if I can show members of the general public what’s going on up there in the space program, then my job’s been done.”
This week’s question to ask your favorite young person: Do you think you will get a chance to travel in space in your future?
The week’s resource: Google Earth Sky is an incredible way to explore space with your favorite your person from the comfort and safety of your home. My gratitude goes out to all the space explorers that have made this technology possible.
Middle and High school age is when many of us grasp a vision of what our life can be in the future. Those who take the time to consciously build a purpose statement are better able to stay focused and avoid bad decisions that lead them away from their goals. Consider purchasing or downloading Writing a Purpose Statement to help your child craft their mission.
