9-27-2019

Mary’s Minute

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

                                                                        ~ Buddha

I love metaphors, and Buddha’s candle comparison to happiness is a great one.  Love, kindness, and happiness are qualities, not quantities.  They can be shared and not be depleted; in fact, sharing them often makes them grow stronger.  Parents who have multiple children, and in fact anyone (which means everyone) who loves more than one person, understands that loving one child does not make you love the others less. 

I remember my mom telling that when she and my dad were young parents with just my brother, Bernie, they didn’t think they should have other children because they didn’t think they could ever love another child as much as they loved him.  Thank goodness, they realized they could in fact love other children, as I was born 2 years after Bernie, and then 2 years later Sofie, and 8 years later, our precious, Amy.  We all found we had plenty of love for Amy! 

Taking Buddha’s analogy a step further, I like the idea of striving to be a beam of light that can shine forth with love, kindness, and happiness.  As we shine on others, our light is not depleted.  Pushing the comparison a bit further, as our light shines and reflects off of others, it creates a glow that is brighter than just our own light. 

I wish you the light of happiness, kindness, and love, and I urge you to let them shine on others!

                                                                        Have a great week!

                                                                                    Mary

9-20-2019

Mary’s Minute

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

                                                                                                   ~ Colin Powell

It has been a bit of an emotional week for me as I left Bill 2,000 miles away in Palo Alto, California.  I admit I worry -- even though I know it won’t do any good.  

One thing I am not worried about is whether he can handle the work at Stanford.  I know from the experience of Perry Central kids that he is ready.  The data shows that our kids do really well in college and even more important than the numbers for me are the stories.  Just this year already, I have heard of multiple students who said their calculus class in college is easy because Bob Linne prepared them so well.  We hear this every year.  Bill will be in Calc III with students from all over the world, but I know that he is ready because of the preparation he had at a little country school in Southern Indiana.  Our teachers believe that our kids deserve the very best, and through that belief and their hard work, they have prepared our students to thrive at the best universities in the world.  

I went through some Kleenex this week, but I didn’t shed a tear worrying whether Bill can handle the rigor of Stanford.  Thanks to Perry Central teachers, he is prepared.  As an administrator and a parent, thank you, teachers!

                                                                   Have a great week!

                                                                                    Mary

9-13-2019

  Mary’s Minute

I often wonder how different the world could be if everyone just practiced kindness and respect at every level.  Could we rid the world of war and violence?  Could we create better learning environments?  Could workplaces be more productive?  I think the same can be related to sports. 

I am particularly proud of our Perry Central kids for practicing good sportsmanship.  This week our volleyball team was recognized by the IHSAA for practicing good sportsmanship, which was reported to the state by an official at the game.  I inquired what our girls did to earn this kind of recognition -- thinking maybe there was one big moment -- but what set them apart was their overall attitude of respect and kindness throughout the game. 

Members of our football team were recognized for practicing great sportsmanship.  Our teams have had some tough losses this fall, but I could not be more proud of our teams and our student cheering section for practicing in sports what we strive to practice in life -- treating everyone, even opponents, with kindness and respect.  

Kindness and respect are the ingredients for success in all elements of life, sports included!

             Have a great week!

                                                                                                Mary

9-6-2019

Mary’s Minute

“There are many little ways to enlarge your world.  Love of books is the best of all.”    

                                                                                     – Jacqueline Kennedy

I am excited that this week received my first staff book club book for the year.  Also this week, Mia Bishop finished a book she was reading in our office and said, “I finished my book, but I am sad it is over.”  Reading -- what a wonderful gift it is!  I have been writing in a gratitude journal, and I when I list things for which I am grateful I include reading (the ability to read, the love of reading, the power of reading -- the gift of reading!)  Reading informs, empowers, entertains, transports, and inspires.  

Admittedly, I go through spurts when I don’t read as much as I do at other times, but I always appreciate reading. 

I am doing a lot of reflecting on motherhood as I anticipate an empty nest.  As a parent, I have many faults, but one thing I got right was reading to my kids.  I think that for me the value of reading came from my childhood.  Productivity was important in the Bower home, but reading, although it could be considered recreation, was always thought of as a priority and a way to be “productive.”  

A priority of education is to teach children how to read, and equally important we want to inspire them to want to read.  They certainly go hand in hand.  Knowing how to read is the first step to love reading, but then again, maybe it is the other way around.  The best way to teach someone how to read is for them to begin with a desire.

Reading -- what a gift.  This weekend I have a long to-do list, but I am smiling broadly at the thought of making time to dig into my latest book! 

                                                                                          Have a great week!

                                                                                                                        Mary