Do you need some peace in your life?

Take a moment to connect with yourself and find your inner peace every week by receiving a Peace Partners message every Monday and Friday! To sign up, send an e-mail to d.diller@live.com. Until then, check out the Peace Partners page to see previous messages.

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Peace Partners – March 5, 2010

How was your week? Did you have any garden moments of peace? This weekend search out a garden. It could be in a public place like a park or an arboretum. It might be in your own backyard. Or it could be time spent at a local nursery dreaming of spring and the promise it brings.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 26, 2010

How did your week go? I hope it was a peaceful one. Think about starting each day with just a few minutes of peace and quiet, a time to reflect. These minutes will grow exponentially. Try it this weekend. Breathe deeply. Be still for a few minutes.

Have a peaceful  weekend,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 22, 2010

“Peace and quiet.” These are words we often hear together. I’d just like some peace and quiet. There is much to be said in that three-word combo. It is hard to have peace without quiet time. Each day I begin with just 10 minutes early in the morning to sit quietly and reflect. I often pray during this time. Sometimes I write in a journal. It is in this quiet, still time that I think about what’s most important in life and make choices to direct my day.

Recently, I visited a classroom that began the day with a Morning Meeting. The children greeted each other by name around the circle. They shared news with each other. It was a peaceful start to the school day. The class began as a community of learners. A circle of trust.

Think about how you begin each day—both at home and in the classroom.

Peace be with you,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 19, 2010

Do you have a mentor? If not, it may be time to find one. Be mindful of people you meet who have wisdom to share, because they have already been on a path you are now finding yourself on. Look for someone who has wisdom and grace, who conducts himself/herself in a way that you respect.

A mentor can be a peace resource. Just ask. The right one will say, “Yes.” Or perhaps someone has asked you to be their mentor. It may be time for you to say, “Yes” to another who needs your wisdom. Join together as peace partners.

Have a peaceful weekend,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – Monday, February 15, 2010

“A mentor can be a peace resource.”

My mentor has already been down a path that is new to me. She shares valuable information which is a comfort to me, because she has already experienced what I am going through. A mentor might be a colleague, as mine is. Or she might be a friend, as mine has become.

I met Laura Robb at NCTE. We presented together in Philadelphia and learned we had much in common. We are both writers and consultants; we love teaching and literacy; we are nurturers. She became my mentor because I asked.  She is helping me through a difficult season, because she is equipped by life to do so. Recently she gave me such wise counsel that I hung a picture of her with a speech bubble quoting her wise words in my office.

Laura listens. She helps me reflect. She gives advice as I ask for it. She is wisdom. And wisdom brings peace.

May you find a mentor that can bring you wisdom and peace. You just have to ask.

Peace be with you,

Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 12, 2010

How’s your peace? Did you try jotting down 2-3 things a day that were most important for you to do? I know you have a million things to do, but choosing just 2-3 helps us feel more peaceful.

As you look forward to the weekend, you might try the post-it approach. What are the 2-3 most important things for you to do on Saturday and Sunday? Be sure to include something that brings you peace! Here are mine: “spend time with Tom; play in my flower beds by taking photos and deadheading plants.” Notice that I didn’t write down all the work stuff I must do. That goes without saying. I’m sticky noting the most important things… the things that will bring me peace.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 8, 2010

“I’m so stressed out!” This is not a good feeling. This is not a feeling of peace. And yet, how many times do we feel this way?

One thing that really stresses our children is “not knowing what comes next.” We can ease their feelings of uncertainty by providing a daily schedule in the classroom. One with pictures and times is most helpful for young children. They can look at it and see exactly what comes next. If the schedule is made with a pocket chart or Velcro or magnets, pieces can be manipulated to change schedules and let children know about those changes. This is why I use a pocket chart for management of work stations; it shows children exactly where they’ll be going.

Feelings of “not knowing what comes next” can stress us out as adults, too! Of course, there are some life events we have no control over. But we can focus on today and what our plans are for this day only. Try jotting on individual sticky notes the 2 or 3 top things you want to be sure you will do today, so you know what comes next. Put them in order to help you plan for your day.

Today my 3 post-its say, “doctor visit- 11 AM; rewrite place value chapter; exercise 30 min.” These are realistic important tasks that will help to guide my day. I feel more peaceful when I have a (flexible) plan for the day.

Peace be with you,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 5, 2010

What did you give yourself permission to do “good enough” this week? Did you cut yourself any breaks? I hope so.

I was delighted to get in a 30-minute workout with a video rather than driving to the gym and back for an hour-long class. Perfection doesn’t bring peace.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 1, 2010

“Sometimes it’s okay to have a ‘good enough’ day.”

 Years ago, when I was a mother of two young children my mother-in-law whom I adored, Hila Diller, traveled from PA to TX to visit us for a few days. Wanting to be ultra-organized, I’d created a system for keeping track of the jobs I needed to do at home. I had index cards for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that I rotated accordingly. It was insane, but sweet Hila said not a word, as she watched me scurry around like a chicken with my head cut off!

A few weeks after her visit, a book arrived in the mail for me. It was called What to Do When You Can’t Do It All, and inside was a short note that said, “This book helped me a lot. Thought you might like it, too. Love, Hila.” What a wonderful mother-in-law I had!

One thought from this (now out-of-print) book that has stayed with me for over 20 years is this: Sometimes you can’t do it all, and it’s okay to do a “good enough” job. I strive to do my best at everything and give 100%, but that’s just not possible all the time. I accept that some days are “good enough” days.

Peace comes from accepting “good enough” from time to time.

Peace be with you,

Debbie

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