Dear Friends, we made it through week one! Yeah! Let’s dawn our boots of patience and fortitude and relax, meditate and be creative as we start week 2.

This Monday I have heard from a number of friends via text, phone and Facebook, some frustrations with people not heeding the social distancing rules and very aggressive and seemingly aggressive behaviour. In addition those who have ventured out into the stores are finding the empty shelves disturbing. Yes it is disturbing but we have to muscle through. I believe the spiritual leaders are steering us to a position of strength and healing with their advice to keep a gratitude mindset, sighting all the things that are going well and the blessings in our lives. Mayor Como touched on this during his morning news conference.

I suggest you might like to look at Ho’oponopono the Hawaiian practice of forgiveness.

It’s pretty simple, as that is needed is to repeat to the universe: I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you. This is repeated with sincere open heart and desire to heal one’s perspective. It is founded on the premise that we are all responsible for our own perceptions of reality. Read the article or the other links I will post at the end, as these links can explain this healing practice better than I. Maybe this is a mantra we need to be constantly repeating especially during these days of social distancing. WE need to remember we are all globally on the same team and we need to focus on forgiveness and love; the fastest way to healing.

So on this note, I am going to share with you Part One of a story I wrote for Joanne McIntosh and Steve Yull when they were the administrators at Queen Victoria Elementary School. It was a pleasure to work for this dynamic duo! (I’ll post part two tomorrow)

Dazzle’s Challenge:

• Read out loud this story to your partner and your children that you think might enjoy this piece….My dear friend Jennifer reads to her husband regularly as he prefers being read to than reading himself, what a beautiful literary sharing of love!

Quick Link Resources:

• Hooponopono – 4 Simple Steps
• The Hawaiian Secret of Forgiveness

The Old Oak King by Mary Catherine Rolston (©2013) Part One

Some fifteen years ago Robert Fulghum enraptured us with one simple credo

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, a best seller, hit like a torpedo!

Today Kid President in his pep talk tells us to KIS (Keep Things Simple) and Be a Party

We are, once again reminded to be kind, care, dance, stop being boring, laugh hearty.

In his joyful awestruck wonder Kid President suggests if we are members of the same team

We need to persist and act like it, “Make every day better for each other!” that’s his dream.

So yet again we are reminded by the youth of the world that things really aren’t that complex

Listening, caring, and laughing can be done by kids to business managers and execs.

Many a business guru have preached a variety of leadership manifestos

Outlining steps that guarantee to inspire with a wave of a wand and presto!

Many appeal to the business ego, micro-manage and strategic plan

BUT often problems become the pursuer and leaders run like the gingerbread man.

Maybe we adults just need to STOP, sit back and enjoy a story time

A simple kid like way of learning with pictures and couplets that rhyme.

So grab yourself a water, juice, coffee, tea and a cookie or two

Who knows maybe this tale might change or enhance, your point of view.

Nestled next to a lake, forested lands lush and green,

Cradled by steep cliffs, magical waterfalls and ravines,

Hummed a quiet quaint valley town, home to a wise pair

They knew what it meant to be mindful, listen and care.

You might think they were the town’s business big shots

Surprisingly this boy and girl were wee kindie tots.

Stevie, Koala Kid, hugged, climbed and hung from trees without fears

Jo-Jo, alias Turtle Tot, was attentive, cautious and wise beyond her years

With courage and simplicity, these two best friends taught the elders a thing or two

You see the town was split in the middle which was creating a hullabaloo!

On the edge of town, in the middle of a farmer’s field grew a massive oak tree

Close to 400 years old, people from far and wide would hike out to see.

Its trunk was over 9 metres around, 3 meters across and it stood 30 meters high

Its branches majestically stretched holding its green canopy crown to the bright sky

Next to a hiking path, it was a refuge to constant tired hikers and many a picnic date

A sanctuary of peace and inspiration, a place where all ages would play and contemplate.

Stevie and Jo-Jo loved this tree beyond any place they had ever been

Every day their moms took them to play at that old oak in the field of green

The moms would chat watching Stevie climb and Jo-Jo sing rhymes as she stared into the sky

The magic of being and friendship, where time stood still while the Oak King kept a watchful eye

Now one might be shocked to hear such a haven of serenity could cause people to fight

It started when the farmer sold his land to a developer claiming his property rights

His plan was to build a mall, improving the town’s wealth, bringing jobs and better shopping

He revealed it would be built on the middle of the land. Can you guess what needed chopping?

Half the town was excited for the extra money to lower taxes and the jobs it would bring

Half the town was angry wanting protection for the towering Oak King

This debate raged on the streets, in the papers, over fences, at dinner and in coffee shops

Even at school, Stevie and Jo-Jo listened to loud disputes and finger pointing from moms and pops.

This growing war of words upset and baffled Stevie and Jo-Jo, so they asked a yelling dad

Tugging on his jacket, Stevie said, “Excuse me Mister, why are you so mad?”

He turned to them and said, “Never you mind, it’s an adult problem, go play!”

Stevie and Jo-Jo looked at each other in shock at this rude adult display.

At the end of the day, during home time circle, when it was her turn Jo-Jo slowly spoke

“Please Miss Bird can you tell us why people are so angry about the old oak?

People keep saying what they think, saying it louder and louder while they turn beet red

They don’t seem to be listening to the other guy and what is being said.”

Before Miss Bird could answer Stevie interrupted, “I know, it is true each side thinks they are right.

Their passion starts wars making each side think of win or lose or black or white.

Miss Bird don’t you say that when I’m selfish I only see what’s good for me

But if I want to be happy I need to listen and respect others, so me turns to we?”

Miss Bird nodded, “You two are right, if people added the white to black and the black to white there might be a solution in gray.”

Before she could say any more the bell rang and the children left for home it was the end of the day.

While Jo-Jo and Stevie walked home ahead of their moms, Stevie turned to Jo-Jo looking confused,

“Jo-Jo, how can we get each side to worry more about caring than being right or feeling accused?”

Jo-Jo shook her head saying, “It’s funny adults think problems are more important than folks

But it’s people and our friendships that are key, like the meeting in the middle of a wheel’s spokes.

If we focus on sharing and helping the other person there is no other side

We’ll roll along like a wheel gaining speed and stride.”

After dinner Jo-Jo and Stevie went to play at the Oak King with their dads.

All were having fun when Jo-Jo’s dad, John, said, “Hey have you seen the paper with the developer’s ads?

It looks like we are finally going to get what this town needs to grow, bringing more money.”

Stevie’s dad, Sam, said, “Huh? It’s not all about dollars and cents, we’ll lose the Oak King, now that’s not so sunny!”