I'M
HOT!!! Not because of the weather or even hot flashes! I am burning
with passion! I have a fiery desire to move more fully into my
commitment to bring forth a greater vision for the FULL development
of children's potential. After spending 5 days (and nights) being
nourished and inspired with local presenters and world-renowned
speakers/leaders at the Soul in Education Conference: Creating
a Compassionate Future, I feel a sizzling energy igniting my pathway
as a catalyst for change. Of course, fears and questions arise
about stepping forward into what feels like my true calling: "Who
do you think you are?" "I'm gonna do what???" "Have
you lost your mind?" Yet, there is no walking away from this!
The definition of this new role, new responsibility, this honorable
position and the HOWS are being revealed daily as I open my heart
and mind to the possibilities. WOW, what a ride!
There is much
too much to share with you about the conference in a single newsletter.
Besides, I am still digesting the delicious buffet of connections,
experiences, resources, visions, strategies and what was awakened
within me. I will include tasty morsels in future newsletters.
What I am most enthusiastic about at the moment is the possibility
of uniting for a global movement. The conference coordinator,
Anne Kane, created an organization in Colorado called the Alliance
for Compassionate Education. I invite you to read the
current mission statement. To better coordinate our present work,
vision, future efforts and support one another, the conference
participants agreed that a cohesive effort has more strength and
energy. What resulted was the likelihood of GRACE: Global and
Regional Alliance for Compassionate Education. People from all
over the world are working on the manifestation of GRACE and I
will keep you posted as it develops. I intend to start a chapter
in the valley. Can you picture it? Local parents, educators, caregivers,
grandparents, leaders, businesses, organizations, and spiritual
communities collaborating and mobilizing for meaningful, authentic
and compassionate educational practices that honor and nurture
the inherent beauty, highest vision and unique gifts/talents of
each child. Won't you join me in this glorious vision? Interested?
Questions? Email
me! I'd love to hear from you! I'm also excited about
participating in the "Creating a Compassionate Classroom:
One Day at a Time" seminar next week. More yummies!!!
Compassion
is the doorway to grace, to the final realization of who we are
and why we are here,
and
to the ultimate source of all existence.
David Hawkins, Power vs. Force
TEENAGERS
Adolescence
can be a challenging time of life filled with physical, social,
emotional, mental and spiritual changes. Moving from childhood
to adulthood in a few short years is often confusing, scary, awkward,
intense, and fully charged with an array of emotions which may
change from moment to moment. Teens have a strong desire for independence
so they often test limits, question authority (especially parents),
probe, reject or doubt truths they have been taught. Teenagers
wonder about their role, identity, responsibility, purpose and
meaning in life and search for the answers to "Who am I?"
"Where and how do I fit in?"
Instead of
viewing this stage of development as a "spirit of rebellion",
consider it being the "spirit of opportunity and growth."
As teens move uniquely through this transition, their true intention
is for a separate identity. Although parents and adults struggle
with this period and act of separation, it is important to remember
how essential it is for a teen's personal growth.
Think back
to your teenage years. Mine were filled with joys and painful
struggles. I recall years of fun and frolic sprinkled with risks
that endangered my life and compromised my values. It was a chaotic
and yet charismatic time. Some parts of my myself still thrive
as a spirited teenager. Looking back, I wonder how it all turned
out OK.
How can you
help support teens? Mostly they need your care, compassion, understanding
and ear. Knowing there is a safe place to talk and be listened
to, a place and person with whom they can share their trials and
tribulations without judgment and criticism helps teens move more
gently through this time. They need adults who celebrate their
accomplishments no matter how small or large and in spite of history
or appearance. They hunger for sensitivity to their unique needs,
opportunities for meaningful connections, tolerance for differences,
guidance for making important decisions, and mostly, they need
to know they are loved and lovable in spite of it all. Hmmm…How
perfect that this affirmation showed up today:
Today,
see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that
it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but
also those who need it so much.
Daphine Rose Kingma
Since I have
had limited, yet blessed, experiences with this age group, I have
invited a guest to elaborate on Nurturing A Teenager. Rev. Therese
Inzerillo shares her personal story, the value of mentoring and
opportunities for teens to have a voice on what matters and is
dear to their heart.
Abundant blessings
of love, light and truth,
Adrian Reznik
NURTURING
A TEENAGER
By Rev. Therese Inzerillo
When I was
a teenager I remember my Mother telling me, "there wasn't
enough money in the world to make her go back and be a teenager
again." I couldn't understand her sentiment at the time because
I thought being a teenager was the coolest thing the world. Now
as I approach mid-life, I understand what she meant and I would
definitely agree with her. Although the teenage years were a time
of new discoveries and expansion there were also many challenges
and heartaches. In today's society teens seem to have even more
challenges thrust upon them making life even more confusing at
times. Broken families, drugs and alcohol, living in a society
that bombards them with sexuality, materialism and immorality
- all from a very young age, as well as a myriad of other pressures
- some age-old as part of the maturation process of puberty and
some related to our current times. Nevertheless, teens have more
pressures and stress in their lives today than ever before. With
dealing with these transitions and just trying to "survive",
how can they find their way in the world - find their "niche",
their path and learn to "thrive"?
I remember
hearing about a study that was done years ago which followed kids
from the ghetto through their adult lives. Many of these kids
continued living lives of poverty and struggle as adults, but
when the children that had evolved into healthy, successful adults
were asked what had made the difference in their lives they responded
by saying that it was because they had an adult who supported
and believed in them, where as the other children did not. Sometimes
this adult was a special teacher or a coach, clergy or perhaps
a family member, but they had been mentored and cared for and
shown by example how to be successful. Wow! Isn't it fabulous
to think what an immense difference one person can make in another
person's life? I believe it is true. We all need reminding now
and then how special we are, how wonderful we are and what great
things we can do - and especially through the formative years
when we are formulating our opinions about ourselves. Today, quantum
physics demonstrates how we create our reality through the thoughts
we think and what we believe, which echoes this principle and
how important it is to mentor a child or a teen to help them create
positive, loving thoughts about themselves and their life.
During my
teen years my parents were separated and eventually divorced.
It was a challenging time for our family and especially for me.
Because I was mature for my age and because I was responsible
and a "good" kid my parents felt that I could take care
of myself and as a result I was "emotionally neglected".
The need that I had inside to feel validated continued well into
my adulthood and played out in many of my relationships until
in my early thirties I finally learned how to heal it. Because
my parents were distracted with their own "crisis" I
felt that they did not love me. Because they never seemed interested
in what was going on in my life, I felt that I was worthless.
Even though I was considered to be an "over-achiever"
being Class President and Student Council President, a member
of the pompom squad, a dancer for 15 years and student teacher,
in the Drama Club and participated in all the school musicals
and plays, a member of Youth Advisory Board to the Catholic Diocese
and on and on, somehow I still felt empty and invalidated. I eventually
moved out at age 19 and have supported myself ever since. There
was no money for me to go to college (I was told my college money
went to pay for their divorce), so I had to start working full
time and went to night school for years and years trying to find
my path and my way in the world. It was a long, hard road and
it wasn't until my thirties that I felt that I truly found my
passion, my gift and my place in the world. I guess that is why
I have such a tender place in my heart for teenagers. I know and
understand how tough it can be and I want to prevent any teenager
from going the "long, hard route" that I took. I want
to help them discover the beauty and power within themselves.
I want to encourage them to live their dream and give their special
gifts to the world. I want them to know how very special and lovable
they are and I want to teach them to how to give back to the world
and be responsible, successful adults. On a spiritual level, I
want to encourage them to achieve their potential and live a joyful,
prosperous life. It was through being a sponsor for teen programs
through the Unity church that I began supporting the teens and
through this process that I began to heal myself. I worked with
the teenagers for several years and absolutely loved it. It was
such a passion and a gift for me that I eventually became the
Director of the Youth and Family Ministry program.
After heeding
the call to pursue my holistic talents and moving from the Midwest
to Phoenix, Arizona several years ago, I once again feel the pull
on my heartstrings to support the teens in their journey of evolvement.
It is a passion for me that I know will remain and that I long
to fulfill. Spirit has presented me currently with the unique
opportunity to share wisdom and truth principles with the world
through an internet radio show which I have been hosting for the
past year on www.achieveradio.com entitled "Intuitive Living".
The show encourages individuals to live a healthy, balanced life
physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and to tap into
their innate inner wisdom to live an empowered, enlightened life.
Now it is
time to tap into the wisdom of the teens and to allow them a voice
in the world to share their thoughts, views and opinions and to
create a safe environment where they can feel supported, nurtured
and valued. Beginning August 1st, I will be featuring "Intuitive
Living For Teens". It will be a special feature show every
few weeks, which will be two hours of talk from teens, to teens,
about teens and their challenges, their passions, their hopes,
their fears - whatever they need to discuss - and I will be there,
along with other adults from time to time, to support them, encourage
them, direct them, uplift them, inspire them, but mostly to be
their mirror and hopefully help them see just how fabulous they
really are! The show airs "live" on Monday evenings
from 6-8 pm. So for teens wanting to share and participate, or
for adults wanting to understand your teens, please join us. (See
information below about the show.)
And, if you
are an adult who is looking for more JOY in your life . . . I
encourage you to mentor a child or a teen. The process not only
benefits them but the blessings of love, healing, truth and wisdom
returned to you can be very powerful if you open yourself to it.
I quickly discovered the wisdom and Mastership of these insightful
souls in these adolescent bodies when I began to work with them.
It has been an immense joy and a wonderful source of healing in
my own life and I believe it can be in yours as well. It is a
powerful and an important journey for both parties. Hold on and
enjoy the ride . . . and know that you are giving a valuable gift
to the world. Mentoring . . . together we nurture each other!
Love, light
and many blessings! Namaste.
Rev. Therese
Inzerillo is an interfaith minister, holistic health practitioner/massage
therapist and host of "Intuitive Living" on www.acheiveradio.com
on Mondays 6-8 pm. (To listen just call up the website - click
on the "Listen" button and wait a few seconds to get
tuned in. All shows are archived for listening 24/7 by going to
the "Show Archives" on the homepage. From the list of
shows choose "Intuitive Living".)*
*Although
all shows are archived, teens are encouraged to listen "live"
and to interact with the guests by calling in with their comments,
questions, thoughts and opinions. The local number for Achieve
Radio is 623-772-9379 and toll-free at 1-800-920-3717. If there
are any teens that want to be a guest on the show, please contact
Therese at intuitiveliving@earthlink.net
or at 602-995-7360.
NURTURE
A CHILD "NUGGETS"
These
two books are filled with "heart connecting" guidance
and stories for understanding, experiencing and cherishing the
spirit of teenagers. ENJOY!
Nurturing
Your Teenager's Soul: A Practical Approach to Raising a Kind,
Honorable, Compassionate Teen
by Mimi Doe
Any of the
Chick
Soup for the Teenage Soul books
UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR GIFTS/TALENTS
EXPANDING
HEARTS - ONE STORY AT A TIME
CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
CELEBRATING ARIZONA AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS
OF INSPIRATIONAL LITERATURE
Fall 2006
Several
colleagues and I are in the early stages of creating this event.
We have created a vision and description of how we picture this
event unfolding (see below). Now WE NEED YOU! We invite
your input, resources, connections, networks and a variety of
personnel with skill sets in the following areas: Parent's and
Teen's Viewpoint, Teen Council, Marketing, Sponsors, Displays,
Author Recruitment, Storytellers, Book Vendors, Web Design, Entertainment,
Grass Roots Community Involvement, Librarians, Home Schoolers,
Spiritual community, Educational toys/products, Craft Supply Sponsors,
School Involvement (Public, Charter and/or Private), Database
Experience, Volunteer Coordinator, Communication Coordinator (emails,
phone), Public Relations.
Call or email me with your ideas, for future communications and/or
our September strategy session (date to be determined). Adrian@nurtureachild.com
or 623-435-1586. Please forward this information and invite friends,
family, and colleagues to become a part of this innovative and
exciting event.
Expanding
Hearts Book Festival is a one-of-a-kind, daylong, interactive
family event which invites children of all ages to experience
the magic of books. Expanding Hearts Book Festival provides opportunities
to experience literacy through fun activities, promotes community
resources and supports a designated charitable organization.
This
event will include book vendors, author and illustrator presentations,
entertainment, hands-on activities and workshops for children
and families - something for everyone. The festival is free to
the public and is held annually.
The
intention is to focus on or draw attention to inspirational literature
for children from toddlers to teens and to provide librarians,
teachers, and community members with the opportunity to learn
about and appreciate this genre of children's literature while
meeting Arizona authors and illustrators.
Expanding
Hearts Book Festival is different from a book fair in that we
are not simply selling books. Our participating authors and illustrators
are present throughout the day to meet book lovers, young and
old, and autograph books. They offer scheduled activities such
as readings, art demonstrations, and mini-workshops.
RESOURCES
I
am adding a RESOURCES page to the Nurture A Child web site sometime
this summer. Please email me with suggestions of what you'd like
or if you have a product or resource to promote. I am including:
books for children and adults, children's music CDs, web links,
magazines, or anything that supports the mission statement of
Nurture A Child. This is my gift to you. What do you desire?
ALTERNATIVE
EDUCATION
Looking
for an alternative education for your child? Chrysalis Learning
center is an upcoming education program which empowers children
to unfold in their own unique way by encouraging them to step
out of the box and develop responsibility for their own learning,
discovering who they are in the process. For more information
contact Terry Damlos-Mitchell at 623-773-3452 or e-mail Damlos6@msn.com
