Thursday
Nov042004
Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 6:48AM
How About Going Back To School
When I conduct group therapy, I often read something to get a discussion going. One such piece is Robert Fulghum's "All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." These words are relevant for all of us, but especially our politicians. In the face of an election decided because people saw moral values important, our leaders can review this. These are lessons they were taught once, but forgotten as evidenced by their public behavior. I wonder how their kindergarten teachers would think of them today and how they would discipline them when they call names, tell lies, and don't say they are sorry? The term, "too big for your britches," comes to mind. When things get out of control, go back to the basics. Mr. Fulghum's words take us there.
All I ever needed to know, I learned in KindergartenIt is my hope the Democrats and Republicans find more common ground than not. All it takes is some humility, patience, and a desire to serve the greater good over selfish motivations. It can happen overnight or it could go on as it has been forever. One thing is true, each person has the power to make it happen. It reminds me of the evangelist who instructed the congregation on how to begin a revival. "You take some chalk and draw a circle. Then you get inside the circle and pray for God to send revival to the circle." Instead of pointing fingers at the guy doing it wrong, we should be examples for them to follow. We possess a great power. Will you use yours today?
Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand box at nursery school.
These are the things I learned. Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you are sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw some and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday.
Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why. We are like that.
And then remember that book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK! Everything you need to know is there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation, ecology, and politics and the sane living.
Think of what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and clean up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. --- Robert Fulghum
Until the next time
John Strain