While doing yoga this morning, the following thought popped into my head: I am human. This was an invitation to not seek out perfection. An offering to ease my anxiety; to slow life down; make my expectations more realistic. Maybe it was inspired by my sore toe tendon (yes, injuries can be inspiring, in that … Continue reading I’m Only Human
Author: Gila Daman
Latest release: Inner Piece: Decluttering a Soul. Also by Gila: Pandemic Poetry, She Pooped, I'm Pooped!: Motherhood Year One, First Comes Self-Love, Then Comes Marriage, and The Roadmap Ends Here: Entering Adulthood.
Evaluating Early Signs of Perfectionism
I corrected a misspelling in my blog draft before exiting. Why? Somewhere deep down I had the paranoid thought that someone might see it and judge me for it. First of all, no one is going to see a draft. Secondly, it is a draft, so even if they could see it, they would understand. … Continue reading Evaluating Early Signs of Perfectionism
Squirrels in Nature
Last Sunday morning started off with me anxiously getting as much reading about emergent curriculum done as possible. Which is ironic, since a main point of emergent curriculum is to observe mindfully and feel the richness that life has to offer—while rushing to get things done feels the exact opposite. After a morning of anxiety, … Continue reading Squirrels in Nature
New Schedule, Old Fears
For the next school year I am planning on shortening my hours. I have been coming home exhausted and drained—with little energy left for my little one or my husband...or myself. It's how I'm used to doing things in life: Running hard until I simply can't go anymore. It's only one of the many reasons … Continue reading New Schedule, Old Fears
Emerging as a More Whole Me
Recently I started teaching Pilates sessions again. I have been certified since 2006—the summer before my father passed away—I love you Dad! Thanks for always believing in me!—and have been teaching on and off ever since. I am thrilled to be teaching again. By helping others work their core muscles, I am using a "muscle" … Continue reading Emerging as a More Whole Me
Emergent Curriculum and My Teaching Style
In reading about emergent curriculum, I like how it jives so well with my desire to be client-centered. I always wanted to inspire my pediatric patients to think for themselves when giving them nutrition education. Instead of saying, "Don't drink soda," I would show them a chart with sugar content of various drinks and ask … Continue reading Emergent Curriculum and My Teaching Style
Emergent Curriculum: A Passion Within Me Re-emerges
One of the main reasons I decided not to minor in education in college was because I didn't want to have to follow a set curriculum. Had I known about emergent curriculum, I may have rethought this decision. As I am learning from Emergent Curriculum in Early Childhood Settings, by Susan Stacey, there is a … Continue reading Emergent Curriculum: A Passion Within Me Re-emerges
Texting Generation
I write a lot about the need to reduce our reliance on technology. But one morning, I got really frustrated and defended my need to use my phone. I felt like it wasn't fair that my co-worker could pray from a book during some downtime in the classroom, but I wasn't aloud to use my … Continue reading Texting Generation
TV and Socializing
One evening, I wanted to watch a TV show. Then chatted with my neighbors outside and that socializing decreased my craving for TV. This reminded me of the trend that we have become independent people and have reduced our interconnectedness and how TV has supplemented socializing. Social media does it even more, and as we … Continue reading TV and Socializing
Trader Joe’s Filled My Cup
There is an idea in Judaism that Shabbat, aka the Sabbath, is meant to infuse the rest of the week with meaning and fulfillment; that the blessings of Shabbat are meant to flow into the rest of the week. I felt this sort of sentiment this past week when I went to Trader Joe's on … Continue reading Trader Joe’s Filled My Cup
Mindful Nuggets 