Twenty-five years ago the world rotated in a different direction.
Now you think I’m crazy. You’re thinking I’m like one of those “flat earth society” people.
(Have you ever seen that show called Honey Boo Boo? I rest my case.)
Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but I think some basic common sense stuff isn’t getting taught anymore, by parents or by teachers, or by society. It worries me a bit. Okay, more than a bit.
If you don’t believe me just read this short list written twenty-five years ago by Robert Fulghum.
“These are the things I learned [in Kindergarten]:
1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don’t hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.”
— From the book by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Isn’t this guy brilliant? If you like this list, you’ll love his book. If the list seems like a bunch of foreign concepts for you, then you should read this book. If you wish for a kinder world, a more logical planet, read this book.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I guess what I’m trying to say is you should read this book.
In the meantime, I’m trying to “hold hands and stick together” more often. (Mom is giving me the opportunity to do that.) Numbers four, eight and eleven seem like areas I need to work on, as well.
I really like eleven. In fact, I think that’s my new affirmation for the next month. “Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.” (for those of you who don’t want to have to scroll up to reread what number eleven is 🙂
And today I’m going to put extra effort into the warm cookies and cold milk thing. I’m pretty sure I could use that one. Right after number twelve.
Kami's Beautiful Morning 