Katie has come down with a nasty cough and cold, so I was unable to go to the Student Council Meeting with Wyatt. I sent him with a bunch of information I'd printed off the website and his older brother went in my place!
Here is the copy of the email I just received from the 3rd-grade-teacher in charge:
Wyatt came on time, did a great job presenting and taking questions. Student council agreed unanimously to give to South Africa and the Open Arms Home for Children. We are going to match what he has raised so far, $500.
Students were so motivated by this that they wanted to do even more! The students really thought about Wyatt's comments about how we are given the opportunity to go to school each day and learn, and there are some kids here who waste that opportunity. In South Africa there are kids who would love to come to school to learn, but do not have the opportunity and money to get an education. As well as, giving to children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. He passed around his handouts for student council so they could read about Wyatt's giving tree.
And here's another email I received from his teacher:
How wonderful! I am so glad that Carole and Tyler had Wyatt come to SC. I am sorry I was gone and missed it. This has got to be a huge impact on Wyatt...to think that at nine years old he has made a mark in the world. WOW!
I am so proud of him.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Exciting News!
Wyatt has been invited by his school's ASB to come and speak about his blog and his choice to raise funds for the Open Arms Home for Children, in South Africa, tomorrow morning!
Word on the street is that the ASB has some money to give and is interested in Wyatt's philanthropic efforts . . .
I'll keep you posted!
Word on the street is that the ASB has some money to give and is interested in Wyatt's philanthropic efforts . . .
I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Lessons in Serotonin
It is highly unusual that I find myself sitting in front of any television program, other than something on Noggin, until long after the kids have gone to bed. So I was savoring every minute of being able to watch the Ellen show while Katie was at preschool the other morning.
It was Earth Day, so she and her guests talked a lot about what we can each do to save the planet; basically the same stuff everyone else was talking about. Still, I didn't care, it was adult programming - the kind without the words "swiper no swiping!" being shouted at every turn, so I happily and blankly watched.
The last guest on the show was Dr. Wayne Dyer. I had heard of him, just a bit, but really had no idea who he was.
I must say, he got my attention. And getting my attention away from the pile of laundry that I was folding as I watched my little bit of grown-up tv is no easy task.
Dr. Dyer, among other things, practices the Tao Te Ching. He and Ellen were talking about how acts of kindness affect people of all cultures all over the world. I sat up a little straighter, thinking of this blog and the inspiration I've received as being a vessel for my son's generosity.
The conversation covered the fact that there have been studies done on the serotonin levels in people who have received acts of kindness. The receivers levels were higher than they were before the kindness occurred. The givers levels were higher than before they gave. And even the people witnessing, and not even participating actively in the kindnesses bestowed, had increases in their serotonin levels! Serotonin is the chemical in our brains that is responsible for the "feel good" feelings that we experience. It is the same chemical synthetically reproduced in anti-depressants to help people feel better.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful and glorious thing if the world was kinder?
Can you imagine the results of living in a place where you had the opportunity to be kind, to receive kindness or to witness kindness on a daily basis?
I can. And I will keep this hope alive in my kids every single day.
It's the least I can do.
It was Earth Day, so she and her guests talked a lot about what we can each do to save the planet; basically the same stuff everyone else was talking about. Still, I didn't care, it was adult programming - the kind without the words "swiper no swiping!" being shouted at every turn, so I happily and blankly watched.
The last guest on the show was Dr. Wayne Dyer. I had heard of him, just a bit, but really had no idea who he was.
I must say, he got my attention. And getting my attention away from the pile of laundry that I was folding as I watched my little bit of grown-up tv is no easy task.
Dr. Dyer, among other things, practices the Tao Te Ching. He and Ellen were talking about how acts of kindness affect people of all cultures all over the world. I sat up a little straighter, thinking of this blog and the inspiration I've received as being a vessel for my son's generosity.
The conversation covered the fact that there have been studies done on the serotonin levels in people who have received acts of kindness. The receivers levels were higher than they were before the kindness occurred. The givers levels were higher than before they gave. And even the people witnessing, and not even participating actively in the kindnesses bestowed, had increases in their serotonin levels! Serotonin is the chemical in our brains that is responsible for the "feel good" feelings that we experience. It is the same chemical synthetically reproduced in anti-depressants to help people feel better.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful and glorious thing if the world was kinder?
Can you imagine the results of living in a place where you had the opportunity to be kind, to receive kindness or to witness kindness on a daily basis?
I can. And I will keep this hope alive in my kids every single day.
It's the least I can do.
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