Teaching Mindfulness to Children, to Teachers, to Lawyers, to Judges- My Playlist from June, 2015, "Mindfulness - Awareness"

During this turbulent & heartbreaking month.. perhaps, we all need some  Mindfulness-Learn-Speak?

This is a great introductory video to a series called "Go Strengths Online" which is designed to teach Mindfulness to children at home and at school. It is produced by a group called "gozenonline." Don't you wish you'd thought of that name? 

I have left my "2015 Mindfulness- Awareness" Playlist "Public" on the "Valerie Houghton" YouTube channel. This playlist includes a TEDx Talk by Dr. Daniel Siegel, MD on Neural Integration, another one by Megan McElheran, PhD titled "Trauma, Change and Resilience" plus three inspirational video clips from "Remember the Titans" and  public health video short film titled "The Best Medicine: Why Relationships Matter" by WatchRelate. 

AND if you want to find any of these goodies on your own, please do! As always, take what you like and share what you like. During this turbulent month... we need to practice MINDFULNESS. As they say in Titans, "teach (us) to trust the soul of a man rather than his look... no matter what aspect of our lives, I hope we can live by these words. 

Happy Sunday. Peace be with you.

The Kindness Experiment: Three Different Scenarios & Watch What Happens!

This might be the perfect kickoff to your weekend! After a long work week, slogging through the traffic and getting everyone situated back in school, this brief video is a welcome visual and spiritual "refreshment"as these three different scenarios play themselves out. Now, none of these were any surprise to me, since I am pleased to say I witness them quite often... I've got to tell you, the FUN part was the looks on the faces of the people who were the recipients of the songs... THAT was the twist that really caught me in the throat... so very sweet :)) Enjoy!

Maya Angelou Recites Her Poem "And Still I Rise" - Her Voice Warms My Soul..... As My Southern Soul Sisters Would Say.... "Just Like Buttah!"

What a beautiful woman with a magical spirit, who overcame such atrocities and eventually emerged, her self and her voice intact. She has been an inspiration to men and women and children, everywhere. Just the sound of her voice spreads warm syrup over my heart... every single time. Sharing this with you on a Sunday morning... hoping it warms your soul and you can share in her tenacious and joyful message... :))  As my Southern sisters would say "Just like buttah!!"

NBA: Great Man In Basketball! Kevin Durant's MVP Acceptance Speech! Happy Mother's Day!

         After weeks of humiliating headlines about a lot of reprehensible behavior in people in the field of professional sports, Mr. Durant's acceptance speech for his award as Most Valuable Player washes over the viewer like a fresh spring shower!" What a proud mother she must be. What a lovely and humble son... Wow! Sharing this as a hopeful treat to all mothers and sons everywhere... just in time for Mother's Day. 

Break the Silence! Stop Teen Dating Violence! Thank You, CDC Streaming Health!

As we kick off the summer, it's a great time to remember that preventing/reducing/stopping teen violence is a "learning thing."It's a shared responsibility and there is no such thing as "NONE OF MY BUSINESS." Smokey the Bear was right. "ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES." The "fires" of violence spark and burn and we all can work together to teach, model, defuse situations before they escalate, spark and burn out of control. These are our children, and they deserve the best guidance we can provide, right? This is a great video and tool to begin that discussion... grab a pizza and a teen (or two!) and watch it together. Ignore the eye roll :)) and carry on...

Beautiful Short Video on Helping Families Get "Un-Stuck"- Thank you, Ackerman Institute, New York City!

Inspirational Attitude Adjustment: "Get Back Up, Nick Vujicic"