Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech.


10



You are not your thoughts. Focus more on your choices / actions.


17



Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.”


14



If someone doesn’t want your attention or warrant your attention, don’t give it.


15



Surprise! You’re not perfect. No one is. Do your best, but don’t expect perfection from yourself or any other human, young or old. Have compassion...We’re all in this together and we need each other to be kind and encouraging.


17, 21



“You will use up everything you got trying to give people what they want.” —- Nina Simone


17



Sioux Nation quote: No one heals himself by wounding another.


16



It’s very difficult to pull off sarcasm in written form. It does not translate.


15



“It’s not as important how a message is received compared to how it is sent.” Sometimes you have to have uncomfortable conversations but the can always be kind and loving. Sometimes your message won’t land well, but if you expressed yourself truthfully and kindly, that’s not your burden to bear.


16



Some books you loved when you were a toddler: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Horton Hatches an Egg, Room on the Broom, Gruffalo.


2-4



Robin Williams was one of the best examples of how to be a good human.


15, 19, 21



"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." ~ James Baldwin


14, 19



Read "A Wrinkle in Time" (me too.)


10



Make a gift of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.


15



Give your all on the job, from your first day to your last day there. If you’re all caught up on your work help someone else with theirs.


17, 21



ABC's of video game addiction: Autonomy, Belonging, Control. Try to find ways to developing these things in areas outside of gaming. Games are great, but not at the expense of everything else.


1Infant-13



1

Get really clear about what you want so that you’ll be able to recognize it when it’s here. Get really clear on the kind of relationship you want so that you can realize when it’s not with the person you’re seeing.


17, 21



Read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson together.


17



“Write hard and clear about what hurts.” - Ernest Hemingway


12, 15, 21



Staying calm is 90% of the battle. Practice.


13, 15, 18, 21



When you begin dating it’s all butterflies and moonbeams. Eventually you’re going to do or say something that hurts the other person and vice versa. For that matter, eventually you’ll disagree about something. It’s VERY important to consider how they handle it. Nobody is perfect, it may not be pretty but it had better be civil. If not, don’t think for a second that they will change. Get outta there.


15, 21



Plan a few screen-free weekends every year. (Reticket until 16.)


7



This! Your energy is beautiful and precious. Don’t waste it on people who are $@!#% bent on negativity. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRxcJWem/


16



Awesome game we did at preschool - play I SPY. Try with objects or emotions, such as "I spy something sad" or "I spy something joyful." To help him learn empathy.


3-5



Follow love and kindness wherever they may take you and you’ll be fine. xoxo


13, 17, 21



Remember that your tend to act like/ think like the people you hang around most. Choose your friends (and your spouse) wisely.


10, 14, 21



Be willing to say “I don’t know” if you don’t know! Don’t just make stuff up.


15, 20



Birthday traditions: 1) Plant something every year. 2) Birthday interview on camera or voice recording.


5



Remember when you’re faced with bullies, jerks and people who say bad things , follow advice from the Obama's: "When they go low we go high."


1Infant-14



“I don’t know what I think until I write about it.” - Joan Didion


15