Always wear an undershirt with a dress shirt.


15



Hold fast to what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)


10, 15, 21



You can be angry. But you can’t drive while angry or talk to a child or work, or do anything dangerous when you’re angry.


15, 20



Physical contact between two people is only fun / appropriate / legal / healthy if both people are into it. If one party objects, demurs or even acts less-than-interested, that’s the ballgame. Stop physical contact immediately. Be kind and respectful at all times.


15, 18



Affection is to be shared, never taken.


14



Pay attention to what people do and what they say. Try to look past their appearance. This is especially true for women, who are almost always judged primarily on the way they look.


12, 15, 19



Watch the political conventions every election year. Listen and decide for yourself.


17, 18, 21



Best song for a good cry: “And so It Goes” by Billy Joel.


15, 21



“Enthusiasm is the answer to everything.” - Rodrigo’s father


15, 21



The most attractive man in the world is one who brings peace.


21



Ask them to name 2 current or historical figures that they admire and why (one man one woman).


6-18



Being numb is not the same thing as being happy.


15-18



General rule for health and happiness: avoid excess.


10, 14, 17, 21



Never allow anyone to tell you who you are.


17



Name five women who contributed to our country’s history.


8, 13, 16



“Where you stand depends on where you sit.” It means your personal situation informs your stance on issues. Try to imagine how you’d vote if you were sitting at a less privileged place.


15, 21



Check out School of Rock (Vienna) or Bach to Rock.


9



Do something that feeds your soul every day. Experience or create joy, even if just a small spark of it.


17



“There’s a part of me that’s a part of you” said a painter whose name I can’t remember. I don’t think he was talking to anyone in particular, or if he meant we’re all a part of each other. Either way, it’s a beautiful thought.


20



“Things are not perfect, because life is not TV and we are real people with scarred, worried hearts. But it’s amazing a lot of the time.” - Anne Lamott


14



Check into Brilliant.org for STEM activities.


12



Venting is crucial but not always appropriate. Make sure you’re in the right place (no chance whatsoever of being overheard), the right time (take care of business first) and that the person you’re unloading on has the mental bandwidth to listen to you vent your emotions. Avoid interrupting if they’re busy, or not in a good headspace. You’ll know this because you asked.


14, 17, 21



Look for examples of people who have dealt with loss without giving in to bitterness. What do they have in common?


17



Change “I need to” to “this matters because”. Instead of “I need to walk the dog” say “it matters that I walk the dog because he needs exercise and to check p-mail.” (Helps!)


8, 11, 16, 21



If you don’t have the words, borrow them. Send a song or a poem. As long as the sentiment is yours, the vowels and consonants don’t need to be.


13, 16. 21



Action is the antithesis of anxiety.


18



Bring Christmas cookies to local fire station and police station. (Annually)


7-14



Talk about how choices become habits. Habits can become addictions. Describe how pathways are literally dug into the brain and it's very hard to change them once those paths are made.


13-16



Anything you deny or fight will fight you back harder. Don’t fight the fear, pain, disappointment, etc. Let it in and let it teach you what it wants to teach you. Then you can part as friends.


15, 21