I am reading The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh to remind myself of to listen mindfully to others. When I am fully present to the other, I show compassion and understanding for their suffering.
Thich Nhat Hanh writes beautiful poetry, which reminds me to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This poem reminds me that, when I am present, I experience the cosmos and its precious gems with all my senses.
In the busyness of living, I miss hearing birds singing, the pines chanting, and smiles of those around me. When I am happy, I share that with the world.
The cosmos is filled with precious gems.
I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds.
It needs you to breathe gently
for the miracles to be displayed.
Suddenly you hear the birds singing,
the pines chanting,
see the flowers blooming,
the blue sky,
the white clouds,
the smile and the marvelous look
of your beloved.
You, the richest person on Earth,
who have been going around begging for a living,
stop being the destitute child.
Come back and claim your heritage.
We should enjoy our happiness
and offer it to everyone.
Cherish this very moment.
Let go of the stream of distress
and embrace life fully in your arms.
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Absolutely lovely.
Thank you.
We must appreciate each moment.
It is the only place we can be.
Wonderful teacher, thank you for sharing his words.
Wow – what a message to work at and fully embrace. Thanks Ivan for sharing this.
You are welcome Bruce.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GOOD STUFF!
Thank you Jonathan.
Letting go of distress is not easy. I try to put it in God’s hands.
Thank you for the lovely comments. We do change, sometimes so gradually those close to us do not notice. Stories keep fueling us as we go through those changes.
So beautiful…. I liked when you say that Cosmos needs us (just) to breathe gently for the miracles to be displayed. That´s perfection & balance, right!?… Thank you for sharing…. Happy week ahead! ⭐
Thank you for the lovely comment and you are welcome. Take care and enjoy.
This is a wonderful reminder to see with all our senses!
Thank you for the wonderful comment. We are extrasensory.
Thich Nhat Hanh is my guru…
We each need one. Mine is Parker Palmer who uses Thich Nhat Hanh and many others in his writing.
the precious balance gently shared with all the universe,
thank you Ivon
Thank you Eddie.