My daughter is studying to become a counsellor. She has an innate ability to connect with others, and in particular with children — I view her as a “child whisperer”. In her studies, they have been discussing microaggressions and she thought it would make a great blog topic. She was right!
Let’s start with a definition:
MICROAGGRESSION – A term used for commonplace daily verbal, behavioural or environmental slights, whether intentional or not, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative attitudes towards stigmatized or culturally marginalized groups.
Remember, they can be intentional or unintentional slights. The important part is that they communicate negativity.
As we enter the month of June we also enter the end of another school year — a year that for me was a bit of a paradox. I am feeling both exhausted but also inspired by where we’ve come and where we are heading.
As I thought about what I should include in my year-end post, I wanted to focus on big things — those things that made a positive difference.
By focusing on the events that show a way forward, we see the HOPE that is needed to climb the mountains in front of us. And we climbed quite a few mountains this past year. We should be proud of the extraordinary work that has happened and also excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
I’m going to talk about a few of them. So, let’s get started …
I’m not a big Kenny Rogers fan but his megahit single The Gambler from 1978 was an instant classic – fun lyrics and a catchy tune. It tells a story about the options you have with the cards you are dealt – when you need to keep playing or when you need to fold ’em and try again.
Here are a few of the lines:
Every gambler knows, that the secret to survivin’,
Is knowin’ what to throw away, and knowin’ what to keep.
‘Cause every hand’s a winner, and every hand’s a loser.
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em; know when to fold ’em.
Kenny Rogers The Gambler, 1978
You were singing the lyrics, weren’t you? Yes, you were. If you know the song you were singing it. It’s a catchy tune!
The Power of Why 