All you need is love.

You know the feeling when you feel so good, you just want to make someone else feel good, too?

Today, I was given a medal for empathy.  In our classroom, we have "mindset medals" that can be awarded at any time to anyone for exhibiting a mindset for learning by showing: persistence, flexibility, optimism, resilience, or empathy.  I wasn't the only one who was given a medal.

Here's how it started:

Dr. Martin delivered a clean, white piece of poster-board to each classroom yesterday morning.  On it she wanted us to create a message of inclusiveness to be displayed in the school.  Although I told the students about it yesterday afternoon so that they could think about it, I saved the activity for this morning.

The ideas got jumpstarted by a collection of quotes that Maria brought to the class.  Quotes are important to our community.  I put a new one on the board each day to help inspire us.  Immediately, someone chimed in, could we all put a quote we like?  Maybe we could put it on hearts?  Maybe we should have the hearts frame a picture like a tree?  What about hands holding onto each other?  And, like magic, our idea was born and everyone was itching to take action.

Not trying to be pessimistic, I asked, "Drawing hands is really hard, you guys."

As if scripted, someone piped up, "But we have Leah!"  All eyes turned to Leah.  Her eyes lit up as she grinned from ear to ear.  With just that look, she agreed to be our artist.  I quickly found a picture of hands for our poster and we arranged a way for Leah to transfer it to our poster.  Volunteers asked to add color and a scheme was rapidly planned.

Once Leah finished her drawing and presented it to the class for approval, she was positively beaming.  She asked, "Can I had out mindset medals?"  She felt so good, she was compelled to make others feel good, too.

It was a group effort and the results were beautiful.  That's the best example of love I can share on this Valentine's Day.  May you feel so loved that you can't help but pass it on.