Historically, I’ve considered curiosity among the list of core virtues. I’m drawn to those who demonstrate the quality; I aim to cultivate it in myself. When we wonder—or wander—about the world with open, welcoming eyes, we see differently. Life gains a vitality, a playfulness, a sense of possibility. Curiosity leads us to learn, to grow, [more…]
The Death Show: A Perspective-Giving Production
This past weekend, my partner Melissa and I attended The Death Show (A Recital), an intriguing community theater production in Hudson, New York. Simultaneously provocative, poignant, peace-giving, harrowing, and hilarious, the evening has left me thinking about the impact of death in my life—and how to bring its air-clearing quality into my classroom more purposefully. [more…]
100 Funny Names: A Shabbat Brainstorm
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating Shabbat dinner with my dear friends, Michael and Julie Saxe-Taller, their son Sam, and a host of other delightful people. After lighting candles and enjoying our dinner, we spent much of the evening playing improv games: word-at-a-time interviews, 1-2-3 timing challenges, and the like. Throughout the [more…]
The Spinning Dancer Paradox: An Argument for Humility
I’ve always loved optical illusions and dual or ambiguous images. On the surface, they’re just flat-out cool. Who thought that up? How the heck does it work? Why can’t I control my response to it? Examined more deeply, they also challenge the certainty of our perceptions—and the validity of the claims we make from those [more…]
The Transformative Failure Bow (Part 1 of 2)
The Failure Bow has a long and treasured history in the world of improvisational theater. Recent research demonstrates that there’s a life-changing reason why. This two-part post will show you how the technique can interrupt feelings of shame and self-defeat; deliver greater confidence, clarity, and calm—and activate waves of resilient joy. For more on changing [more…]
Confidentiality vs. Privacy (Continued)
My new friend and colleague, Al Bellg, wrote a thoughtful response to my last post about the differences between committing to confidentiality and honoring privacy when trying to welcome the soul. His powerful questions and insights deserve a wider audience so I thought to share them here. You’ll see another round of my own thoughts [more…]
Confidentiality vs. Privacy
I used to think that welcoming the soul into group conversations required a promise of confidentiality. The late Rachael Kessler, pioneer in the field of social and emotional learning and author of The Soul of Education, changed my mind. For sure, a spirit of confidentiality helps. When we share unfiltered truth, we’re letting masks drop [more…]
An Invocation for Silence
At Northfield Mount Hermon, the New England boarding school where I teach, we often begin all-school meetings with a few words of reflection or provocation and then a minute of silence to sit with what we’ve heard. At the beginning of each academic year, when the community re-forms anew, we sometimes decide to open the [more…]
Some Questions About Praise, Performance, and Privilege
Offering praise for inborn talent feeds a fixed mindset that can create self-doubt, weaken resolve, and reduce resiliency. In short, it can cripple a student’s ability to learn. Does that mean we should never celebrate God-given gifts?
Three Faces of V (as in Venice)
Like any one us, the city of Venice includes at least three sides: the shiny face she wants to have seen; an unsavory underbelly; and a realistic working element. Getting to know the real Venice—like getting to know the real students or colleagues we work with every day—means making simultaneous sense of all three.
