What is your favorite type of weather? When I was growing up, every winter I fell into a dark hole. It started when I was about 11 or so. I don't really know what came first. Was it obsessive compulsive disorder or depression? I remember the first time I experienced depression. I didn't understand what …
Who was your most influential teacher? Why? I have had several influential teachers. Let's start with Kay and Jan Shinol! Kay would tell me "you can't do it wrong." Basically, we are all just making it up as we go along. It's a reminder to go easy on ourselves. Every decision we made was because …
What tattoo do you want and where would you put it? To tattoo or not to tattoo, that is the question. I got my first tiny tattoo after my son was born. Simply, the tattoo symbolized "blessing " About five years later, I got my next one. This one was channeled just for me. I …
Daily writing promptWhat strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?View all responses Depression can hit me hard. I often find that when I am in a negative space, I look at what I have been thinking and saying to myself. I will usually find that my inner critic has taken a hold of …
The Journey of Self Discovery is a turning inward and becoming conscious of where you are in life and why. This can take some time. What keeps showing up in your life and why? What are the patterns you keep seeing appear? Awareness is the first step. I first started my process of self discovery …
When I make that statement, it may not be what you think it means. It is not: Putting others first Pleasing others at the expense of yourself Staying silent to keep the peace Feeling resentful but choosing to be outwardly kind Allowing others to hurt you When I say choose Love, I mean to: Speak …
Excerpt from PE for the Soul
This poem will be included in my second book of poetry. I hope you like my first book of poetry, Moments as they Come. There is a storm out at seaBut the sun is shining hereThe ocean is calmThe breath moves in rhythmWith the gentle swaying of the water Found my grooveWhat I love, yet …
Continue reading The sea is calm – expression is being alive
Many of us don't like to hurt or disappoint others. Many times we do things we don't really want to do because the thought of letting another down is soul crushing. We feel things intensely so we ignore the tiny whispers, the gentle nudging and we can talk ourself into just about anything. And in …
Last year, after a health issue and surgery, I realized something needed to change. I put in my resignation as SEL Specialist/MTSS Behavior Coordinator and jumped. But not too far. My son had just graduated college. I was proud yet wistful. How had he grown up so fast? I went to his graduation and listened …
Kim Hiles, Teacher & Author 