restorARTively

I went to a movie this evening. As busy as I am there was little time to research which to attend beyond finding one at the most convenient theater at the most convenient time. Believe it or not, I have still not learned that convenience is not the best way to make decisions. The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons is my inspiration for tonight's post. The civil trial in Delaware Superior court of Mannix v. Nemours, et al ended on a cold, wet, gray Fall day in October 2005. It was much like any other Fall day for most. People were busy looking for umbrellas and the right combination of clothing to stay warm, dry, and appealing for whatever their station in life may have been. For my husband and I it was the day of the verdict. It was the Friday before Columbus Day and for those of the Jewish faith it was also amidst Rosh Hashanah. Maybe it if hadn't been the Jewish holiday our key witness would have ben able to testify in court instead via video. If Pennsylvania hadn't changed...

Learning comes from listening. “You have one mouth and two ears,” is a Maori (New Zealand) saying my peers shared during a Restorative Practices graduate course. I keep that in mind while adding - I have two eyes and one dominant hand. After six weeks of graduate level study, I feel most aware of many inadequacies, shortcomings and talents not fully saddled. The discussion of concepts, ideas and life experiences shared by my classmates was a key component in my overall learning experience. Who'd of thought a young, handsome, intelligent man would be the one in a mixed group to refuse to reveal his age? As I excitedly turned 40 this month, this young man, Joe, a new classmate in grad school, was holding back. He had good reason. He learned the hard way early that when people know his age, automatically a certain set of expectations and judgments are cast upon him, his abilities and his intentions. Who wants to be placed in such an unforgiving box? I try to follow a similar ...