2014 | AnabelJensen.com

The Isle of Play

On December 12, 2014 / Emotional Intelligence Strategies / Leave a comment

“We do not stop playing because we are old, we grow old because we stop playing.”
Unknown

Simple, mom, it’s ‘work’ when you tell me to do it, it’s ‘play’ when I want to do it.” Or maybe not so simple? I think of all the times I’ve seen children hard at work, but treating it like play; the same is true for me, and for most adults.

Plato said, “Life must be lived as play.” In ancient Greek, the word for education is “paidiae” and the word for play is “paidia.” Perhaps they saw that at play the mind is at its most energized its most active.

We Are What We Teach, We Teach What We Are

On December 8, 2014 / Emotional Intelligence Strategies / Leave a comment

Thirty-two sixth graders, five rows of seven desks each, paper and boxes flying, noise abounding, a look of panic in the teacher’s eyes. The climax of The Three Stooges Go To Grade School? No. My own classroom on the first day of my teaching career, 33 years ago.

After that first day, I did not plan to remain a teacher for long — only until I could find another job. Sitting in the teacher’s lounge after classes ended, my confidence in myself was at its lowest.

My Ten Favorite Books

On September 17, 2014 / Inspiration / Leave a comment

When someone asks me what my favorite book is I usually answer, “The one I am reading right now.” I am clearly a bibliophile. I have been since my first grade teacher, Miss Rice, with her marcelled hair pulled back into a bun and those golden-wire spectacles, took us to a place called the library. I stood in the children’s section and said to myself, “I’m going to read every book in here.” That never happened, but I had fun trying.

I recently got challenged on Facebook to list my favorite ten books of all time. I thought you might like to know what I came up with.

My Tribute to Robin Williams

On August 25, 2014 / Inspiration / Leave a comment

I was lucky enough to know Robin Williams and be exposed to his comedic brilliance—that unbelievable ability to free association on an any subject or topic introduced into the conversation—even weird or rare ones.

Here is how I met him.

The receptionist of the school where I was the Executive Director came in one and said to me, “Anabel, there is a Marsha Williams on the phone. She is interested in placement for her son; however, she wants to speak directly to the director. I do not know why.”

“Okay,” I replied and I picked up my blinking line. I am usually open for an adventure. “Hi, this is Anabel.” The disembodied voice on the line began.

What is Self-Science?

On May 20, 2014 / Inspiration / Leave a comment

I heard the term “self-science” for the first time approximately 34 years ago. I had no idea that this new term would have such a profound effect upon my life.

The year was 1979 and some of the following things were happening:

the UK elected their first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher;
Sony released the Walkman at $200 a unit;
the Three Mile Island nuclear accident occurred after a reactor fire;
the Sahara Desert experienced snow for 30 minutes; and
China instituted a one child per family policy to help control their exploding population.