Creativity and Flourishing...

Seeking inspiration that I am doing the right thing(its been a bad week) I found these two amazing talks...

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html (2006)

http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html (2010)

Inspiration found!

Plants are like people...

One of the young men I work with made the observation last week that 'plants are like people' and in that one short phrase he summed up my working life. At one level people are all the same, but all different-just like these daffodils he grew which was what prompted the comment.

But it goes so much further than that; whilst working with him we've talked about what plants(we) need to grow well, what makes plants(us) sick and how plants(people) need space, time and the right conditions if they are going to blossom to their full potential.

This boy has witnessed terrible tradgedy in his young life and last week we talked about a scar running down a tree we were working near. How although the tree would never be the same because of a huge trauma resulting in a large scar, it could still grow and ultimately blossom. Just like him. 

He's right-plants are just like people...

Practically Perfect

I've been working with some guys lately who are struggling with perfection-and the idea that if its not perfect then its not worth having. They come from chaotic and traumatic backgrounds and desperately want to find a new, perfect world to inhabit. Using their plants and the world around them we've been discussing what perfection is and whether as humans we need to desire it as strongly as they do.

My time with them is coming to an end and when I was thinking about a way to strengthen the message that imperfection can be beautiful and valuable I remembered this picture taken at a local ice cream farm last summer...

That is a serious scar, an impressive imperfection and a magnificent tree. It is a true beauty and home to hundreds of insect which support a much wider eco system so its value is beyond doubt. I shall give my charges a copy each and I hope that they can look at something that they would see as far removed from perfect and remember that a life that is altered by drama and sadness can still be both valuable and wonderful .

Water, water everywhere...

Despite the gorgeous spring sunshine its been a wet day one way or another. Two small groups went pond dipping-no frogspawn sadly but we did find plenty of larvae and nymphs to make up for it. Some of the children were really keen; leaning over the water trying to spot their targets...

And others showed no fear whilst emptying their nets...

Others were more timid; expressing anxiety at what may lie beneath...

Or their nervousness at the creatures they caught, but they've all asked to go again, keen to face their fears.

Then we arrive home and my two have decided summer is here and commence an impromptu water fight using whatever containers were to hand...

I wasn't too happy this morning but I've had my own nature therapy today: sunshine, water and children; my three personal mood enhancers!