Inspiration

True Inspiration – Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year

February 27, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

In January, I published a post on How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special. One of my suggestions was to try to support each child’s extracurricular activities as a family.

The story of Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, is a truly moving story of a brother’s love and encouragement of his brother through triathlons.

I love the way the Longs show the best of sports and family support.

For a moving sports story about a father’s love for his son, see Dick and Rick Hoyt – Father and Son Inspiration. You’ll find another moving video about brotherly love and encouragement embedded in How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special.

Stock Photo by rumos.

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Inspirational Sports Stories, Parents' Role Tagged With: 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, Connor and Cayden Long, Inspiration

Pause for Christmas Smiles

December 20, 2012 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

It’s been a sad and shocking week after the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. If you’d like resources for talking with your children or positive ways to make a difference, I’ve updated Wednesday’s Day of Silence post with resources.

It’s especially difficult to have a tragedy during the Christmas Season. Sometimes, we just need to pause our grieving to experience the joy and fun of the season. We can return later to our grieving and, hopefully, to finding ways to make a positive difference both in the world and for the victims and families of Sandy Hook.

Pause for Christmas Smiles

Today, I want to share a brief interlude of Christmas smiles. For a number of fall and winter months in 2010-11, there was a Project Smile linky on the last day of the month. I enjoyed looking for different ideas that made me smile at least once a month. Here’s a link to those posts with lots of things that made me smile: Project Smile.

I also have a more recent post on Spreading Christmas Cheer with some Gangnam Style Christmas fun, including an update with a fun new video where my son, Will, joins some of his skating students in their Christmas show for “2012 Gangnam Style on Ice”: Spreading Christmas Cheer This Holiday Season – Gangnam Style.

Here are some ideas for helping your family experience a meaningful Christmas: How to Help Your Kids Develop Character This Christmastime.

Here’s a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas:

“Christmas Flash Mob by Journey of Faith at South Bay Galleria – official video”

Wishing you a blessed Christmas. I’ll see you back here on January 2.

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Christmas, Inspiration, Project Smile

Don’t Miss Out on the Inspiration from the Paralympics!

August 24, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 5 Comments

”….What I learned was that these athletes were not disabled, they were superabled. The Olympics is where heroes are made. The Paralympics is where heroes come.” Joey Reiman

I LOVE that quote! It says so much about the Paralympics. And it tells us why our big sports inspiration isn’t over for the summer. Don’t miss the London 2012 Paralympic Games August 29-September 9. The Paralympics is an opportunity for us to see beyond the physical disabilities, to see the truly “superabled” individuals.

Even though the post “Paralympians: the Heroes We Need” talks about the Winter Paralympic Games, it has some great information on the Paralympics in general. It also has this simple definition of the Paralympics: “Paralympics are only for elite athletes with physical disabilities.”

Here’s the official website of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. (Check out the Lantern-Making Guide and create your own Light a Lantern event in honor of the Paralympic Torch Relay.) Here’s the official website of the Paralympic Movement. If you’re looking for information on the U.S. Paralympic Team, you’ll find a downloadable Team USA Media Guide at the U.S. Paralympics Facebook page You’ll find information on the U.S. broadcast- and online coverage of the 2012 Paralympic Games here: USOC announces expanded coverage for London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic Preview Inspiration – Meet the Paralympians

Meet the Paralympians: Will Bayley

Meet the Paralympians: Ellie Simmonds

Meet the Paralympians: Jon-Allan Butterworth

Alessandro “Alex” Zanardi (a world-class race car driver until a horrific racing accident in 2001) – Golden dreams

Meet Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Paralympic Swimmer

Meet Matt Stutzman, Archer

Channel 4 Paralympics – Meet the Superhumans (Annotated Version)

Olympic-Inspired Ideas You and Your Child Can Use for the Paralympic Games

You can use many of the same types of activities during the Paralympics with your child as you did during the Olympics (with Paralympic adaptations wherever necessary)

How to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of the Olympics

Let the Olympics Inspire You to Live Your Own Dream

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Math Activities

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Opening Ceremony Activities and Olympics Blog Hop

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Unit

Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board – there are many Paralympic activities linked up, including The Paralympic Blog Hop (which this post is linked to as well)

Check out the Paralympic Sport TV channel on YouTube for inspirational coverage of the Paralympics!

Get Set London 2012 has a page with Paralympic educational activities for kids.

Give yourself and your family the opportunity to be inspired … and to transform your image of individuals with disabilities.

"The Only Disability" Word Art Freebie

“The Only Disability” Word Art Freebie (without watermark)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Inspirational Sports Stories, Parents' Role Tagged With: Inspiration, London 2012 Paralympic Games, Meet the Superhumans, Paralympians, Paralympic Games, Paralympics, parent's role

Let the Olympics Inspire You to Live Your Own Dream

August 3, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

Al Oerter is often used as an example of Olympic excellence. Not only did he win gold in the discus throw in four consecutive Olympics, but he was also an artist who focused on the true Olympic ideal. “Oerter’s Passion: Melding Art & Sports” in the Spiritual Herald says:

The Olympic star often said that in the ancient games “the athlete was not only expected to excel physically, but also be well versed in art, poetry, literature and music to make him a complete and well-rounded human being. That was what the Olympic goal was in Greece in those days.”

Here’s some inspiration from the late Al Oerter:

Each Olympic Games gives us a great opportunity for new inspiration. We can be inspired to live the Olympic ideal, and we can be inspired by the spirit, determination, and hard work of the Olympic athletes. Only a very few of us are meant to be Olympic athletes. But we can all use the inspiration of the athletes’ best qualities to live our own dreams.

I wrote “How to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of the Olympics,” which included a link to a post with ideas from Randy Pausch about dreaming big and dreaming without fear. We as adults can use those same ideas in our own lives. In “Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Watch the Olympics,” My daughter, Christina (who was a World-level ice dancer), also lists getting inspired as the first reason to watch the Olympics.

Glenn Gaesser, a professor and director of the Healthy Lifestyles Research Center at Arizona State University, used the fact that people are excited after watching the Summer Olympics to create an exercise workout that can be maintained long-term. “The 10-Minute Workout, Times Three” from the New York Times tells about an easily-doable workout of brisk walking for 10 minutes three times a day rather than having people do – and give up on – longer workouts each day. With the Olympics inspiration and a doable workout, people can improve their health and control their weight.

Olympic inspiration really can be used for anything. The Olympics are about striving for excellence and working hard to do your “absolute best.”

“Set Out to Do My Absolute Best” Word Art Freebies

If you have a new dream, you might want to create a 30-day challenge to make it more likely for any new practice to become a habit. But however you feel drawn to work on your dream, don’t pass this Olympic opportunity to gain some new inspiration.

“I guess people like to hear my stories, but I’d prefer they went out and developed their own story.” Al Oerter

So go ahead and develop your own story … live your own dream.

Filed Under: 30-Day Challenge, Inspiration, Motivation Tagged With: 30-day challenge, Al Oerter, Let the Olympics inspire you, Olympic ideal, Olympic inspiration, Olympics

Dick and Rick Hoyt – Father and Son Inspiration

June 15, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 5 Comments

With Father’s Day this weekend, I couldn’t help but think of an amazing father and son Ironman team – Team Hoyt.

Team Hoyt

Here’s the moving YouTube video about Dick and Rick Hoyt from February 5, 2007:

Here’s an update from November 19, 2010:

Check out the Team Hoyt website.

There’s also a book by Dick Hoyt with Don Yaeger:

The Important Role of Fathers

For more information about the important role fathers play in their children’s lives, check out this post by Deborah McNelis at PreK + K Sharing: Fathers Create Great Connections.

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Charles R. Swindoll

“Memory Banks of Our Children” Word-Art Freebie (without watermark)

Have a wonderful Father’s Day weekend!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Inspirational Sports Stories, Motivation, Parents' Role Tagged With: Devoted: The Story of a Father's Love for His Son, Dick and Rick Hoyt, Father's Day, Father's influence, Father's Love, Inspiration, Team Hoyt

Courage and Honor Are Truly Beautiful

June 8, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 1 Comment

My husband and I saw the movie Snow White and the Huntsman, which made me think a lot about today’s emphasis on beauty. While the image of beauty changes according to the times, a preoccupation with beauty is obviously nothing new.

If you haven’t seen Snow White and the Huntsman, here’s an extended trailer:

You’ll find a positive review by Rogert Ebert and a mixture of opinions on Rotten Tomatoes.

My favorite features of the movie were its cinematography and its focus on courage and honor. Snow White and The Huntsman reminded me of something I’ve seen both in sports and in life in general – that being courageous and trying to do what’s noble and right are truly beautiful.

“Beauty is the Illumination of Your Soul” Word-Art Freebie (without watermark)

Photo Credit: Photo at the top of this post by Keith Davenport at Flickr Creative Commons.

Filed Under: Character, Inspiration Tagged With: beauty, courage, courage and honor are truly beautiful, honor, Snow White and the Huntsman

Dream a New Dream

June 1, 2012 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

I love that C.S. Lewis quote. It reminds me that there’s always something new to focus on, a new goal to set, no matter what age we are.

I could never fully subscribe to the “If you can dream it, you can do it” philosophy because it simply defies logic too much for me. I do believe that you can do amazing things at any age if your dream is in tune with God’s dream for you.

Of course, I can never be on American Idol. (Not only don’t I meet the age requirements, but I don’t have a singing voice that’s even close to qualifying.) But I’m happy in knowing that God didn’t call me to be a singer except for my own happiness and when I’ve shared songs with children. There are dreams I can embrace that will embrace me as well.

Read the entire article

Photo Credit: Photo by Vijay at Flickr Creative Commons (license)

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration Tagged With: C.S. Lewis, dream a new dream, You are never too old

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

May 18, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 15 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I can relate to the concept of being a survivor: Being a Survivor. I think we all can. Who hasn’t gone through some hard times?!

Stronger | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Yet, my hard times can’t begin to compare with the hard times many individuals face. I want to share a moving video you might have seen on YouTube. I learned about the video from Shannon at Blog Frog’s Mom Loop.

This video was created by Chris Rumble, a 22-year-old hockey player/filmmaker who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He brought together the hemoncology floor of Seattle Children’s Hospital for an inspiring remake of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” Published on May 6, the video has already had 1,980,235 views.

If you’d like to know more about how the video was made, check this out: Extended Cut – Making Of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Here’s more about Chris Rumble from the Huffington Post: Chris Rumble, Seattle Children’s Hospital Cancer Patient, Creates ‘Stronger’ Video.

Small Hands Creating Hope

I’m happy to say that I’m participating in a fundraising project going on right now to help the American Cancer Society. The Small Hands Creating Hope eBook and print book was organized by MaryAnne from Mama Smiles blog. MaryAnne was diagnosed with cancer at 22 months and is celebrating 30 years of being cancer-free.

Small Hands Creating Hope Collage

Small Hands Creating Hope symbolizes hope in the face of cancer. For the book, MaryAnne brought together 40+ kid bloggers to share crafts, tutorials, and many stories that inspired the projects. Children can make the projects to bring hope to cancer patients.

I was inspired by my own parents, who are both cancer survivors. Here’s more about my part of the book: Free Counting Book Printable for Any Theme and One Small Part of Small Hands Creating Hope (at Living Montessori Now).

Ultimately, I wish for a cure for cancer. For now, there’s the strength and depth that comes to anyone who’s a survivor. And there’s always hope for the future.

“What Doesn’t Kill You” Word-Art Freebie

Photo at the top of this post by Michael Deeble at Flickr Creative Commons.

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration, Making a Difference Tagged With: American Cancer Society fundraiser, being a survivor, Chris Rumble, encouragement, Inspiration, Kelly Clarkson, making a difference, Seattle Children's Hospital, Small Hands Creating Hope, stronger, Survivor, What Doesn't Kill You

How to Have a Good Day

March 9, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

Here’s an inspiring TED Talk on gratitude with Louie Schwartzberg, founder of Blacklight Films. The TED Talk includes some amazing time-lapse photography and a beautiful short film about gratitude and happiness.

The short film combines Schwartzberg’s cinematography with music by Gary Malkin and words and narration by Brother David Steindl-Rast from Gratefulness.org. This is definitely worth 10 minutes of your time!

Here’s a transcription of Brother David Steindl-Rast’s words from the video:

You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift that you have right now. And the only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you do nothing else but to cultivate that response to the great gift that this unique day is, if you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.

Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open, that incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us for our pure enjoyment. Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going. We just think of the weather and even of the weather we don’t think of all the many nuances of weather. We just think of good weather and bad weather. This day right now is unique weather, maybe a kind that will never exactly in that form come again. The formation of clouds in the sky will never be the same that is right now. Open your eyes. Look at that.

Look at the faces of people whom you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face, a story that you could never fully fathom. Not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. We all go back so far. And in this present moment on this day all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world flows together and meets you here like a life-giving water if you only open your heart and drink.

Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization gives to us. You flip a switch and there is electric light. You turn a faucet and there is warm water and cold water. And drinkable water! It’s a gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience.

So these are just a few of an enormous number of gifts to which we can open your heart. So I wish you that you would open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you, that everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you, just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch. Just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. Then it will really be a good day.

“Let the Gratefulness Overflow into Blessing All Around You” Word-Art Freebie (without watermark)

Linked with “Get Inspired” Monday and Thought-Provoking Thursday.

Filed Under: Gratitude, Happiness, Inspiration Tagged With: Brother David Steindl-Rast, Gary Malkin, Gratefulness.org, gratitude, happiness, Louie Schwartzberg, TED Talk

Positive Music Messages and Inspiration from Low Viscosity

March 2, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 12 Comments

Christian Chamberlin dancing in the streets of Denver by Salvador Photography

I love hearing about young people spreading positive music messages and showing innovation as entrepreneurs. My son, Will, became a DJ at age 16 and started his own business, Dancing DJ Productions, at 17. Almost ten years later, that’s still an important part of his life and a vehicle he uses to bring happiness to people. He typically uses edited music to keep the music as positive as possible.

I wrote in December about 16-year-old Canadian Sean Quigley and the positive work he did with “Little Drummer Boy.” His music video, uploaded to YouTube on November 30, has already had over 2,000,000 views.

Today, I’m excited to tell you about two brothers from Denver who are working to spread positive messages through hip-hop music. Here’s Christian Chamberlin’s bio:

“I am a young man with a vision to bring my talents to the world. I am on a mission to spread love and positivity. My name is Low Viscosity, and I am a 16 year old rap artist that has set out to do great things.

“I am reaching out to the masses to inspire each individual to live their life on purpose. I have learned over the last couple years, through a journey of personal development and entrepreneurship, that what is most needed is leaders that are living examples of true love for others, and who help people increase their quality of life. I feel so deeply convicted, I won’t stop at anything, to accomplish this.”

Christian and his manager brother, Clay, are working to raise $8,500 to create and promote Low Viscosity’s first album, The Road Less Traveled. Christian says:

“Today’s rap industry is dominated by artists that glorify drugs and alcohol, rap about violence, and communicate demeaning viewpoints on women. Vulgar language and inappropriate sexual references are not uncommon. The problem is not the vehicle of expression, it’s what’s being expressed!…

“As a 16 year old rap artist leading a movement of positive change in the industry, my mission is to lead, inspire, and empower young people to share their value with the world through their unique creative abilities!…My lyricism focuses on true principles to live by. I want kids to realize the real power they have to create a life of abundance, and to be aligned with the dreams God has given them! I want to reinvent what the term ‘rap’ means to the world, and fill stadiums with kids throwing their hands up to meaningful songs.”

Here’s the Low Viscosity Kickstarter Project: