Education and Purpose

              If you were given the power to design a new system of education, where would you start? What would you consider? How would you go about implementing it? You would probably begin by coming up with a purpose.

              In 1934, John Dewey said that “…the purpose of education was to give the young the things they needed in order to develop in an orderly, sequential way into members of society.” He he also said that it would depend which society that was. The aboriginals in the Australian bush or the youth in The Golden Ages of Athens would probably be educated differently. My thought on this is, what if the society is not meeting the needs of the citizens? What if the citizens are not productive? What if the society is not serving the individuals? Shouldn’t we change the educational process?

              In 1957, the ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Committee said that “the main purpose of American Schools is to provide for the fullest possible development of each learner for living morally, creatively, and productively in a democratic society.” Moral education was the prime concern when the first common schools were founded in the New World. We do not necessarily need to choose a religion to know that values such as respect, peace, and honesty are essential, and yet, this is not always seen in our society. How could a lawyer or a doctor only think of himself, step over others by lying or stealing if he/she went through our educational system that promoted truth and honesty? Was it really promoted?  Creativity has also been obscured by the need to produce individuals that think the same and solve problems in the way that is expected. Somewhere along the way, our priorities changed. Are we serving our purpose?

              Arthur W. Foshay, Director of the Bureau of Educational Research at Ohio State University, reminded us in The Curriculum Matrix: Transcendence in Mathematics (1991) that “the purpose of education since ancient times, has been to bring people to as full realization as possible of what it is to be a human being.” That encompasses so much. It can not possibly be done without knowing what each child brings to the table. The first thing in people’s minds would be the academics. How much math? What is the reading level? What did the child learn in science last year? But what good is all that, if the child does not know how to apply this knowledge, how to use it at the right moment, or if to use it at all? That is called wisdom, and it is part of the human being, so are the individual’s moral values, the ability to concentrate, the ability to process emotions, the ability to keep himself or herself healthy, the ability to relate to self and to others, and so much more. This brings me to my definition of It Takes a Village, because the whole community needs to be involved so that all children in our society grow up to be healthy, fulfilled, cooperative adults. As educators, it is our responsibility to support the whole child. (That makes me wonder, how many children should we be responsible for?) If we as educators are not walking towards meeting the needs of the whole child, then, we should make changes.

              According to a leader in yoga philosophy, Swami Guru Devanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, in his book Nacimos Para Triunfar, 2009 (Born to Win), “learning is measured by the positive changes that the training produces in the personality. Intellectual concepts that cannot be used, and that do not produce positive results in the person, the family, and the society, have not really been learned, they have only been stored in the intellect and have no value.”

“If we have learned anything good … obligatorily … that knowledge should make us better people.” SGDSJM

              The present system requires that we load our students’ minds with facts and concepts, many of those which are forgotten after the test or never used. Wouldn’t you say that is a waste of time? Why not use the subjects: Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Art, and Music as the vehicles to more purposeful goals, not as the goals themselves?

              In my journey as an educator (and as a student of life), I have come to realize that I do have the power to reach a child and her family in ways that matter. In my view, school should be more experiential than intellectual. It should also appeal to their interests. When individuals apply knowledge, it is more likely that they will keep it. It is also more likely that they make mistakes or have questions during the application. What better time to learn than during practice? (I do not mean practicing 15 math problems. I mean actually solving problems in real life. That is more meaningful.)

I do stop my lessons for a puppy that passed away, a question of how a windmill works, a little white lie, a question about how fast a cheetah runs, the first snowfall out the window, a story about his friend that got sick, and a lack of attention due to excitement or tiredness. All those are great lessons and may become projects. I do lessons on self-discipline, positive thinking, compassion, honesty, healthy habits, and more. I assign projects that build family bonds, that help the child see things from another point of view, or help her develop skills that she will use often. I use the subjects to meet essential goals that help the individual live a fuller richer life. It is not a perfect system because it is not a system as we know it. I use curricula as a resource. A system, the way it is used in many educational institutions is for mass production and machines. I educate children.

              When the time comes that I see our society promoting unity, harmony, honesty, inner wisdom, health, and love, that day, I will say that the education we are giving our children is working. I will see adults fulfilled, doing what makes them happy, and helping others do the same. They will love to learn new things, and they will do them well. And so, I will say, let us continue using the guidelines as stated because they enhance people’s lives and give them a sense of individual and group purpose. When the time comes…and it will when we all revisit our purpose for being in this society and in this world.

Ana M. Robledo

Special Education Therapist and Coach

Mask or No Mask

A couple of days ago, I was caught up in a Facebook post about wearing or not wearing masks.

I wanted to make the point that many of us have been so afraid that we have forgotten that nature is not the culprit, and we have been hiding from it as well.

It’s possible to go for a walk, go on a boat ride, or even enjoy a beach where there are not many humans. In my daily walk I seldom find people. there may be one or two walking a dog or a baby, or maybe jogging. Most of the time, they find a way to keep their distance or we do. I am even able to hug my tree when nobody is watching. During this time, I don’t think I need a mask. Why not take full advantage of the wonderful oxygen given by the trees directly? When I approach busy areas, I enter the grocery store, or any enclosed building, I have my mask ready to go. I am making decisions in every situation. I don’t want to be a robot.

One thing this new normal has taught me is to be more present, and being present means being aware of my surroundings and my gut feelings. I don’t need crowds, big parties, enclosed theaters or concerts, in the traditional setting.

Maybe this is an opportunity to get out of our cocoons and experience life more simply, with more respect for each other; protecting and using nature as an essential part of our daily life. Maybe we should not call it new normal. Maybe we should realize that things will continue changing, and that it is never normal because it is always changing. We need to accept that and be alert and open as we sharpen our intuition.

Can you visualize this in your future?
-A small-town meeting in an open plaza
-A small open theater
-A drive-in theater
-More homemade meals
-Greetings from neighbors
-Personal health as our responsibility not so much the doctors’
-Picnic at the park
-Donations of time
-Clear skies
-More transparent relationships

What else do you see?
If we are the ones that create our future, what could we make sure happens? I would love to hear what you see in your future. Share with us.


The New Normal is Here!

So, now that we know what we didn’t know before, how will we tackle the new normal?

What we know may be slightly different for each one of us, but let’s go over some. We know that what we think affects our words and actions, and that all that, affects others here and across the world. And it affects the Earth and our future.

We know that keeping healthy physically, emotionally, and mentally is essential for our wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us.

Many of us now know that connections with ourselves and with others is what makes everything worth it.

Those who take advantage of the silence, have learned that listening to our gut, to our subtle voice within, is an art we must pursue to make productive, meaningful choices for ourselves and our loved ones.

We have also come to realize that others are going through battles right now that we know nothing about, and it’s nothing new. We shouldn’t have judged others for their actions before, and we should not be judging them now because we do not know what makes them act the way they do.

I am sure you can add to this list. Life is continuously teaching us.

Now , what will we do with our new perspective?

Will we change careers? Will we perform our job in a different way? Will we figure out more ways to connect with loved ones? Will we reach out to others who we feel need support? Will we reinvent our systems of education, economy, and government? Will we help create a new more conscious community?

Today I invite you to reflect on your lessons, whatever they may have been, in order to act upon your believe system which I hope has been shaken. For if we don’t take initiative to cocreate with All There Is, we’ll be stuck in cycles taking us no where. What a great opportunity has been given us to transcend.

Through the Rapids

How fitting that Easter would fall during this challenging world event. It means dying to the old self. It means rebirth.

It may seem difficult to see ahead but it is possible. Yesterday in a women’s conference someone mentioned that her husband compared what we are going through to white water rafting. There are really calm rivers- That’s a level 1. The level 3 has more turbulent rapids and narrow passages. By the level 5, there are so many drops, difficult passage ways, and difficult maneuvering that many people get hurt or die. According to him, we are going through a level 5. We are all on the same boat and aware that what we do affects the person on the other side of the boat. The only way to get through is to focus on the path – Not the obstacles. You have to be prepared as much as you can to deal with obstacles, and you have to deal with them, but your attention is on the through line.

So, the questions to ask ourselves are:

Who will I be when this is over?
What have I learned that I can apply?
Who am I in relation to humanity?
Who am I in relation to nature?
What is my place?
What is essential?
What will I pass to my children that will help them in the future?
What systems and structures will I support?
How can I make a difference to contribute to a better world?

I invite you to grieve the old (because it’s important) and let it go. Then, embrace the new, transform yourself, and transform the world.

Be new and be well,


PS. Working on it myself😏

On Parenting

I didn’t have much guidance when I became a parent.

I had my parent’s example and I am grateful, but I would have liked to know more of what was involved. I was not ready physically, mentally, emotionally or espiritually, and neither was my partner. We did the best we could with what we knew. My kids picked up so much on their own, and grew up to be independent beautiful beings, and I am grateful for that.

As a teacher and a yogi, I’ve learned a thing or two that I would have liked to implement when they were young. I would have liked to guide them earlier and deeper in some areas in order to prepare them for life.

1. One with all- The understanding that my actions affect others as well as myself- My thoughts, words and actions are powerful energies that can hurt or heal others and myself. A repeated thought can make me sick and can make someone else sick.

2. I am more than my mind- My thoughts should not be in charge of my life. I, as the observer, can make the decision to align my thoughts, my words and my actions. My thoughts cause my anxiety or my sadness. When emotions arise, I can make proactive decisions on how to deal with them. The mind can be trained.

3. Gratitude- So many of us have been taught to focus on what we don’t have. To make the shift to be grateful for my life, for opportunities, for possibilities, for what I am and what I have, brings peace.

4. Letting-go- Living and loving without harmful attachments has been the subject of many lessons in my life. It’s much easier to let go when you love freely and without conditions.

5. Putting my mask on first- if we don’t put our mask on first before our child, not my child or I may survive a plane emergency. The same goes for life. The parent needs to eat, sleep, exercise, rest, and have opportunities for laughter and creativity to have the energy to be a caregiver.

6. Going in- understanding the importance to getting to know myself, to accept myself, and to love myself just because I am. Only when we are here, can we love others freely. We need to stand strong before partnering with others.

7. Living a purposeful life- One where we are at peace with ourselves, one that helps us grow in all areas of our life, and one that makes a difference in others.

8. Living a life by design- Understanding that we are not the stories we live. That we can learn from them and move on. And understanding that I can cocreate experiences in my life to make me a better person and to enjoy life.

9. Disconnecting from the world-
Understanding that the world can be overwhelming and that’s important to rest the mind and the body daily. We are not Superman or superwoman.

10. Stop, analyze, and decide- we live in a fast world. It requires some planning, organizing, prioritizing, and making decisions. We need to make sure those decisions are good for us in a week, in a year or in 5 years.

Unfortunately, there is no school in our society that helps us become capable parents. We can at least grow and change with our lessons in life, and hopefully, that will help our grown children or others around us.

I Am Not My Story

That was the title of one of my speeches a week ago. Yes, I am not my story or the stories I live through. We came to this life to experience certain situations, but we did not come to stay in them. Some experiences feel pleasurable and some, not so much. It is difficult to let go of the difficult or painful situations, and sometimes we carry the emotions of those experiences for long periods of times.

Here are some ways that can help us move on:

1. Mending Connections: Forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, and forgiving ourselves is a requirement. I have come to realize that all of them are necessary even if we think that we don’t hold a grudge, or that it’s someone else’s fault, or we think it’s all our fault. “It takes two to Tango.” And forgiving ourselves is necessary so we can breathe and make room for more goodness in our life.

2. Doing Inner Work: At the time we are letting go of a painful experience, having support is great. However, that sense of security may trick us into thinking that we are strong on our own. That support may move when we least expect it. We need to go through the process of accepting and loving ourselves no matter what our stories have been, no matter what situation we are in. This may require some brain washing on our part using positive affirmations and other activities to change our thinking and raise our frequency.

3. Having an Antidote: After we have done the forgiveness process, and we accept and love ourselves no-matter-what, it’s possible to believe that we are immune to anything and that we are not going to feel the pain from a previous story, but certain situations may trigger thoughts and memories that evoke emotions that overpower us. At this time, I think an antidote is in order. The most powerful one I know is gratitude. You may think that it is impossible to be grateful for your painful experience, but I am here to tell you that it is not only possible, it’s the only way to move forward. Remember the saying, “Everything happens for a reason?” Well, finding out what was the reason for our experience, finding out the lesson, helps us realize that there is something worth of gratitude. So, anytime, a painful memory comes, we give it a shot of gratitude until all that’s left is gratitude.

If I had not hit rock bottom in one of my experiences, I would not have learned about meditation, if I had not learned meditation, I would not have known that there were possibilities for me, and I wouldn’t have realized that I could co-create with the Universe experiences that could help me grow and that could give me joy. Maybe you attracted your experience so that you could raise your children differently, or so you could help others, or so you could see life differently.

So, I am not my story, I have a story (many stories), And I am grateful, are you?

To Eat or Not to Eat

More and more I’ve been changing how I think about eating.

You’ve heard it should be organic and as close to the earth as possible (not so processed), but have you heard that it depends on the combination of foods, the time you eat it, your body type, and your activity.

My niece is a nutritionist and she is vegan. Her mom is vegan and a natural health promoter. I learn a great deal from them.

Here are two tips:
1. Add lemon to your lentils (or anything high in iron). The lemon allows the body to absorb the iron. Otherwise, the iron leaves the body without being used.🤔

2. It’s better not to eat after 6, but if you do, the foods should not be high in sugar. Tangerines or bread in the middle of the day affect your body differently than in the evening. It has to do with your circadian rhythms (physical, mental and behavioral changes) which respond to light and darkness in your daily cycles.🤔

So, life is not so much about how much you know, but about the decisions you make with the new information that comes to you.

Today I invite you to look at any new information that comes your way, analyze it to see if it’s worth keeping, and if it is, decide when and how to apply it.

Be well!

Is It My Fire?

Is it a fire? Is it yours? Does it need to be taken care of right now?

I remember when I worked as a teacher in a school in West Palm. We taught the children to become more independent while working in small groups or on their own. The teacher would be working with 1 student or a couple of students and did not want to be interrupted. The rule was that if it was a fire (major disaster) or someone was bleeding, you could interrupt. Otherwise, you could ask another student or decide to do something else that was productive. The child could responsibly, use the bathroom, sharpen his pencil, or get up to get a needed material. (All these options would be modeled and practiced before they did it on their own.)

In our life people interrupt us at work and at home. It is possible not to meet our goals if we continuously stop for others.

At my last conference, we were discussing the importance of stopping, analyzing and deciding. Something I forget to do sometimes.

I believe we can prevent some of the interruptions by foreseeing what others that depend on us may need, and seeing how we can give them the strategies and tools to solve some things themselves.

Interruptions will come anyway, so here is an idea. Ask yourself,

1. Is it a fire?
What is the urgency and intensity of the problem?

2. Is it my fire?
Am I the only one that knows how to put it out? Can I use this moment to train someone? Can I delegate? Can we partner on the task?

3. Does it need to be put out this instant?
Can I finish what I am doing, and then deal with it?

We can’t have a rule to resolve everything right away or to delay every time there is an interruption because all interruptions are different.

So, STOP! ANALYZE! DECIDE! It takes a few minutes, but the consequences may make a major difference in reaching your goals and supporting others in ways they can become more independent.

All is Well!

No matter what today brings, all will be well in me. Let’s make that decision now.

It may bring ideas we don’t like, conversations we may not want to take part in, uncomfortable situations, or events where our body or mind may feel out of control. But all is well in me because I choose to be well.

Let’s remember that everything comes for a reason. It may be a lesson. It may be part of a healing process. It may be an event I or a community needs to wake-up and focus on what matters.

So if toxic actions of others are in your space, maybe it’s your opportunity to learn to step away or to speak up. Only you know what you need to learn. It’s all part of the school of life.

If your day brings, overwhelming circumstances at work or at home, it’s an opportunity to step physically and mentally out of the situation. It may be time to listen to your inner voice, to take a break, to get help, to prioritize, or make a change. There are always choices. The solutions are on the other side of fear. This is not just a popular saying. Get to know your fear. It helps me know that that’s where my growth is.

If your day brings an unexpected natural event, take a deep breath as well. An overwhelmed fearful mind is not helpful to make decisions. What can I do in this moment with what I have, and what I am able to do to be safe? Then act. Working on dealing with emotions is not easy, but we have to do our best so we can think clearly. It’s part of our growth.

Inhale deeply, close your eyes and check with your essence, then smile because all is well no matter what the world brings.

I make a decision now that all will be well within me no matter what happens. How about you?

No Matter What Happens

A couple of nights ago I had an interesting dream. I don’t know a lot about dreams, but I understand that all the participants in my dreams are me, even if the faces are different.

In this one, there was a younger version of someone I barely knew, and he was asking me, “How do you take care of the jitters when performing in life?”

“The way to do it is by understanding and knowing that everything is going to be fine no matter what happens!” I answered. (My higher self?)

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS everything will be fine. Do you have to be reminded of that sometimes? When we look at some parts of life, they don’t always look so pleasant on the surface. It’s not always easy to see the good. How could an accident be good? How could being kicked out of a job be good? How could someone asking you for a divorce be good?

As you are going through these things, you may feel like you are drowning. The moment you catch your breath and begin to reflect, it’s a perfect time to put your feelings to one side. Feelings tend to blind us. Now you are able to see that before the accident you were going to embark in something you were not ready for, or you were doing too much in your life and the Universe gave you a reason to slow down. Maybe the job you were in was not fulfilling you, or you were no longer being productive, and you were forcing it. Maybe you two had grown in different directions, and it was time to be “you.”

Experience should teach us that in the long run it will be fine. In the short run, we should also remember that being grateful is a great way to find the good in the now. Even when we don’t yet see it in something, it’s helpful to keep the saying, “All things happen for a reason,” handy, to remind us that NO MATTER WHAT, all will be well! All is well!