Creating peace at the office

If the boss suddenly calls a meeting of only select employees, scheduled for a few days hence, it feels rather like the zebra herd on the plains have all just heard rustling in the grasses. Freeze. Heads up. Scan the horizon. Ears pricked and flicked to capture every direction. Listen.

In the past, I have been the one to panic early. Every breeze that rustles the grasses could be something moving in there. Run!

Not this time. Stay still. Don't speak. Wait. Listen. Take notes even if just mental notes, but don't give yourself away with braying or grunting or scattering the herd. Safety in numbers. Just wait.

If the lion seems near, let it show itself. It might just be a baby lion. Maybe it's just a dandelion after all.

Classroom Learning 2.0

The inspiration behind creating this blog came from my experiences on Classroom Learning 2.0 from the California School Library Association. The self-paced guide for educators is located at http://classroomlearning2.csla.net/.

Welcome to the Peaceful Plains

Welcome to the Peaceful Plains. This site is actually more of a quest than a destination. In the chaos and craziness of real life, we often forget to slow down and look out at the gentle horizon to find our peace.

Inner Zebra (as the blogspot name references) is a nod to Robert M. Sapolsky, Professor of Biology and Neurology, who wrote Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. After reading his book in an effort to understand why some of us have overactions to stress, I have found myself trying to enjoy more peace by searching for my inner zebra. Zebras only react to real and present lions. Zebras don't think about yesterday's lion or tomorrow's lion or a possible lion in the bushes up ahead. Humans can learn a lot from their inner zebras.

Take a deep, cleansing breath. That's the only thing that you really have to get done at any given moment-- Breathe!