So, a journey across the soul and clearing of the mind and spaces to begin a walk into the inner most unknown. . .I think every moment in my life had brought me to An August to Remember. It was a path clearly mapped out for me. If I had only known this earlier in my life maybe I would be more accepting and possibly less neurotic . . . If only, that was the way life worked out. I guess we learn from our past and present and hopefully allow it to affect us in a way that it reflects positively in our future.At no fault of anyone, myself included. I realized at age 29 how ill prepared for LIFE I was, at 18 I entered the world CLUELESS. Look, I knew about poverty, politics and worldly situations but what did I really know or understand from it all? How did that knowledge affect my life? . . . I sort of woke up thinking I was in a job the past 13 or 14 years that allowed me to meet amazing persons, artists and now friends. Yes true I was blessed, and maybe everything in my life led up to the light-bulb moment I had . . . all the pain, all the stress and worries for the past years allowed me to be clear. Through means of quitting smoking, quitting the crap, drinking and thus through HEALTHY LIVING, exercise, food we eat (people our body our temple) when we wake, when we sleep and how much time we give to loving ourselves for real!
. . . back to the light-bulb moment. I spent time thinking on HOW CAN I CHANGE THIS for the better of tomorrow?
I researched over and over again and came to the conclusion that the children of tomorrow is where I can start. I continued my extensive research and then came up with my plan.
MINDING MANNERS I bought two curriculum's from the UK on teaching manners, not etiquette ( this closes the child up) Manners teaches the children on kindness and being polite amongst other virtues. More research lead me to the United Nations educational curriculum, teaching children all about Values, from Peace to Respect and Humility and 12 other core subjects. . . I invested my savings and bought all curriculum's . . . Myself with Howard, Tammy and My better half StephenI spoke to many influential people in my life, Howard McCrary (my G-d father) and his beautiful wife Ivy, my better half Stephen (who is an amazing teacher and so balanced in life), I spoke to my best friend who owns the Flying Pan Restaurant and many others, Very Importantly I spoke with my Grandmothers - I told them of my journey and asked them . . . "How do you feel about the way the world has changed so drastically" . . . to translate and simplify their answers:
My Safta's (Grandmothers) Safta Zila & Safta Zipora "My dear Ifat (thats my name), When we were younger and we sat with our parents and grandparents before the wars. . . they'd say 'these are the days'. Now my grandaughter I say 'those were the days' you see, the world was greener and a more simple place. People had manners and respect, global warming wasnt there so . . . 'those were the days'" . . .
I then said it would be a mission of mine to change that statement, when I am a grandmother I hope to say "These are the days" . . .
What to do with this? I developed a business plan . . . MINDING MANNERS. . . I start my teacher training next year. . .
Teaching the children of tomorrow, values and manners that will hopefully affect the shaping the better of tomorrow. If I learned anything in life, it does take ONE PERSON TO MAKE CHANGE. Life is a ripple effect, and I hope this effect will have positive change. . .
I started a camp in August too comprising of this. . . here are some photos. . .
The camp was great fun and the children were really involved, we only covered lessons on PEACE and some on Manners. It was a great success. I am definitely taking my time in developing this as I want to get it all right. I have great support! I have been asked to participate in World Peace Day in Thailand already teaching thousands of students on my journey and educating them with the curriculums developed. I will continue to work with the Urban industry and behind the scenes on shows, movies and other exciting artistic expressions. But eventually I will leave since this is my calling, G-d has given me the gift to see what my PURPOSE in life is and now I know.
I will continue to respect and love myself, continue my meditations and healthy living for a better tomorrow This photo amongst the other artistic shots of myself above were taken by www.mindinart.comMissyK* xox
Am reading 'The Answer' pick it up, its a great book!