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We learn to imitate from the earliest age, and (unfortunately) most of us continue to imitate throughout life… never going beyond mere reaction.
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Profile of a nature lover (1). Photo by Thomas Peace 2015
Profile of a nature lover (2). Photo by Thomas Peace 2015
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Don’t be a second-hand, hodgepodge mix of what others (in your life) programmed you to be; perceive directly, without mere conditioning and pre-programmed reaction.
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[Together for eternity… A pair of 50 million year old spiders fossilized in Baltic Amber. The male is on the left.]
Together forever… Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Psychological blindness educates others to be content in the dark; illuminated minds educate entirely differently.
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Showered by illumination (1). Photo by Thomas Peace 2015
Showered by illumination (2). Photo by Thomas Peace 2015
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Schools and educators would do well by putting much more emphasis on cooperation rather than on ruthless competition. T(ruthless) competition bestows a mentality that leans more toward domination and indifference. Cooperation confers more learning in terms of helping, consideration, sharing, and kindness. Perhaps one of the reasons our world is going to pot is that so many are just out for themselves (accepting a crass, dog-eat-dog mentality).
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[The gills of the mushroom help support each other (as the whole).]
Not competing. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Don’t lose your innocence. Don’t ever merely crave to “fit in” with the crowd. Don’t ever fear “being made fun of” or fear “being rejected.” Stand alone without being a slave to “what they think.”
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[Here we go ’round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go ’round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning.]
So early in the morning… Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Real learning is not merely absorbing. Real learning involves multi-faceted wisdom, consideration, profound passion, penetrating perception, and transcending inner/outer conflict.
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[Close to the edge…]
Close to the edge… down by the river… Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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We must not merely inculcate children with mechanical, stale facts… but teach them much about compassion, empathy, and green energy.
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[Sanddragon Dragonflies prefer to lay their eggs in streams and lakes with sandy bottoms; their larvae burrow into the sand. The abdomens of these dragonflies are of a unique shape.]
Sanddragon Dragonfly cooling off. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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If you bully the small one… you are bullying the whole, bullying life’s child.
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[A Hover Fly and a couple of other small insects on a wild Chicory Flower.]
Little and frail. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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A true teacher is a “learning assistant” and fellow learner… not a manipulator or puppeteer!
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[This is a red Harvestman… often called a Daddy-longlegs. They have no venom and are harmless to human beings. Harvestmen have what are called Chelicerae, which in spiders are hollow in order to deliver venom, but in Harvestmen they are primarily used to grasp food; no venom is involved.]
Not a Mommy-shortlegs! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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. We teach kids math and spelling… but we don’t try enough regarding crucial and vital education involving empathy, compassion, and sensitivity.
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Easter will be here soon!…(Wild Rabbit) photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 