Help me stop bullying

It's been a very long time since I've written. I've been working on the major update of the Strategies for Success curriculum for high schools. I taught the course to a group of college freshmen this summer (they raved about it!!) and I reprised the role of the Fairy Godmother again in Cinderella on tour this summer. Busy, busy, busy! But I love it and am very grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way.

But the biggest thing is the journey to end bullying. As many people know, I wrote my program after the suicide death from bullying of one of my students. The program changed my school and the lives of the over 85% of the students who took it. But bullying continues in our country. And we need to do something...all of us.

I'm working with a group on putting together an Anti-Bullying Summit for my state where we gather people from all communities with a stake in bullying and brainstorm solutions. Better to gather solutions and put them into practice than wait til another student is harmed.

I also applied for a grant from Pepsi and this is where I could use your help. You see the grants go to those people who have the most votes. Now lots of people have voted for American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. This time I need you to vote for my proposal which would get my program in 100 schools, train the teachers, turn the two bullying shows from Kaleidoscope Theatre into DVD's so they can be seen world wide and much more....

Please vote...every day in August...and tell everyone you know to do the same. We can do this..if we take the time to save a life...

Here's how: Text message 101886 to Pepsi (73774) or go to: http://pep.si/bDCjyz


Thanks!!!

Little things make all the difference

How do you take down a 100 foot tree without crashing into someone’s house? Especially my house? One little piece at a time it seems. I’m watching a crew from a tree removal company take down a tree across the street from me. What an amazing process. I can see about 5 guys, 4 on the ground and one about 60 feet up at the moment. They started at the bottom cutting one branch at a time, each branch tied to a rope so it would fall down gradually. The huge top piece just came down but it wasn’t a big deal because all the branches below it were gone. All those branches…they’ve already sawdust, ready for the next life this tree must lead. All of this has happened in less than 30 minutes, one little step at a time. I hate to see a tree go but there must have been a reason for it. For me it’s a reminder that even the biggest jobs, the most outrageous sounding goals can all be broken down into little steps. We don’t have to be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity. We just have to take a baby step and proceed. Amazing things happen when we do.

Had another lesson today about how important the little things are. I’m now acting in a show that I helped write called “High School BULLY”. We (me and 6 very talented young actors) did 2 shows today in Canton, MA for the freshmen and sophomore classes. I took a few minutes as the students were walking in and again when they were leaving to say hello, thank them and just let them know that we were glad to be with them today. It was a little thing but I think an important one. How many teens go through the day with no one even noticing them? I always did this as a classroom teacher and I think it mattered to my students. I know it mattered to me because I wanted them to know I cared about them as people, not just students.

What little thing can you do that will make a big difference today? Who can you connect with…in person or even with technology if that’s all that will work for you. Who can you tell you care? It’s a little thing but those little things seem to be the true secrets of success.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Lessons from the Olympics

So much inspiration. So many lessons that the Olympics can teach us. I get such goose bumps when I watch people who let nothing stand in their way to achieve their dreams, no matter what country they come from. Sure I'm an American and happy to see our athletes on the medal podium. But I also admire and am inspired by those from around the world who come to share their talents with all of us.

Whether you like winter sports (What is skeleton???) or not, I hope you'll spend a little time seeing the beautiful city of Vancouver as it showcases the incredible talent of these remarkable athletes. To me, this is what television was designed for. To teach us about our neighbors in the world, to show us their cultures, to see the beauty of the world around us. And to let us peek into the lives of those who have triumped over sometimes insurmountable odds to achieve something that few of us could do.

Seeing that makes me realize that if they can do triple flips and fearless downhill runs, then just maybe we can survive all that life throws our way. And in my family much has been thrown our way in the past few months. We are suviving...my dad is well after 2 months in the hospital and my nephew who was close to losing his life a month ago is slowly recovering although his trip to full recovery will be a long one. We play the Olympics on TV for him as he holds the skateboard that used to be a part of him so that he can see what miracles are truly possible.

I hope you'll get to watch some of those Olympic miracles. In a world where inspiration is often hard to find, there is plenty for all of us to enjoy.

Thanks Vancouver and all the great athletes! You make us all proud.