Hearth Places

In January of 2010, our campus opened the Bowld Commons, a space where residential students might gather and engage in activities ranging from sports to meetings. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in the Bowld, gathering for GO Trip planning, engaging in conversations with students, and many other activities such as chili …

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Flourishing Mindset

Tomorrow, in a first-year English class, I will pose a question to the class, asking them to compose their personal definition for a flourishing life; and I excitedly anticipate how they will choose to answer this query from the perspective of an Emerging Adult. What I anticipate hearing will be concepts related to personal accomplishments, …

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Changing the Metrics

Stubborn streaks can arise within me, especially when it comes to certain tasks and topics where our culture is more comfortable accepting the status quo, doing what has always been done, rather than asking hard questions. Wrestling with these difficult queries, embracing the challenges that they generate, and allowing the process to unfold is an …

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Roots Before Fruit

Not being blessed with the gift of a green thumb, there are currently no live plants in my home; and those outdoor plants not planted firmly in the ground, those potted on my front and back porch, are barely hanging onto survival. Even with the best of intentions to nourish those potted plants so that …

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Reflective Practice

Recognizing that some personalities find Reflective Practices to be more enjoyable than others, I comprehend that not everyone will engage frequently in deeply reflective activities; however, I do imagine it to be an essential skill in the development of the Habits of a Flourishing Life. The challenge becomes, especially in this world of distraction, to …

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