13.12.2024 Prep Bulletin

As regular readers of this Bulletin will be aware, our long-term focus has been on the importance of positive choices both in and out of the classroom. We continued this theme during this week’s assemblies, revisiting the ‘The Golden Rule’ and the message of ‘Do unto others as you would have done unto you’.

As we continue to work on developing the children’s understanding of themselves and each other, and their ability to deal with challenging situations and relationships, we enjoyed the opportunity to return to a favourite topic from last year, namely ‘Don’t blame the lettuce’.

For the uninitiated, this is based upon the following message from Thích Nhất Hạnh:

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertiliser, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet, if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.

The notion of nourishing and feeding our relationships and prioritising understanding over blame has proved helpful here at Treliske House this week and I will remind myself of its importance whilst trying to fit too many relatives into too small a space over the Christmas holidays! I imagine that none of you will be beset by such challenges but, should a problem arise, I suggest that you remember the humble lettuce.

With season’s greetings and every good wish,