“Well, yeah. I’m right…and they are…wrong.”
Kevin felt something in his chameleon gut. It all felt untrue.
Lily just kept eating.
“OK, maybe they’re not completely at fault. Maybe I get hot-headed and too passionate.”
Lily continued to look into his eyes, listening to him.
There was no judgment, anger or fear in her eyes. She was listening to him, completely.
*From my next book, Kevin the Complainer
At lunch, Lily was sitting by herself. Kevin looked over at Minji and Carlos. They were talking and laughing and ignoring him.
So Kevin sat next to Lily.
“Hello,” Lily said.
“Hello,” Kevin answered.
They chewed in silence.
*From my next book, Kevin the Complainer
Carlos and Minji continued to ignore Kevin. Day after day, Kevin remained silently hopeful, only to be crushed by dismissal bell.
One day, Ms. Meretta made an announcement.
“Class, we have a new student. Her name is Lily. Please introduce yourselves throughout the day and make her feel welcome.”
The new student walked to her desk and sat down.
*(From my next book, Kevin the Complainer)
“Well, then I QUIT!” Kevin stormed off.
It was awkward at lunch. The three always ate lunch together.
Minji and Carlos were eating their lunch and Kevin had to sit by himself.
He was sorry, but couldn’t bring himself to go and apologize.
So he ate his cricket sandwich with jackfruit jelly and felt sorry for himself.
*From my next book, Kevin the Complainer
At last! Recess.
Minji kicked the ball and ran for cover. Carlos got the ball and kicked it toward Kevin. But Kevin couldn’t catch the ball, which meant he was “out.”
“Let’s start over! That was unfair!” Kevin cried out.
Minji and Carlos shot each other a look.
“You know very well everything was fair, Kevin.” Minji took the ball to continue the game.
“Yeah, you’re out,” Carlos added.
“Oh yeah?” Kevin asked.
“Yes,” The other two replied.
*My book-in-progress (Kevin the Complainer)
When I asked the 16-year-old daughter what she thought of this illustration, she said:
“It looks like the two cats are going to eat the chameleon.”
“Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.”
Eckhart Tolle
Ms. Meretta was teaching a new math lesson.
Kevin looked out the window. The storm subsided and the sun was out. He wished he could be outside, playing Kick and Cover.
“Kevin, pay attention. You need to learn this,” Ms. Meretta said.
Sighing heavily, Kevin muttered, “I knew this was going to be a bad day.”
*my second self-published children’s book – check out “Esther, Mia and the Stars“!
Love is love is love…
it takes many different forms in the physical world
and should never be judged, condemned or denied
“Harvey woke up and complained to his mom that he felt a headache coming on.
His breakfast was overdone.
He couldn’t find his favorite gloves.
He heard something outside: Thunder rolled and cracked.
Oh no! There’s a storm! Now we won’t be able to play Kick and Cover! He muttered to himself.
He did not like the way his day was starting.”
From Kevin the Complainer
Today’s motto (for me) is “just do it.”
I’m in the middle of the National Board of Certification process and one requirement is to take two 15-minute videos of myself teaching and to analyze them. In order to do this, I must view the videos. Repeatedly.
Ugh.
I do not like to hear myself – alone see myself – on screen.
At last, I did it. And you know what? It wasn’t terrible.
So, today, I encourage you to “just do it.” If it needs to be done, but you dread it, know that it’s OK.
If you need a more aggressive motivational message, watch Shia below:
Kismet 