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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2017)
-);<-:67:-/768):-6<5Ia Three great gifts in the journey of the being human F rom birth we are given at least three gi s to create posi ve change in our lives. When these gi s are nurtured we can be- come the crea ve force in our own lives. The gi s allow us to become the writer, the director and the actor in the produc on called “Our Life”. Choice. From the beginning, choice is a part of our human make- up. It is this innate ability to choose that leads us to posi ve growth and happiness. Between s mulus, what happens to us, and response, how we act, there is a space. Contained in that space is our freedom and our power to choose our response to any circumstance. The more we prac ce choosing, the more confi dent we become in our ability to make posi ve deci- sions that lead to a life well-lived. Maren Schmidt _______________ Kids Talk™ Having the ability to choose is given to us, and we always have a choice for our response. We strengthen our skill by exercising our gi of being able to choose. It is with our choices that we write our script. Natural laws and univer- sal principles. The natural laws and universal principles that govern our lives are another present given to us. These laws and principles direct our lives whether we are aware of them or not. HEATHER A. BACON, PH.D. & JENNIFER K. COOPER, PSY.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologists Helping parents discover new ways to shape behavior and reconnect with children. Currently accepting new patients. Most insurance and private pay accepted. 860 W. Elm Ave., Suite 204, Hermiston, OR 97838 541-289-7777 • hermistonpsych.com There are physical laws, such as, gravity, the rota on of the earth, and the earth’s mo on around the sun, to name only a few. Principles of human behavior, such as kind- ness, respect, honesty, personal integrity, and service to mankind, operate constantly in every culture on our planet. Physical laws guide our ac ons because we cannot change the forces that are exerted on us. We choose to ignore the force of grav- ity at our own peril. We can’t stop day turning into night, or the earth from moving through the universe. Physical laws control the conse- quences of our physical choices. Likewise, we ignore universal principles with dangerous results. Choosing to use principles, such as respect, kindness and trust, en- ables us to tap into a moral author- ity to guide our lives through many hazards. If we choose to make decisions and place value in our life on ac vi es not based on univer- sal principles that are self-evident, factual, objec ve and impersonal, well, we will have a hard row to hoe. Universal principles direct our lives with objec ve cause and ef- Strategies fect. Disregard principles of human behavior and the eff ects can seem very personal and subjec ve. When we are cognizant of these underly- ing principles of life, we are more likely to make wise choices. Inborn intelligence. Our third gi is our- selves: our bodies, our hearts, our minds and our spirits. We might say we are comprised of four dis nct intelligences: physical, social/emo on- al, mental and spiritual. How we choose to use our talents depends on the tools, people, ideas, and natural surroundings in which we fi nd ourselves. Our intelligences allow us to act on our choices and principles. Each of us is given three gi s: choice, self-evident physical and spiritual laws that are objec ve, factual, impersonal, and self-evi- dent, along with the innate intel- ligence to act on our choices and values. As adults, let us recognize our gi s so that we can help our children understand and fully u lize these natural endowments. ________ Kids Talk™ is an award-winning column dealing with childhood de- velopment issues wri en by Maren Stark Schmidt, M.Ed. She has more than 25 years experience working with young children and is the au- thor of Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents. Contact her via e-mail at maren@kidstalknews.