Thursday, September 9, 2010
My daughter came home from JDH (grade 5) full of chit chat about the first school assembly of the year. Madeline explained to me the idea of Bucket Fillers (which is based on the book "Have You Filled A Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness For Kids" by Carol McCloud). The idea behind this concept is that "we all carry an invisible bucket that contains our feelings. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When our bucket is empty, we feel sad. A bucket filler is someone who says or does nice things for other people. By doing this, they are filling other people's buckets and filling their own bucket at the same time. On the other hand, a bucket dipper says or does things to cause other people to feel bad. A bucket dipper empties their bucket when they say and do mean things. " As Madeline told me about this idea, I thought this is something I could practice! As a parent, if we are bucket fillers for our kids, they are more likely to pass it on to their class members. And I am most of the time, but I can always improve.
I think this topic interested me so much because I had just come home from visiting a good friend who was in the hospital in Peterborough. Her name is Noreen and we've been friends for about 20 years. Noreen, and her husband Bob, have been cottaging and visiting Haliburton for close to all of their 61 years of marriage. They are people who are bucket fillers. They are people who look for the good and support it. They have quietly supported this community in so many ways through financial donations to organizations (especially arts related) and they have attended countless number of events/ shows and courses over the years. They have always been really good listeners who make time to chat. When my husband I forget our anniversary, Noreen always shows up for a card for us! There are so many little and big ways that we can be bucket fillers. Noreen had a stroke last fall and so it is still challenging for her to get her words out (which must be really hard for someone who loves to talk). But every time I see Noreen her eyes light up she beams the most beautiful smile. She is still a bucket filler without the full use of her words! I think it is great that the school uses all kinds of different ways to encourage the students to be kind and thoughtful. It just adds more goodness to their community and into our homes.
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