Create Space
Hi... failte (Irish for welcome! and pronounced fall-thhha).
I'm a newbie to blogging, here just over a year, but what a great year it has been!
I've turned the corner to 50 recently and two things become more relevant...time and experiences!
Material possessions are less important! Using time wisely and truly experiencing each day holds a new significance for me!
If you wish..., a little of the back story...
I''m blessed to be married to a kind and loving man for 28 years, we have two children now 19 and 21.
As I approached 40 and searching for something more, whilst holding down my then part-time legal secretarial work, I trained as a voluntary adult literacy tutor, with the hope of helping adults improve their literacy skills and have a second, and better experience of learning!
However, little did I think that wanting to help others improve their lives would see my own life improve beyond measure also!
You see for years I found it difficult to know what to do as I watched our two children suffer at the hands of bullies. Their struggle began to change when I returned to education! Through education I slowly gained valuable knowledge, I grew in confidence and self-esteme and it had a ripple effect!
By 2014, aged 47 I had completed a Higher Certificate in Literacy Development and a B.A. in Adult Education. I love my work as an adult educator, particularly when adults trust me enough to let down their defences and 'let me in'. Then I can help them by getting to know what makes them 'tic' and what 'lights their fire!'.
As an added bonus along the way I've realised that I also have a love of writing and that writing is cathartic (providing psychological relief through written expression of built up emotions), both for my students and myself. This blog enables me to pursue that new-found interest and I've really enjoying reading your blogs, sharing comments, getting to know so many people and gaining new perspectives. I also like to share any little 'gems' of learning I've gathered along the way!
Thanks for sharing your stories and for helping me realise that it is all possible...and that together we write a truly better story!
Much love,
Marie x
September 18, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Thank you for sharing!!.. hopefully the efforts will help to deal with bullying!!.. 🙂
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ( Mother Teresa)
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September 18, 2019 at 10:04 pm
As Tesco supermarket are famous for saying “every little helps” Thanks Dutch, I can only try! Very apt quote too, thanks for sharing.
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September 19, 2019 at 12:54 pm
“No road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it.” Jean de La Bruyere
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September 19, 2019 at 9:01 pm
Very encouraging Dutch!
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September 19, 2019 at 3:50 am
yea, this course should be compulsory!
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September 19, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Exactly Kate and should be delivered to every teacher in every school!
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September 19, 2019 at 10:06 pm
agreed … their avoidance is just another form of abuse!
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September 20, 2019 at 2:40 am
Anything we can do to prevent bullying is worth it!
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September 20, 2019 at 6:13 am
I agree Ann, we can all make a little effort!
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September 20, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I wish they would start such a programme in England.
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September 20, 2019 at 8:01 pm
In the meantime you might like to check out https://antibullyingcentre.ie/news/
And who knows what can happen if even one person starts a conversation about bullying…
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September 20, 2019 at 3:07 pm
This should be a part of every academic institution’s curriculu
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September 20, 2019 at 8:03 pm
I agree Mich, not an optional programme!
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October 2, 2019 at 2:20 am
Very informative post. Thank you Marie. It encourages us all to think about the importance of social emotional programming for young people. Something I played a big role in as a school psychologist in my early career years in Canada. Wonderful knowing it’s in Ireland too. Happy October! Andrea 😀
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October 5, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Thank you Andrea, for reading and responding. I’m glad you found it informative. It’s good to see Ireland being proactive at last, around the whole area of bullying. I’ve signed up for an online/blended programme on bullying prevention and intervention and l am looking forward to learning current Government guidelines and up to the minute thinking and research about bullying from the National Anti Bullying Centre. I’ll keep my readers posted. Happy October to you also! Xx
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October 5, 2019 at 1:19 pm
🧡🍂🧡🧡
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