by Robert Fulghum
- an excerpt from the book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten
All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do
and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not
at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the
sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic,
hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup:
The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody
really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even
the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.
So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books
and the first word you learned - the biggest
word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about
three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.
I’ve been thinking about the above words all day at work today…I had decided to take my camera to work and take some photos of my day..which involves working with children. I didn’t want photos of their faces, though they made it very difficult to get shots because as soon as I brought out the camera they practically fell over each other to stand in front of it smiling their sweet and innocent smiles and some not so sweet smiles (the kinds with tounges hanging out)….
I wanted to film the kids doing what kids do…and throughout the day I was thinking of how true it is that everything we needed to learn in life we learned in kindergarten..perhaps we’re born in this world knowing everything we need to know that is important and through all our years of living we lose track of the important things because so many other non-important things come in our lives?
Like enjoying a good story…
How good it is to have someone to lean on..no matter the reason…
How it’s not important what your hair looks like..it’s more important to be in the moment..completely..
That good food is essential in life and it’s best homemade and without consideration for calories..
That exercise can be fun….alone or with someone…and definitely doesn’t have to be done in a gym…
How a snack didn’t have to be elaborate to be great…
How the most important thing is being together…no matter where…
How important it is to play as hard as you work…
And how to stop up and look around…..
Noticing the beautiful world around you…
And at the end of the day…it’s important to get your rest…
I’ve had the following song in my head all day long and watching the kids today it was easy to sing the words…”I believe in angels…. something good in everything I see…”
Yeah I know, this was a long post today….can’t help it, I had a lot to say today…
Until next time my friends….
11 comments:
It may be longer, but it was full of such good wisdom. I love those photos, perfectly illustrating the beauty of life around us.
It does look pretty snowy where you live.
Thanks so much for visiting, I really enjoyed dropping by your blog also.
Jen
beautiful! I love that book
The babies out in winter in their strollers threw me for a loop when I first moved to Norway. But they love it! One of the girls who rides at the stable parks her son outside with a baby monitor tucked next to him, and he sleeps the whole afternoon out there. Amazing.
I love the book, it's so true! It's true, sometimes we have to remember to go back to the basics....
Oh, Amy. Your photos of the children are marvelous! I loved the close-ups of the little hands, and the playing in the snow. I especially love those tree photos. They are magical.
Yes, it was a long one today, but good! And I didn't really have as much fun taking photos of the kids at my school. It was the 8th grade. And they really don't like having their picture taken. Especially the boys!
It may be long, but it was worth it. Thank you for putting it together.
It maybe a long post but it was a very interesting read. I love all the images you added to the texts. And you are right about the book... I've read it a dozen times and how I wish everybody would read it too.
I do believe in angels...
I so loved this...
I read this book on a flight from Arizona to Atlanta when it first came out. (cause, you know me, I had to read the whole thing!)
I was heading to Ga. to start a new job at a huge stable to manage 130 Arabian horses and 30 employees. I was so nervous. But, the wisdom in the book helped me forge through! I stayed at that position for eight years :)
Thanks, for reminding me of a wonderful time in my life, Amy!!
xo, misha
These pictures are gorgeous! Brings back memories for me.
Just read your comment on Leah’s blog about the poem I wrote, “Ode to Leah”. Thanks for your kind words, they’re much appreciated!
Barry from
“Life in Quotations”
Ah - such a wise and beautiful post, Amy! The world would be such a wonderful place if we could only hold onto our child-like wonder and compassion when we grow up.
Oh Amy, that was absolutly beautiful. So true and so beautifly illustrated.
I think I have to get that book:)
Have a great weekend.
Hugs from marilyn
Seriously, what a great job you have. ;)
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