Author Archives: Jules
Smile Returns
Earlier this month I considered returning the smilgoneviral domain and shutting down the Stop.Breathe.Smile project. A few things happened: The Jumping Bean (JB) gave the crossing guard one of our magnets when he walked to school by himself one day. … Continue reading
The Secret of Chipotles
I was a Chipotles on Monday picking up lunch for our office. As I waited for the order, I noticed how calm the cashier and the runner were. People were moving everywhere and these two women seemed not at all … Continue reading
Recess! Be the wind!
The wind has been blowing over the last few days. It’s a sure sign that we are moving into winter. This week take a break and be the wind. Breathe out what you feel and make space for something else. … Continue reading
Season of Smile: Fall
Fall is like a collective sigh. Nature starts dropping everything, most noticeably, many of the trees drop their leaves. Trees also take minerals and nutrients–the preciousness of summer–deep into their roots to feed them through the winter and make buds … Continue reading
Recess! Trees!
Smile. Read this and then stand up. Walk outside Find a tree Get close Touch it. Climb it. Notice how it moves. Thank the tree. Skip, dance, run, or jump back inside Smile. Breathe. Sit down. Take a deep breath. … Continue reading
Season of Smile: Late Summer
In the Chinese way of thinking, we have five seasons. Late summer is a season you may not recognized. Late summer can be that time when the summer evenings become a little cooler and the tomatoes lay heavy on the … Continue reading
The Most Exciting…
The most exciting thing ever happened today. I found bathroom doors that were real metal! Maybe that’s only exciting to me. One of my biggest surprises in doing the Stop. Breathe. Smile. Project is that many things that look metal … Continue reading
Recess! Get Smelly!
Smile. Take a breathe. Let it out. Get out of your chair. Find the nearest flower. Smell it. Notice: Does the flower smell? What does it smell like? Breathe in. Breathe out. Go back to your chair. Take a sip … Continue reading
Smiles We Meet Along the Way
On our trip a few weeks ago, the Jumping Bean (JB) and I met an amazing person on the plane between Kansas and Maryland. Not only was this gentleman responsible for make sure airplanes can find the runway when it … Continue reading
The 40-40: BWI to Kansas and Back Again
“Forty for me and forty for you,” said the Jumping Bean. I took a deep breathe and smiled. “I said 15 of each kind,” I replied back. “I did 10 of each kind for both of us, Mom.” I did … Continue reading
Stop. Breathe. Smile. 