New Trails Learning Systems
Ending the notion that suffering is necessary for learning
Visiting one of the most prestigious International Baccalaureate schools in Europe, Frankfurt International IB School, it was an absolute pleasure to be received with so much open mindedness and true interest in the Movement Method philosophy.
Public speaking is still not my favorite pasttime, but with Rupert's indirect coaching and the realization that someone must speak up, I’ve gotten better. I do not fear dying in front of an audience by stress heart attack. Now, I even breathe once in a while, and the shaky voice can almost be controlled. I had to be good be good because this was the day to combine forces with the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) in this region- this could be a turning point.
Changes
“……turn and face the strain.” David Bowie
This week we hosted our gathering we call Salon. We talked about Change. We had the chance to talk about how fear of change balances with excitement about change and how trepidation and excitement are so closely linked and how we are better able to manage our fear of change when we feel connected and supported.
Last year around this time, I was invited to fly to Germany for a couple of events, one of them a presentation of Movement Method for a public-school district in Ahlen, Germany. Not sure what to expect, I prepared well, practiced my very rusty German, and tried to learn to breath while presenting.
“You be-slubbering, flap-mouthed, horn-beast!”
“YOU infectious, half-faced, maggot-pie!!”
“Do YOU bite your thumb at us, sir????”
“DRAW IF YOU BE MEN!”
And so began a glorious day at New Trails Learning.
“Do you know what my favorite thing about horses is?”
The boy paused and listened. I went on-
“My favorite thing about horses is that they always forgive me – no matter what.”
I got up early, cleaned the stalls, fed the horses. I pet the dog, kissed my husband and flew across the US. I arrived at midnight and hopped a cab to a funky rented bedroom hosted by a kind stranger. The next morning, I put on warm clothes and hiked a mile or so through an unfamiliar city. I descended three floors down into a basement of a high-rise. In my backpack was my presentation – my 25 minutes of the best I had to offer.