February is American heart awareness month; massaging hearts for 28 days and beyond.
Welcome to the second month of the year; February. Even as a young student, I wondered why I was often selected to participate in the many events planned for the shortest month of the year. It wasn’t until I was an adult, in 1990 while attending Wayne State University, studying to complete her degree in pharmacology when I heard an educator’s perspective.
That educator is the multi-talented Dr. JuJuan Taylor (Dr. T) who was my professor for African-American literature and I am grateful to still remain in contact with her. One of our course assignments required my peers and I to read a children’s book written by a black author to one another. One of my favorite pieces of children’s literature is “A Snowy Day” by Ezra Keats. As I read my selected book to my peers, I believed that this book would be added to their favorites.
The comments written underneath my grade for the assignment read, paraphrased “You are well-connected with your peers as he looked into their eyes while reading and scan the group to share that you still held their interest. The technique you demonstrated by sitting on the floor, at a child I level, may have given your peers ideas to utilize when reading to children and massaging their hearts. I believe that demonstrated how you were honestly vested in caring for the tender hearts of others.”
*Please note that my monthly blog has been delayed this month due to recuperation from a major surgery I had in January. The healing process is lengthy and my heart is healthy.
Emerging Young Leadership is grateful for your continued support! Thank you!