Living in the Wake of School Shootings: Glennon Doyle’s Strategy to Do "the Next Right Thing" by Cindy Hlywa

Headlines Opinion
6 years ago

Glennon Doyle is an author, activist, philanthropist and self-described “survivor of everything.” In devastating times, she recommends doing “the next right thing” as a way to move forward constructively, and maybe even gracefully.

As a teacher and parent, I’m overwhelmed in the wake of yet another school shooting. For years we’ve been bombarded with rhetoric about what our nation should do to end this madness, and still, another school shooting is bound to happen. I hope the young Parkland survivors can inspire our leaders to work through the complexities of background checks and mental health funding because these issues have tremendous importance. 

Within our own homes, schools and communities let’s also address the social and emotional skill deficits affecting many of the young people we know. For me, "the next right thing” looks like this:

  • Listening to children, without multitasking, until they feel heard. 
  • Being as inclusive as possible so that compassion and kindness are especially visible to those who struggle. 
  • Teaching, and modeling, healthy coping skills every day.

What other “next right things” can we do? Share your ideas with us in the comments. This video is longer than 30 seconds, but we think it's worth it.

Photo: ArtToSelf.com

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Ann Marie Patitucci
I just LOVE this, Cindy Hlywa . Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, especially your own "next right things." I have a few thoughts on this myself, as I've been thinking (and writing) a lot about this topic. For now: valuing social-emotional teaching/learning, cultivating classroom communities and a culture of kindness in our schools, advocating for gun control, arming teachers not with guns but with whatever it is THEY think they need right now, speaking up (even if our voices shake!), and empowering our young people to voice their concerns and share their feelings.
Cindy Hlywa
Your ideas make perfect sense, Ann Marie. Thank you ❤️
Nancy Dafoe
Always a generous and warm heart behind your writing, Cindy.
Cindy Hlywa
Thank you, Nancy. I truly appreciate your kind words❤️
Elisa Schmitz
This is so helpful, Cindy Hlywa , thank you. ❤️

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