Book Review: Let Them by Mel Robbins

 

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Writing Workshop: Children's Story Writing

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Reading for Care: Taking Perspective with Wild Geese

Inspired by our continuing practice of attention, today we turn to a poem that widens the frame gently. All you need is a copy of the poem, a pen and 10-20 minutes quiet time.

A Gentle Note Before You Begin

This space is for reading and reflection. It is not therapy. You are free to pause or step away at any time. Take what feels steady and leave the rest.

Arrival

Before reading, look up from your screen. Notice something beyond you: the sky, ceiling, window light, a plant, a distant sound. Take three slow breaths. Inhale. Exhale. Let your shoulders drop.

Encounter the Poem

Read Wild Geese slowly once. Read it again, even more slowly. Let the words move through you without trying to agree or disagree.

Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

When Literature Widens the Frame

Journal Prompts

1. What line felt like it was speaking directly to you?

2. Where does the poem shift your perspective: from self-judgment to belonging, from isolation to connection?

3. What image in the poem makes you feel part of something larger than yourself?

4. Is there a sentence you might carry with you today?

Write gently. You do not need to explain.

Perspective Practice

Mary Oliver does not solve anything in this poem. She simply reminds us.

Notice:

• Where does the poem soften your inner voice?

• Where does it enlarge your sense of place?

Taking perspective does not mean dismissing your feelings. It means seeing them within a wider sky.

Extending the Experience (Optional)

If you wish:

• Step outside for five minutes and look up.

• Write one sentence beginning with: You do not have to…

• Send the poem to someone who may need its steadiness.

May you remember that you belong to the family of things.

 

Remember Kian and what we have lost as community and as a nation.

 

Book Review: What’s New on Our Library’s Bookshelves?

New Titles: Stories Across Worlds

From Syria to Japan to imagined empires, these new arrivals open windows into cultures, histories, and epic journeys.

The Essential Akutagawa by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

This collection gathers twenty-two masterful short stories by one of Japan’s most influential literary voices. Known for psychological depth and moral ambiguity, Akutagawa’s stories probe truth, illusion, and the human condition. A compelling introduction to modern Japanese literature.

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

In a storm-torn empire ruled by magic and ambition, a fierce rebel and a powerful prince are bound together in a dangerous alliance. This epic fantasy blends political intrigue, elemental magic, and slow-burn romance. Perfect for readers who love high-stakes fantasy with emotional depth.

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

A sweeping and intimate novel set during the Syrian uprising, this story follows a young pharmacist torn between survival, love, and resistance. Lyrical and heartbreaking, it explores what hope means when a country is at war—and what it takes to stay. A powerful read about courage, memory, and choosing to live.

The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu

Often called the world’s first novel, this timeless classic follows the life and loves of Prince Genji in Japan’s Heian court. Rich in emotion, aesthetics, and courtly intrigue, it offers a window into a refined and complex world. A foundational work of world literature.

Full list of new titles, click here: 2026 February New Acquisitions

https://library.beaconacademy.ph/.../koha/opac-shelves.pl...

Writing Children’s Stories: Voice, Structure, Care A Live, Guided Online Workshop for Adults (18 years old and above) with Zarah Gagatiga

 

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Reading Aloud As Service (1 of 3)

 READING ALOUD AS SERVICE

PART 1 (2 hours): Why We Read Aloud — Reading as Care & Connection

Purpose:

To ground volunteers in the why of reading aloud: not performance, but human connection and literacy access.

Key Ideas:

- Reading aloud builds emotional safety, language exposure, listening stamina, and shared meaning.

- Volunteers are co-readers, not performers.

- A good read-aloud is about attunement, not accents or acting.

STORYTELLING & READ ALOUD TECHNIQUES

* What is storytelling

* Why tell stories

* Storytelling and the Four Macro Skills in Communication Arts

* The Many Ways to Tell Stories

* The Storytelling Program

* Open Forum

Assignment/Task: Watch this video of a Read Aloud

Read Aloud video: My Daddy My One and Only

Guide questions: 

1. What is the framework used in the read aloud experience? 

2. What activities were used in the pre-reading, during reading and post reading stages? 

3. How were you affected by the activities and the read aloud experience overall?