27 Comments
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Beverly Hall's avatar

Such a beautiful story. In life's grand scheme of things, we are but a speck, a roly-poly, if you will, in it's existence. It is, however, what we do with that "speck" during our time here. As a teacher of 40 years, my desire was not to prepare future band directors, but try and help my kids, my students, somehow to make a positive impact on this planet. I had a fantastic friend that had MS and ended up being a quadriplegic, yet she found a way to have a positive impact on others. When I would ask her what she did to help someone she said, "I smiled".. I would ask my students what they would do to make this world better, hopefully planting a "seed" of their importance to and for others. To take a small gesture and turn it in to a huge impact. To carry that kindness to strangers. A ripple effect, like skipping a stone across a pond. How their act of kindness would translate to another, and so on and so on. Don't look for the "helpers", rather be the helpers. Our small impact carries a large impact.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

What a lovely message! Thank you for your dedicated work as a teacher and your thoughtful and beautiful words!

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Mary Hone's avatar

Great post, thank you. I like to take my camera out for a walk, and notice the small wonderful things that I can photograph. Plants, water, rocks, the ripple of sand dunes. Things others don't see, or notice.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

That is a wonderful way to look and see! I often do the same!🥰

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

❤️

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Carol A. Burkhammer's avatar

Thank you for this thoughtful story. And Thank You for sharing little Norbert with everyone. Just the sight of him makes my heart smile.♥

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

Spreading smiles is what Norbert has always done best! Thank you!

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CELINE BEECH's avatar

Awww what a beautiful story. I thought maybe your granddaughter was looking at Norbert, but thinking she found what I call a water bug.. She saw the wonder of it, I see it as a creepy bug...Beautiful. And awww Norbert seeing a snail. Such a story.. Thanks for sharing! Love the Norbert Picture (painting) beautiful, and so real.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

warmest thanks! Yes, Norbert himself was a small creature, and yet he had a huge heart. ❤️

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CELINE BEECH's avatar

Omg I wish I would have found him on youtube much sooner than I did. I had my whole family in love with him and the videos. then he got sick and is now an angel looking over everyone.

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Levonne Macomsom's avatar

I love this!

This last weekend I had my 9 year old great grandson stay the night and we were appreciating the wonderful world of lightening bugs (fireflies). He would catch them and give each of them a name, then they would fly away. I truly enjoyed that time spent with him and the lightening bugs.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

Oh how sweet—giving each lightening bug a name and watching them fly away. Making beautiful memories together is priceless!

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Mehdididit's avatar

This reminds me of a comment made by Sulieka Jaouad. She said, after learning her cancer was not treatable, that, rather than living each day as if it’s her last, she tries to live each day as if it’s her first. She focuses on creativity. It’s such an inspiring interview

https://youtu.be/d2I3VQJYZHQ?si=mn1QErLjFjxk7I1w

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

Living each day with the curious wonder and creativity of a child. Thank you.

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Lynn Zaremb's avatar

I see the wonder of the world around me through the eyes of little Norbie. How you ask by his smile that lights up the sky, his eyes that are bright and shine so we can see kindness and love. Thank you for the stories that show all us that little things matter the most.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

We are honored by your words. Thank you.

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Sassy's avatar

Parker - Thank you for the roly-poly lesson. I did not know that. Virginia - Thank you for opening my eyes & mind to being more observant & to slow down. Norbert & Julie - Thank you both for continuing to share with the Norberthood. 🐌 ❤️🐾

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

We appreciate your kind words! Thank you!

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Charlotte's avatar

Such a beautiful story about Parker appreciating a side of nature that few will notice. Children have a way of noticing things that we as adults seem to miss maybe because we aren’t as close to the ground or have become too busy to notice. A few years ago before my Cocker Spaniel went to heaven, she and I woke up very early. I took her outside, the street was quiet since we were the only ones out there. Her brother had passed away a couple of months before and my mom had passed away a couple of years before. I looked up and there was the most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen with vibrant colors like someone had painted the sky with primary colored crayons.I sat down and Sara sat beside me. I looked down at her and she was looking up at me. I held her close, kissed her on her head and she kissed me back. I felt my mom’s and Pepper’s presence and we stayed there until the rainbow went away. They were there with us, I just know it.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

What a beautiful remembrance. Thank you for sharing it. The heart knows.❤️

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Lydia's avatar

Such a sweet story. Another reminder to "Stop and smell the roses". Norbert was one precious boy who I will love always.

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

🌹❤️

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Sally's avatar

I know the love of “small things”. I’ve been breeding Maltese puppies for eight years out of our family home near Salem, Oregon. We adopt them to families that also love “small things”, in this case hypoalergenic, pure 100 percent white Maltese puppies who will steal your heart.

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Linda R.'s avatar

Beautiful! Thank you. ♥️

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Anita Segraves's avatar

Thank you for sharing this post. Made me stop and think about the little things!! ❤️

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Ways to Your Art's avatar

Norbert proved this: You don't need to be big to make a BIG difference in the world." :)

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Rachel Aubin's avatar

Absolutely beautiful 💕

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