Coming back.

Three weeks without a post - not much of a vibrant social computing professional. This absence reflects an absence of new big thoughts about Isabel. Which gets back to the 'Things that don't work'. What does not work is that big new thoughts will emerge and all will be fixed. So noted.

So the small idea is 'coming back again' and 'appreciating small steps'. Hard to appreciate small steps when what seems so wrong is still so wrong. But I advise you and me and Isabel; Come back. Small steps.

Yesterday a creative idea came from her science teacher Stanley.

• Isabel wants to be an equine surgeon.
• Isabel does not like homework.
• Isabel does not often DO difficult homework.
• Isabel learns kinesthetically which does not lend itself easily to the study of biology.
• Therefore Isabel doesn't often do biology homework and thus is not well prepared to become an equine surgeon in this galaxy.

Her science teacher offered Isabel a deal yesterday and Isabel loves deals. The name of the deal is 'Improve Your C Biology Grade to an A and You Can Work on a 'Special Project' of Your Design as Opposed to Standard Frameworks-Aligned Biology.'

Isabel was inspired that she could create a horse project. Isabel's beautiful National Showhorse, IceHot, lives with us. Her picture of IceHot in the snow is included.

This deal inspired Isabel to do her homework LAST NIGHT. Small steps.

NOT that she will spend 8 hours in careful preparation for her mid-term. NOT that she will do her homework EVERY NIGHT. These are 'everything will be fixed all at once ideas' and those ideas do NOT work.

Instead, small steps. I realized that getting her homework done LAST NIGHT was sufficient. And if she does her homework tonight, that is also sufficient - and so on. So coming back every night is a strategy. And doing one homework is sufficient.

This is the practice of reminding myself of the validity - and even sacredness - of small steps.