Celebrating Love and Gratitude – Anderson Connect

Ohhh a deep freeze is in the air, so it’s a good thing love is too. Valentine’s day, while marketed as a romantic occasion, can be celebrated as something so much broader, and even more beautiful … as an opportunity to bask in gratitude for all the relationships in our lives. Any excuse will do!

This month we take a moment to, metaphorically, wrap our Anderson arms around all our students, to give high-fives and heartfelt thanks for being on this adventure with us. And our February Connect is focused on those rooted and blooming connections in our lives, that give us strength, hope and limitless joy, when we need it most, especially when a little warming up is in order. Enjoy!

Today’s read is approximately 4 minutes.

Inside this Edition:

• A Thought to Ponder
• A Short Story to Inspire
• A Short Video to Motivate

A Thought to Ponder

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” ~ Author Unknown.

So powerfully true. Whether it be your family, near or in your home country, who support you as you reach for those stars and goals, your partner or best friend who knows just when coffee and a pep talk are required, or your child cheering you on as you strive to become your next-level best … hold on and take a moment to tell them precisely what they mean to you. Valentine’s day is for all of us!

A Short Story to Inspire

The Lion and the Mouse

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws.

A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion’s nose.

Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

“Spare me!” begged the poor Mouse. “Please let me go and someday I will surely repay you.”

The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the tangles of a hunter’s net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring.

The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the heavy ropes that bound him, she gnawed and gnawed it until it split apart, and soon the Lion was free.

“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” squeaked the Mouse. “Now you see that even a tiny Mouse can help a great Lion. Aren’t you glad you met me?”

~ A rendition of Aesop’s Fable

Moral of the Story:
Relationships matter, a kindness is never wasted, and you never know when a stranger helped could become just the friend you need.

A Takeaway for You:
It is easy to love and celebrate those we know, who we revere, who have supported us. It isn’t quite so with strangers. But this month we encourage you to see opportunities for new relationships all around you; connect with someone you’ve never talked to; make a gesture of kindness to a colleague, an instructor. And by all means celebrate those who have helped free and uplift you all along life’s journey too!

1 Short Video to Motivate

Bloom | Karl the Tree is Called to Be Kind and Finds an Unlikely Friend

To your month of living and celebrating all the love that’s around you! And by all means, don’t be deterred by the chill; bundle up and get out there. You can even build a new friend!

~ Your Anderson College Family

Anderson College acknowledges that the places in which our 11 campuses reside, across Ontario and in British Columbia, are in the traditional territories of a diverse range of Indigenous peoples, the first peoples, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial. We are deeply honoured and privileged to study, work and educate on these lands. For a full acknowledgement for each campus region, please visit staging21.andersoncollege.com/newsite/landacknowledgements.