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LONGFORD & FRASER Quarterly Newsletter
JULY 2014
This newsletter contains 12 short, thought-provoking stories that gently illuminate some of life’s hardest times, some of life’s joys and some crucial wisdom some of us may benefit to absorb…….
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Classes available for boys and girls
(a waiting list may apply to some classes):
· Age 5 – 6: Junior Resilience and Confidence Masterclass (ongoing special offer: enrol two students and pay for only one)
· Age 7 – 10: all programs
· Age 11 – 14: all programs
· Age 8 – 13: School Holiday Program Masterclass
· Individual mentoring sessions (one on one) – the whole family is encouraged to attend. All ages, including adults
9592 4948
GIRLS: www.shineacademy.com.au
BOYS: www.longfordandfraser.com.au
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This newsletter contains 12 short, thought-provoking stories that gently illuminate some of life’s hardest times, some of life’s joys and some crucial wisdom some of us may benefit to absorb…….
Today, the difference between "we're expecting" and "were expecting" is just a little apostrophe that broke our hearts wide open.
Today, I stood beside him as his best man and listened to him recite the most beautiful wedding vows to a lovely woman he met five years ago at work. And as I stood there smiling, I thought about the first time I met him nearly twenty years ago. It was when I offered him my raincoat and lunchtime leftovers, after watching him attempt to move a shopping trolley full of his possessions out of the pouring rain.
Today, I finally met the mother of the most well-mannered and happy child in the four year old kindergarten class that I teach. Her mother is only 19 years old.
Today at the funeral, when I told him, “I’m sorry for your loss,” he smiled and said, “Don’t be. I’m one of the lucky ones – lucky to have had the most beautiful woman as my wife and best friend for 34 incredible years. I honestly feel blessed.”
Today, a scary looking biker with a tattered leather jacket, and piercings and tattoos all over his neck and face, tackled a man in a business suit who pulled a knife on me at the bus stop.
Today, the kid he bullied every single day for four years of high school is the only reason he is alive. When he crashed his car into a guardrail after a Year 12 party, the kid he bullied pulled him from his burning car, gave him CPR, and called 000. If he lives, I'll be sure he knows.
Today, after 17 years with a speech impediment, I walked into my speech therapist's office and told him, "I don't need your assistance anymore, I can speak just fine.”
Today, it's been exactly 30 years since my best friend died after having medical complications from donating one of his kidneys to me.
Today, when I asked my mom what she thought of me giving my girlfriend, who cheated on me last week for the second time, another chance, she said, "It’s always better to be alone with dignity than in a relationship that constantly requires you to sacrifice your happiness and self-respect
Today, after telling me to "be myself" for 23 years, in an instant I found out my parents didn't really mean it when I came out to them and they both began crying unhappy tears and walked out of the room.
Today, the chubby girl from high school that my friends and I used to tease (yes, I’m ashamed of myself), is now in much better shape than me and owns a successful chain of women’s fitness centres where I work.
Today, my grandmother gave me one last piece of advice before she lost consciousness. She wasn't even the type of person to give out advice, but she was very adamant about this. She told me a heart-breaking story from her life and ended it with this: “Never settle, Claire! Never!”
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Be the chess player not the chess piece!
Melissa Anderson
Director and Tutor
LONGFORD & FRASER Leadership Academy for Boys
SHINE Academy for Girls
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| Quote of the Quarter |
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We are challenged on every hand to achieve excellence in our lifework. Not all men are called to specialised or professional jobs; even fewer rise to the heights of genius in the arts of sciences. But NO work is insignificant. All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance, and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. If a man is called to be a sweeper he should sweep with excellence even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed. He should sweep so well that all the heavens and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great sweeper who did his job well."
Martin Luther King
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