Then, in 1993, Maya Angelou stole Michael Jordan’s star power. I happily picture the young philosophers as they watched rebroadcasts of her reciting her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at the Clinton Inauguration—their eyes wide, bodies completely still, posture growing more erect, big smiles when she included “children” in her invitation to a new day. A rocking celebrity poet! Dr. Angelou was the cool one now. I repeatedly used her poem to discuss the concept of Justice with them and I also suggest an activity based on it in Little Big Minds. Quite a delight it was to witness the children’s first tiptoes into poetry—from Virginia to Chicago to California.
Read MoreMarietta McCarty's June 2014 newsletter includes links to her NPR radio interview, an article featured in Energy Times, two blogs, upcoming events and more.
Read MoreMy friend and neighbor Blue O’Connell loves music, animals, nature (especially trees), and friends. A few years ago, she traded a job with financial benefits for one with other kinds of perks: writing and playing music at schools, nursing homes, hospitals, parties, just about any place. She patches jobs together to make ends meet. Recently Blue bought happiness for herself and for countless others by giving a valuable possession away.
Read MoreAn old gum tree served for over twenty years as an expansive umbrella at my home, its branches enveloping festive occasions as well as hours of restful sitting. Feet hopped gingerly on and off its countless gumballs. Having been a planter of trees all my life, I was sorely saddened when this dear one (any one, actually, is dear) came to the end of its days. What to do, other than leave home and not watch as it came down, bit by bit? It stood in the midst of a garden, quite near a bushy acuba started for me as a seedling by my aunt, ruling out grinding the stump. This video captures the sweet gum’s new life, carved out by a master carpenter who is a good friend. I supplied him with adjectives as hints—“light, airy, moving, sinewy, simple,” and he smiled, nodded, and....
Read MoreJoin the author of Little Big Minds, Marietta McCarty, in Charlottesville in July, to learn more about her approach as she models her teaching style in sharing philosophy with children.
Read MoreMarietta McCarty's April 2014 newsletter includes a blog, upcoming event listings, beautiful photographs of food and more.
Read MoreMy father had a favorite passage, still marked by yellowing paper in his tattered biblical copy, from The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (13:2). How much this sentiment meant to him has stayed with me over the years. The following story captures its essence. It was passed along to me Peter’s father, a man much-loved by my own.
Read MoreMarietta McCarty's March 2014 newsletter includes a blog on mental clarity, upcoming event information at Stone Soup Books and Over the Moon Bookstore, a testimonial from author Beatrix Ost and more.
Read MoreMental clarity makes a true friend for life, showing up at every turn. The contents of our minds drive our lives—whatever shape it’s in, the mind is behind the steering wheel of our thoughts and actions. I know from experience about this friendship and count on it. I also know that mental clarity can play a devilish game of hide and seek—that maintaining clarity takes work and persistence. We’re lost without it. Confusion leads us blindly, nowhere, bad wheres.
Read MoreMarietta McCarty's late February 2014 newsletter includes a link to videos recently added on her YouTube channel, her latest blog on being busy, upcoming events at Stone Soup Books, Over the Moon Bookstore, Commonwealth Restaurant and more.
Read More“I was too busy.” “I am so busy.” “I will be busier than ever.” Suddenly phrases likes these strike me, more than ever, as at best inaccurate, and at worst self-important. The “busy” excuse rolls off tongues…just listen for it. Count the times in a day you hear or say it. But I have never, ever, heard someone with great responsibilities, much to do, complain about being too busy—they are getting it done, each thing receiving the amount of attention it deserves.
Read MoreMarietta McCarty's newsletter includes several blogs including her very first on her website, event information on The Philosopher's Lunch Table at the Commonwealth Restaurant and more.
Read MoreAuthor and Philosopher Marietta McCarty answers five questions about the value of philosophy in this guest blog that appears on EnableEducation.com. In both of your philosophy books for adults, you discuss the role that philosophy can play in everyday life. What was your inspiration for taking this “grass roots” approach? My study of philosophy in college was exhilarating, liberating, and a true liftoff. It seeped into my every day easily, unasked ...
Read MoreAuthor and philosopher Marietta McCarty is passionate about challenging young minds to think big. In this post with KidsThinkAboutIt.com, she shares her inspiration, her experiences, and her successes with child philosophers. Although you’ve taught philosophy to college students for a number of years, your first experience with kid thinkers happened somewhere outside of the classroom ...
Read MoreThanks for joining me in wonder, introspection, and questions “From the Philosopher’s Desk.” Devotion to The Arts of Clear Thinking and Good Conversation lies at the heart of all my work—my books, teaching child philosophers and college students, talks and workshops, and travels with my philosopher’s toolkit. Hopefully this blog will offer readers plenty of fodder for zesty discussion and private musings. If I can give you just a touch of what a philosophical outlook has brought to my life, then hooray!
Read MoreJoin Marietta McCarty on Feb. 22 for a leisurely lunch featuring South American food to toast the chapter set in Brazil in The Philosopher's Table.
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Let’s remember. Let’s go to New York. Meet two dreamers, Alicia Keys and Hakeem Jeffries. Let’s dream. Let’s dance. Let’s pretend (not really!).