Books. Furry, feathered, and finned friendships. And more.

  • GREAT PLAINS

    WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] June 8, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 23 GREAT PLAINS[2] The “campus” in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is part of the fascinating area known as the Great Plains. The campus, approximately five hours from Mount Rushmore, includes the Butterfly House & Aquarium and the Great Plains Zoo. Consisting of a large saltwater aquarium, a…

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  • WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] June 1, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 22 ABOVE, AHEAD, AND BELOW[2] June is not as much a theme as it is a focus on the role of zoos and aquariums. Throughout this month, a few will be highlighted. Zoos and aquariums afford opportunities to look above, ahead, and below, leading to a greater…

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  • WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] May 25, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 21 NEIGHBORLY INFLUENCES Whether noisy neighbors, nice neighbors, or nosy neighbors, they influence how we think, act, and live. For nearly five years, we have had nice neighbors, each with distinct backgrounds, differences, and preferences. From the retired couple across the way to the couple with four…

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  • DAILY DIFFERENCE

    WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] May 18, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 20 DAILY DIFFERENCE[2] From bus drivers to custodians, individuals who provide essential services make a daily difference. There are multiple stories to share, but only a few are included here. A South Carolina custodian and a Tennessee bus driver were recently recognized for their influence. Don Allen…

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  • WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] May 11, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 19 A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE Mark Twain once said, “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” A mother’s influence often extends beyond her child. Day in and day out, the influence of mothers may be obvious, subtle, or both.…

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  • WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] May 4, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 18 EVERYDAY INFLUENCERS[2] May’s theme for Winston Weekly is “Everyday Influencers.” Teacher Appreciation Week starts tomorrow with the theme, “Empowering Educators: Sustaining Resilience, Building Sustainability.” National Nurses Week is also this week, spotlighting The Power of Nurses.™ Tuesday, May 6 is National Appreciation Day and National Nurses…

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  • READING ALOUD

    WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] April 27, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 17 READING ALOUD[2] Twenty-five years ago, Rudine Sims Bishop wrote: “Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. Reading then, becomes a means of self-affirmation.” As…

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  • WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] April 20, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 16 CULTIVATING THROUGH CULTURE[2] Learning other cultural traditions can cultivate empathy. From Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus at Easter to Jewish communities commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt to Muslims celebrating Ramadan, early spring traditions involve central themes of hope and renewal. The…

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  • RESERVING JUDGMENT

    WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] April 13, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 15 RESERVING JUDGMENT[2] As with raising children, educational curriculum, marriage, and many other things, there is no bright line for what to do or how to do it. So too with cultivating empathy, although reserving judgment is essential. Reserving judgment requires patience, a virtue often lost in…

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  • CULTIVATING EMPATHY

    WINSTON WEEKLY©[1] April 6, 2025 Vol. 3, No. 14 CULTIVATING EMPATHY[2] April’s theme is empathy, or what Ashley Abramson calls an “umbrella trait.” Ms. Abramson discusses research suggesting that the virtues of kindness, cooperation, and tolerance are cultivated through empathy. She cites several researchers, including this from Dr. Ann Rumble: “Empathetic people ask themselves, ‘Maybe…

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