Michael Pritchard came to visit us in Lake County on December 8, 2018 for two shows about 90 minutes each. The 2 pm show was directed to children, parents and teachers. Most who showed up didn’t know what to expect, they knew he is a comedian and that he talks to kids about bullying, but they weren’t really sure what they were going to get from him.
What Michael gave was his heart.
While he sat and made funny noises stemming from his Star Wars character voice overs, children laughed, and parents giggled. He hit home with some real laughter as he related stories to us from the child’s point of view, such as: the time Michael asked a boy if he knew what self-esteem is. The kid answers, “yes, that’s when it’s really cold outside and you can see your breath when you talk.”
But it was when he invited kids up on stage to talk with him and the audience about how it felt to be bullied that made a real impact. The youngest was about 3, who didn’t say much, and the oldest was 9. We heard about how name calling hurt their heart, how they didn’t always know how to react to it, how lonely it is to not be included and how unimportant they felt when no one stepped in to help. Then, asking one boy what he did when somebody called him names, the child said, “make him your friend so he can be happier. Then he won’t pick on kids anymore.”
“Kids really do have the answers” Michael said, “we just have to encourage them to put them into action.”
Michael has a magical way of making each child know how important and special they are. He has a way of seeing the gifts that each child brings to this world and makes a point to help the child become aware of those gifts. He also has a way of helping all of us see that we have the ability and the responsibility to take care of each other and to step in and help when we see injustice being done.
A couple of teachers got up and spoke about how they too felt frustrated at times by how some of the students treated them, which was a wonderful message to the kids that we are all humans with feelings and insecurities, and that all of us deserves respect.
The evening show was directed toward adults and their responsibilities as adults to lead and teach by example. Of course we laughed quite a bit at his jokes and comedic approach to raising children and all that comes with that package, but the message of raising kind, compassionate children who communicated well and participated in community action were the underlying messages throughout the night. Which boiled down to: If we want loving children we need to be loving. If we want patient children who strive to be successful we need to be patient and encourage them.
Lake County has been overwhelmed with fires over the last 4 years. The trauma of these devastating fires has affected everyone and our children do not have the tools to deal with this kind of loss. It is interesting how the term “The Fires” is accepted in our community as the term that sums up the trauma that we’ve been through. These tragedies have created the trauma related emotions of loss, fear, anger, panic, paranoia, (just to name a few) and we store it neatly in a small simple safe container, called “The Fires”. As if keeping the term in two small words somehow shields us from the plethora of overwhelming emotions that we are under-equipped to deal with.
Life is pretty good here in Lake County. We have a charming small town country vibe that is very relaxed and neighborly. This helps create the fantasy that nothing bad will happen here, that “it won’t happen to me or my family”. Then, when tragedy does happen, and fire literally chases you from your home and devours every bit of your foundational security - shock, denial, anger, and perpetual fear replace the false security that used to abide in your heart.
This is when our resilience kicks in! Somehow we keep moving forward! We bend, we rebuild, we help each other out, we stand each other up and start again. And start again. And start again!
The most beautiful experience I have had living in Lake County is witnessing the community dropping everything and running to help during The Fires. Unfortunately we’ve had so many fires here that we are getting good at it. Absolutely everyone, even those who lost all, pitched in. Within hours tents were erected. Kitchens were set up. Showers and laundry were available. People took strangers in to their homes, housed pets separated from their humans, gave out teddy bears to children and some even took off their coats and shoes to those who ran out of their homes without them. The heros are everywhere. And with each fire we become more organized and quicker to respond to those in need. Sadly we know this is the new normal. And it leaves deep scars on all of us.
Days pass and we tire of helping. We want things to get back to “normal”. We get cranky. Shock and despair set in. Anger and resentment begin to show up. And from this our children suffer. Our sweet innocent children suffer. They look to us for tools on how to deal with all their emotions, but our community is in shock and not emotionally strong enough to provide them with the help they need. (Our A.C.Es scores are off the charts!)
Then Michael shows up and there is hope again. Something Positive! Someone cares! Someone really hears them when the children talk, when the teachers talk. Someone who can give hope to parents that maybe they can be better, that we as a community can be better. And we are!
Just his presence, shining positivity, that beautiful light that exudes from his heart fills us with hope and love, which blossoms into compassion and caring and patience and love. And we are refreshed. Ready to begin again as a community supported by each other’s hope.
Love is our strength. Thank you Michael for sharing your love with us.
You are amazing.
Joanie Lane
Director of “A Positive Light” Center for Spiritual Awakening
A Non-Profit Dedicated to Promoting Positive Living
*Meditation *Qigong *Reiki *Life & Spiritual Coach
www.apositivelight.com
6470 Kelsey Creek Dr. Kelseyville, Ca 95451
(707) 279-6031 / (707) 328-6072 cell
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
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