A Sun Mountain Award for Gary at Follow Your Bliss

Gary is the sort of teacher you might wish your own children to have. He is not only highly competent, but passionate about teaching. Both his competence and his passion come through on his blog, Follow Your Bliss.

He teaches deaf and hard of hearing children in the New York City public school system. That cannot be an easy job. Yet, reflecting on his 44th birthday, Gary wrote, “I have a deep appreciation of the fact that I have found my bliss as a teacher and this colors all aspects of my life.”

One of the beautiful things about Gary is the help and encouragement he gives his children to find their own gifts. I suppose much of that comes naturally to someone who has found his own bliss. Yet, everyone knows that some teachers have no sense or feel for it. Instead, they act like Procrustes by trying to make every child fit the same bed. Such teachers can cripple some children. What Gary does is radically different from them. Just as their approach can be crippling, his approach sets children on the course of being true to themselves. Profoundly true to themselves. To watch Gary in action is inspiring.

Gary writes on a variety of subjects as seen through his lens as an educator. He is equally at home discussing the surface and the depths of any topic. Besides it’s inspirational nature, one of the things that makes his blog so fascinating is how he learns just as much — and even more — than his students from his interactions with them. Another thing that makes his blog fascinating is his spirituality. Gary’s spirituality is authentic and eclectic. It seems informed by many sources, but I suspect it is ultimately and authentically grounded in his bliss.

For those and other reasons, I take great pleasure in mercilessly inflicting on Gary and his blog, the Sun Mountain Award for outstanding blogging.

Thank you so much for an excellent blog, Gary!