Thom Stecher and Associates is dedicated to assisting schools, educators and students in achieving their highest level of potential. We strive to foster open relationships where the sharing of ideas, philosophy, knowledge, beliefs, values and passion is channeled into creating constructive solutions. We aim to build healthy communities where we grow as instruments for positive change.
Human beings are by nature social, emotional, and spiritual beings. We are born with an awareness of meaning, value, and sacredness for life. We are born with compassion, empathy, cooperation, and a sense of fairness and justice.
These capacities must be supported or they will be lost.
Every individual has unique gifts and talents and must be treated with dignity and respect for those gifts to shine. Our birthright is love and freedom. We are each worthy of caring and safety.
Our communities must be places where all of us, in our uniquenesses, feel respected, cared for, understood, and loved. We must create places where we all feel a sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose.
We must all open our hearts and minds and see the light that shines in every individual.
Let us form meaningful relationships, learn from each others perspective and experience and serve our community as responsible individuals in a goal of never-ending growth.
Let us all have the courage to speak our love every day, every minute. Do not fall into the trap of believing there is a tomorrow.
Now is the time to say "I love you".
We need to love ourselves. Not in an egotistic, narcissistic way, but in a whole, healthy, and complete, knowing that we are good, caring people.
We are all emanations of the Divine. In each of us is perfection and unconditional love. You are the love, kindness, generosity, beauty, and creativity of Divinity, God is good. Life is good. Each of you, as children of God, are good.
Embrace and accept all of who you are.
You are a unique expression of Divinity.
My spirituality is an awareness of the sacred in all life. The sacredness of the blossoming spring, the sacredness of the dying colors of autumn, and the sacredness of the blanket of snow. The sacredness of the relationship with each other, and the relationship with the Divine in our fragile humanity.
To face the loss of life; yours, or a loved one, is to be fully engaged in the sacredness of life. Constant thoughts of our loved one's life after death, our future communion with them, and our own fragility, all have a sense of urgency.
My awareness of Divinity as unconditional love, infinite kindness, and creativity, brings me great comfort. I know I am loved, I know I am cared for, and I feel comforted.
My faith brings me comfort in all that I cannot see.
In quiet reflection, rest in the comfort of unconditional love. Allow the sacredness of life to run like a movie through your mind. In your journal, record your reflections, and feel comforted.
Faith is planting seeds. I grew up on my grandfather's farm, and so many family members participating in seed planting. There was corn, tomatoes, asparagus, beans, and many other vegetables. I learned that planting seeds is an act of faith. You plant a seed never knowing if it will produce fruit.
If you are reading this, then I believe like me, you are a farmer of compassion and love. We plant seeds of compassion, kindness, empathy, understanding, respect, responsibility, trust, truth, and love.
Plant the seed of faith today. Speak truth, speak love.
Ashley and her love are everywhere. It is in the sun that warms me and the rain that brings me solitude. Her love is in the gentle deer and scampering squirrel. Her love speaks to me when I am alone in our home and startles me when the whole family is home as if to say "Don't leave me out of the conversation."
She is in my dreams and in my prayers and meditation. She is on my mind, in my heart, and in my soul. In a unique and profound way, I am almost happy.
She walks with me, and she talks with me. Our relationship, our love continues. I hear her say "How silly Daddy, don't you know unconditional love can never die." Ashley was and is unconditional love.
I am so grateful for the blessing that is Ashley.
I have been broken open. I have embraced my vulnerability. The morning light that bleaches the dogwood tree, the bluebird that flits across my vision, the chipmunk who scampered up the tree, the rain that drops liquid pebbles in our pond.
I am human, frail, faltering, resilient, and compassionate. I listen for the divine harmony in all of life.
Every moment is a sacred opportunity. Every breath is amazing.
Let us embrace the exquisite vulnerability of life.
Even though our beloved angel passed from this earth in October, we still include her in our daily rituals. Before dinner in our home, we traditionally hold hands and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Now, before we pray, I thank Ashley for being with us. I might thank her for the sun after the rain or the bluebird who rests in front of our house or I might just update her on my day. Every night, Sandra and I go to her bedroom to pray with her and ask Ash to pray for us.
I will continue to include her in our lives.
I imagine friends and families are reluctant to speak about her for fear of upsetting Sandra and me. Please speak her name; remember her unconditionally loving presence. "Speak into being" her life, her love, and the miracle that was Ashley.
The fact that you are alive and reading this, is a miracle. Miracles are not only about people who walk on water or fly through the air. Miracles are people like you who wake up, even though you know, the day will be challenging, and you still choose to get out of bed.
We have survived so much; a pandemic, life-threatening surgeries, the loss of loved ones, and the fear of our own breaking.
Your life has a special purpose. You are here on purpose. You are a breathing, walking, talking miracle. Whomever you are; old, young, strong, weak, rich, poor, you are alive. You are a miracle.
Share your miraculous self with others today. Share your love.
There is an abundance of love and compassion throughout humanity. It is sometimes overshadowed by acts of hatred and fear. Please help others understand that we do not need to fear our vulnerability. Our vulnerability is our strength. Our ability to grieve together, to hold each other, to laugh together, and love together, brings us firmly into the circle of humanity.
Let us extend our arms, hearts, and minds in a warm, familial embrace.
I have learned so much from my failures. I have learned more from my failures than my successes. I have learned to be resilient, kind, caring, empathetic, and compassionate. I have learned to never take anything for granted.
Like a toddler, first learning to walk. In every new endeavor, I take a few steps and fall. I get up, reassess, try again, take a few steps, and fall. Again and again, and again. And finally, I am walking.
Failing and falling is an essential part of learning. Failing does not make you a failure. Failing and falling invites you to be fully human. Every human has failed. Every artist, musician, scientist, inventor, athlete, and writer has failed. Then they continue, they experiment, they improvise, they work on their skills, and they find success.
Vulnerability. Failing and falling teaches us to be human. Every day let us embrace our vulnerability. Let us practice falling, getting up, and being good human beings.
