How Full Is Your Bucket?
How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer is a book for all ages. Although it is a children’s picture story book, I have it sitting on my coffee table to be celebrated by children and adults alike. It consistently provokes the most interesting and meaningful conversations.
“Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix’s grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting others, whether he means to or not. This beautifully illustrated adaptation takes the original book’s powerful message — that the way we relate to others has a profound effect on every aspect of our lives — and tailors it to a child’s unique needs and level of understanding.” (Gallup Press, 2009)
During his journey, Felix makes the valuable observation that doing things like sitting with someone who looks lonely, or helping a teacher pick up papers he dropped, can also fill your bucket.
So, what are some other ways that we can ensure that our attitude makes those around us, as well as ourselves, feel good?
- Smile a lot.
- Laugh a lot.
- Look for opportunities to praise others.
- Accept where you are now and resolve to enjoy it.
- Change your perspective and look for the good during bad times.
The message about how our attitudes influence others is an impactful reflection for both children and adults, and leads each of us to ask the question, “How full is my bucket?”
