I am here in Africa for only the second time in my life, the second time in 12 months, as it turns out, preparing for a personal challenge to climb Africa’s tallest mountain. It is sunrise. I am listening to the sounds of Africa waking up. It is magical.

The other thing that I am celebrating is David Brooks’ Op-Ed. It is a walking advertisement for the Whole Child Education we espouse at The Seven Hills School.

“I have learned something profound along the way. Being openhearted is a prerequisite for being a full, kind, and wise human being. But it is not enough. People need social skills. The real process of, say, building a friendship or creating a community involves performing a series of small, concrete actions well: being curious about other people; disagreeing without poisoning relationships; revealing vulnerability at an appropriate pace; being a good listener; knowing how to ask for and offer forgiveness; knowing how to host a gathering where everyone feels embraced; knowing how to see things from another’s point of view.“

On this day, in this part of the world, against the backdrop of immense human suffering in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine, juxtaposed with the fervent, unproductive divisions in our own government, this writing is a beacon.

Read it once. Read it twice. Know that this is what our children need if they will do a better job at leading, governing, and stewarding than we have done.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks.