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This weekly column is inspired by students and news trends that remind us to “spill the tea” on what’s good. Shout out to Solutions Journalism, Fix the News, Good News Movement, and My Unsung Hero - check them out. Shout out to Millie Rodbell for the name Positivi-tea!
The goal is to practice seeing and spreading the good - looking for positive stories to balance out all the negative ones or finding a positive kernel in what seems like a bad or negative event. Building a practice of finding positivity is not about being naive or avoiding tough times - it’s about reminding ourselves that life can be hard, uncertain, and even unfair sometimes and resilience is fueled by hope and confidence built through action.
by: Dr. Boehner
date: October 26, 2025
From the Possum Perspective to the Pumpkin Perspective.
This past weekend, we carved our family pumpkin while my daughter (Beatrix, Pace 2025) was home on Fall Break. This year, her design was inspired by Día de Muertos which required not just carving but painting as well to emulate the colorful tradition.
When Bea grabbed her kit, she shared that some of the paint pens were from the care pack that Ms. Cowles brought over during COVID five years ago. I had forgotten this story but Bea had fun recounting how during the pandemic, Ms. Cowles made packets of art materials for all of her students and drove them to everyone's house. She shared how that made her feel so cared for at that moment.
This story made me pause.
First, I reflected on the wonder of Ms. Cowles. As her hall neighbor, I get to see the passion, creativity, care and attention she brings to the classroom every day. The fact that she would take the time to bring supplies to every student during COVID did not surprise me in the least. I love this small gesture that had big reverberations - and one that Beatrix continued to remember as an act of kindness that someone perpetuated for her and her classmates. So my first spot of Positivi-Tea is a toast to Ms. Cowles.
But the story also reminded me of what a scary time the pandemic was - filled with uncertainty and fear. Some members of our Pace community were affected more deeply than others, but all of us experienced the disruptive effects. Yet, I also remember the period, after the initial shock and scare wore off, when people came together. Even though communities and families were physically separated, people figured out how to connect with each other in meaningful ways - such as Ms. Cowles's art packages and countless other stories of how teachers sought to bring joy and normalcy to their students. As the pandemic wore on, some of this community frayed as frustration took root but many people continued to search for and nurture the positive.
This reminds me that when things around me don't always make sense and when things sometimes become fraught with uncertainty, there is good to celebrate when we look for it and people will always find a way to come together and persevere.
Check out past Positivi-Tea articles:
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