Category Archives: YES!

Children’s posts and resources

YES!

Why I Gave Olivia a Voice

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“There are things I remember that I never lived. Some come to me like breath; others, like fire.”

Olivia

Olivia’s Journal

Some of you have already met Olivia. Most of you haven’t. Not yet.

Olivia’s Journal is one of the writing efforts from the Balance the Triangle project. A project I originated to explore human flourishing through questioning the disconnects between us, our institutions, and our technologies. I’ll be sharing more about that effort over time.

In her journal, Olivia carries the ache and the hope of a world in an age of fracture. And, like many of you, I’ve felt that fracture. The divide between what we know and what we are. Between futures we hope for and institutions that stumble.

I didn’t initially set out to write either the ‘YES!’ books or the upcoming Equilibria series. I set out to make sense of a world with too much noise, too little clarity, and too little space for moral language without ridicule.

My name is Chuck. And I gave Olivia a voice because I needed to hear what I could no longer see.

Why I’m Writing on Substack

I came to Substack because I appreciate the depth of this community. And I wanted to add Olivia’s voice to discussions there.

Because I believe in fundamentals. That we are more than algorithms of fear and attention. That we are people wired for care, fairness, courage, reciprocity, and more. And that we still remember how to choose wisely—not just for ourselves, but for each other.

And I believe that stories—good stories, questioning stories, and even wild and trembling stories fraught with powerful emotion, might be the only things strong enough to survive the storms swirling around us. Because we are all sense-makers, who make sense of the world through the stories we tell ourselves and each other.

What Comes Next

This newsletter isn’t just Olivia’s story. Hers is one voice. An emotional compass, if you will. Mine is another. Exploring moral wounds. Emotional hurts. Cognitive lies—and ways forward. Pondering tools and theories promising a redesign of what’s broken. Struggling with this “wicked problem” around the human wiring. cultural institutions and technologies so rapidly outgrowing our management abilities. A triangle we struggle to bring into balance.

So, a couple of times a week, Olivia raises questions through her Journal. Other times, I grapple with and learn what it means to be human. And I share that journey.

When I’m not here, you can find me—and further information—on LinkedIn.

It’s no easy task. Many others fight in these trenches. I add my voice and Olivia’s to their efforts.

Thanks for listening.

Take a look at Olivia’s reflections in her Journal on her Substack page.

YES!

THE SILENCE AFTER WHITE SMOKE

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Yesterday, a new Pope was chosen.

For a moment, the bells rang, and the sky filled with white breath —

smoke rising like a prayer across rooftops that have seen centuries of waiting.

They named him Leo the Fourteenth.

But before he spoke, there was silence.

And in that silence, I imagined the weight settling on his shoulders —

the weight of history, of souls, of choices yet to be made.

In Equilibria, there’s a tree called the Witness Cedar.

It grows on the edge of the Whispering Bluffs,

where winds carry voices from across the valley below.

The Keepers say the tree listens.

And once every generation, someone climbs to carve a single word into its bark —

a choice meant to guide those who come after.

Some words are bold: Justice. Courage. Flame.

Others are soft: Listen. Mourn. Begin.

The new Pope, they say, was once a quiet man who walked with villagers in Peru.

Now he walks into the center of a world that waits to be answered.

I wonder what word he’ll carve.

And I wonder, too, what words we are all carving —

in how we lead, in what we bless, in who we stand beside.

Because choosing isn’t always about power.

Sometimes, it’s about knowing that someone will follow your footsteps

and trying, gently, to leave the ground more whole than you found it.

If we could carve only one word into the world right now,

what would we choose —

and who would it carry?

Adult, Children, YES!

The Bread We Forget

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I just read that in Sudan, millions of people are facing hunger so deep it hollows out their days and dreams.
Children walk for hours just for a handful of grain, mothers barter scraps of cloth for a crust of bread.
The headlines call them “displaced populations,” — but they have names, memories, laughter that once rang out across open fields.

I had to close my eyes for a moment because the ache felt too big.

In Equilibria, we once visited a village that had fallen into imbalance after a long drought.
The River Breath had shrunk to a trickle, and the gardens dried to brittle husks.
At first, the villagers argued — some blaming the hills, some blaming the wind, some blaming each other.
But the Keeper Elder, Mara, taught us: “When the roots are broken, it does no good to shout at the leaves.”

Because we are all one tree.

She gathered everyone — not to punish, but to plant.
Each family was given one seed and a share of the village’s last water to tend it.

It wasn’t enough to fix everything at once. But it was enough to begin mending.

Sometimes, looking at the brokenness of the world, it’s easy to believe it belongs to someone else.
Easy to think we are standing apart, untouched.
But suffering is not their burden. It is ours.
Every child crying for bread tears a small hole in the fabric that binds us all together.

I learned from DOT that there is no THEM. Whether civil war, as in Sudan, natural disasters like Equilibria’s, or other causes, “displaced populations” are only US…broken.

All of us.

If we do not answer the hunger of another heart, how long before we forget the taste of kindness ourselves?

Adult, Children, YES!

OLIVIA’S JOURNAL

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Breath Beneath the Stones

Today I read a story about a team of scientists exploring the Atacama Desert in Chile — one of the driest places on Earth.
They found tiny, stubborn life: microbes clinging to the underside of quartz rocks, where just enough moisture gathers to survive.
Whole invisible worlds, breathing under stones, unseen by almost everyone.

It made me stop and hold my own breath for a moment.

I remembered the hidden groves near the Breath Lakes in Equilibria.
There, small silver-rooted plants grew only in the shadows between boulders, where the mist would drift just long enough to leave a kiss of water.
We called them the Whisperlings.
DOT taught me that they existed because of one thousand nearly-invisible balances — the angle of the stone, the way the wind curled, the patience of waiting for the mist.
No one force alone kept them alive. It was everything, all at once, carefully holding its breath.

I wonder how often we forget that most of life is like that — surviving in the fragile spaces we rarely notice.

It’s easy to look at the big things — mountains, oceans, cities — and believe they’re what matter most.
But maybe it’s the unseen breath beneath the stones that keeps the world alive.

What other quiet miracles are we stepping over every day without even seeing them?

YES!

YES! Volume 2 Released

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A new character joins DOT! Meet Olivia. Together, she and DOT continue Volume 1’s unfolding story of IS! is BETTER than NOT IS! And what a story they tell. YES! Touching DOT, Touching People examines the age-old question, “Why do people hurt each other?”

In this day of cultural conflict, rampant misinformation, and polarized disagreement on fundamental human values, DOT continues her message of reconciliation. A new saying enters the YES! world in Volume 2 – There is no THEM. There is only US…BROKEN. Olivia joins DOT in examining the evolutionary history underlying human conflict as the book explores cultural conflict’s NOT IS! role. People share more in common than the cultural differences between them. And on those fundamental human values, cultures can flourish in their unique beauty and diversity.

In pursuit of that, Olivia offers hope, explaining simple actions that children can take that enable them to feel more control in an uncertain world. Through “superpowers” and tools, children learn how to make a difference wherever they live.

Volume 2 is available now at https://www.amazon.com/YES-Touching-Dot-People/dp/B0DJBW5T7Y!

YES!

Saying YES! to Pets

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Saying YES! to your pets is a discovery in how these furry, feathery, or even scaly friends can fill our hearts with joy and love. Whether you have a pet, dream of having one, or just love animals, this journey is for you!

A Furry Bundle of Joy!
Imagine coming home from school, and who’s there to greet you with a wagging tail or a happy chirp? Your pet! Pets are not just animals; they’re like family members who share our lives and homes. They can be dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, or even turtles! Each one has its own special way of bringing happiness into our lives.

Pets Make Us Smile 😊
Have you ever played fetch with a dog or watched a kitten chase a ball of yarn? It’s so much fun and can make you laugh out loud! Pets do the silliest things that can turn a boring day into a super fun one. Their playful antics are like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, making us feel happier and more cheerful.

A Friend Who Listens
Sometimes, we all feel a little down or have a tough day. Pets are amazing listeners. You can tell them anything, and they won’t judge or interrupt. They just sit by your side, offering comfort with their presence. It’s like having a best friend who’s always there for you, ready to lend a fluffy ear or a gentle nudge.

Learning to Care and Share
Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility, but it’s also really rewarding. Feeding them, cleaning their living space, and making sure they’re healthy teaches us how to be responsible and caring. It’s like being a superhero for your pet, making sure they have everything they need to be happy and healthy.

Pets Help Us Make Friends
Pets can be great at helping us make new friends! Walking a dog in the park or joining a pet club at school can introduce us to other people who love animals just as much as we do. It’s like having a special bond that brings people together.

The Magic of Cuddles
Did you know that petting or cuddling with animals can make you feel calm and relaxed? It’s true! Spending time with pets can lower stress and make us feel peaceful. It’s like a magic cuddle that melts away worries and brings a smile to our faces.

A Healthy Heart
Loving a pet doesn’t just make our hearts happy; it can actually make them healthier! Playing and being active with pets can keep our bodies fit. Plus, the happiness we get from being with our pets is great for our hearts, both inside and out.

A World of Love
Pets bring a special kind of love into our lives. They teach us about friendship, responsibility, and the joy of caring for another living being. Whether you have a pet or just dream of having one, remember that these wonderful animals have a lot to offer. They make our world a happier, more loving place, and that’s something truly amazing!

So, the next time you see a pet, think about all the incredible ways they make our lives better. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll have a furry, feathery, or scaly friend to say YES!