Many schools will take a much deserved winter break after this week. I’m so happy and excited for staff and students who are looking forward to this time away. I’m also holding space for those who may not be as excited.
Connection over Perfection
Insecurities are Loud
But if we don’t start to figure out how to lead ourselves first from every seat in the organization, and if we don’t start to recognize the role we play in our own misery or the way we contribute to the very culture we hope to improve, we have little hope for the future in schools.
Pausing to Notice
I’ve come to realize that many of us are desperately wanting to capture moments. With our phones in our pockets, we hurry to grab our phone, so we can remember. But in the hurry to take that perfect photo, the memory is sometimes lost.
All We Have
Whatever each moment brings, let’s allow ourselves to live fully in it. It’s all we have in the end.
The Power of Noticing
So, I’m simply asking us to take the first brave step to simply notice. Allow ourselves to be curious not only about what people say but what they don’t say. Curious about specific words people use or body language and to make space to ask (when the time feels right) genuine questions that invite sharing and the possibility of some disagreement even.
Micro-disharmonies
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have those conversations. It means we need to practice having them more. The more experience we have with something the more competent we become and the more competent we become, the more confident we become. We need to be confident in our ability to hold two opposing views at the same time. We need to be confident in our ability to keep an important relationship in tact even when we aren’t seeing eye to eye on an important issue.
A Page Turned
As we turn the page to November, let’s try to let what comes come. And let what goes go. Let’s try to focus our minds on little glimmers and the people who make life feel a bit softer and more gentle. Those are our people.
Look Again
“When everything around you seems dark, look again, you may be the light.” - Rumi
We Are Not Pizza
We are not pizza. But maybe we need to take a deep breath, enjoy a slice, and recognize that we are not responsible for what happens to us or the actions of others. We are responsible for our integrity, our communication, our work, our presence, and our response.
Trust through Community
So much of this is communication, folks. We are never done growing our communication skills.
MEGHAN LAWSON 