Bad Moments Aren’t

I saw somewhere that a bad moment doesn’t make for a bad day, and I think that is such an important reminder especially on any given day in schools.

People are beautiful and important and needed…and they can also be really hard. Inevitably, while being in the people business in schools, the work can get really heavy and emotional. Misunderstandings, miscommunication, disagreements…it’s all inevitable in this complex landscape, and it’s not always a bad thing. Often, in the midst of hard stuff, we learn, grow, improve, and even make strides to deepen trust and further relationships.

But that doesn’t mean we have to like tackling problems or being in the hard stuff. It’s kind of the worst at times!

The beauty of schools though is that no matter how hard some moments may be and no matter how many hard moments there are…there are also many, many truly remarkable moments if you choose to look for and find them. There are kids making sure other kids have someone to sit with at lunch. There are teachers who surprise each other with a favorite coffee order- the morning after parent teacher conferences. There are administrators who follow up with people, remembering little details they shared about their loved ones and lives. There are parents who go out of their way to write a positive email. There are community members who make donations to pay off lunch accounts.

There is so much good in this world and in our school communities. Look for it. It won’t take you long to find it. And when you find it, name it, and celebrate it.

Don’t let a bad moment define your entire day.