I guess I'm going to start saying no, so I can say yes. I'm going to say no to rushing through my days, so I can hug a little longer, laugh a little wilder, and love a little bigger.
The Joy of Feeling Small
Let’s Be Fireflies
This work is hard. This work is important. This work is made better when we leverage the strengths of teammates and work together to design learning experiences.
More Creating Less Defending
Whether its instructional practices, communication, or leadership moves, we are going to mess up. And we will keep messing up. And some lessons, we will never stop learning over and over again. But isn't that beautiful? Because it means we care and that we showed up and that we are trying. So, instead of wasting time complaining, justifying, in denial, perhaps our time is better spent creating something new or tweaking and remixing.
Go First
As I mention in my upcoming book, Legacy of Learning, our schools don't need more shiny perfect people. We need more deeply human people. Modeling care, reflection, sincere apologies, and learning, and changed behavior. We need people who see, celebrate, and utilize the strengths of others. People who truly believe we are better together.
Cutting Goals in Half
Life is hard enough. The pressures of work or being a parent are hard enough. We don't need to make it harder on ourselves by setting unrealistic expectations. Thinking and moving smaller can help us achieve more in the end. It can help us feel better too. You know?
Lessons Learned from Swift
I couldn't get over the number of times Taylor would pause, smile, hold her hand to her heart, and seem genuinely in the moment and grateful that we showed up. It never got old. Sure, she might do that at every show. But this doesn't mean I didn't believe her. I couldn't help but smile and feel seen in the sea of fans. With genuine words of appreciation and through her body language, she communicated gratitude and kindness and care. We can all learn a little something from her in this area. This is how we want all learners to feel in school every day. Deeply seen and cared for, like they are a part of something bigger than themselves that really matters, and like their unique contributions really matter. Because they do.
Why We Write
But in learning and considering the new, let's not forget that learning is a deeply human experience. Meaningful learning is designed to be human-centered. It's not new for the sake of new. It's about making the most meaningful, positive impact we can with each learner. In this pursuit, let's not forget to see, enjoy, and be with the people we spend time with every day. If we lose sight of that, we have nothing and none of this other stuff matters. If I had not make space to write today, I'm not sure I would be grounded in that reminder. This is why I write.
Get Your Pink Back
Perhaps our schools need a little less hustle in certain areas, so we can give a little more heart. Perhaps school would feel more alive with learning if we felt a little more alive in our work. Perhaps we could see more of the beauty in others if we didn't sacrifice the beauty within ourselves. So, during this time of summer savor, maybe next school year is less about what you can do better and more about how to enjoy more. Maybe.
Hope, ChatGPT, & Us
Tomorrow can be better than today, and collectively, we have the skills needed to make tomorrow better than today. Keep showing up. Together.
Summer Savor
This summer I hope you are able to center yourself in precious moments of gratitude. Whether it's casting your eyes upon the ocean or laughing until you cry with a bestie, let's make this our summer of savor, and let's carry that sense of calm presence into next school year.
MEGHAN LAWSON 