But so do the good times. Our joys, the beautiful moments, the really good times, they don’t last forever either. So, let’s really appreciate the good moments and good days not taking any little bit of good we can find for granted.
Sit with It.
The Rest is Figuroutable
You are human. And so is everyone else.
We are the World.
Our homes, neighborhoods, and our schools serve as the center of every child’s universe, and we get to make that universe as good as it can be, so they can go out there and create an even better world for all of us, seeing what can be and what every living creature deserves. George Couros wrote about this yesterday, “Instead of preparing our students for the ‘real world,’ how do we help our students make the real world better?” What a tall order and yet what a profound honor. May we never forget what a powerful privilege it is to faithfully and dutifully serve our communities to the best of our abilities with joy and hope for the future.
Reps, Rejection, Reflection
It could mean any number of things but instead of assigning meaning to it, I focus on what people can’t take away from me: my learning.
Green Bean Moments
Our students don’t just notice how we treat them or how we treat other students. They learn from how we treat each other too. Whether we realize it or not, we are modeling what it means to be an adult.
An Inside Job
I’m writing this to share that maybe that thing we are afraid to do or think we can’t do or that thing that feels inconvenient might be exactly what we need. When we remove the friction points and stay the course on a commitment we made, especially one that is about our wellbeing, we remind ourselves that there is more to us and this life than our work. We remind ourselves are we are human beings not human doings.
Do for One
We all have hard jobs and parts of our jobs that don’t give us energy but what if we sought to multiply energy with moments like this? Because I can tell you, these little acts are helping me reframe a lot of the tough stuff.
School AS Community
It’s not a guide or a how-to. Our work as leaders is too complex and our communities too nuanced to be distilled down in that way. Instead, it’s rooted in principles and perspectives that illuminate possibilities in a heavy world.
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.
Look Again
“When everything around you seems dark, look again, you may be the light.” - Rumi
MEGHAN LAWSON 