“If you can see all the consequences of your actions, then your actions are of no use.”
from A Calendar of Wisdom

As Earth day approached, a story about Leonard Wolff - Virginia Wolff’s husband - along with the above quote, kept coming to mind.

So I gave each staff member an iris and attached this letter:

“Invest in Our Planet”

- Earth Day Slogan 

In his WWII memoir, Downhill All the Way, Leonard Wolff wrote:

“One afternoon I was planting in the orchard under an apple-tree iris reticulata, those lovely violet flowers . . . Suddenly I heard Virginia’s voice, calling to me from the sitting room window: “Hitler is making a speech.” I shouted back, ‘I shan’t come. I’m planting iris and they will be flowering long after he is dead.’  
Last March, twenty-one years after {Hitler’s death}, a few of those violet flowers still flowered under the apple-tree in the orchard.” 

Whenever I’m discouraged by this beautiful and powerful profession, I often find comfort and solace from this story and the truths that it invokes.  

Even though it may not feel like it at times, what you do and how you do it is making a difference. Like planted irises amidst a war, the affects, and impacts of what you do, the relationships you cultivate, and the moments of humanity you show with your kiddos do not come back empty handed. They grow, multiply, and outlast us all.  

Because each and every day, you are planting irises.  

You are the soil from which their thoughts, ideas, and dreams take root.
You are the water that encourages growth and washes away fears.
You are the sun which provides warmth and encourages them to bloom. 

You may never see the impact and beauty your decisions and actions will leave behind, but like Leonard Wolff, be confident in the impact you have made. There are hearts and minds across the country and globe that remember and will remember your name, appreciate your compassion, and can point to you as an influence into who they are.  

Your words matter.  

Your lessons matter. 

Your hugs matter.  

Your correction and reteaching matters. 

YOU matter!  

And we – the Chief Joseph staff, students, and community – are so thankful for all you do and who you are.

Happy Earth Day!!! Happy planting.

Not all of us are teachers or educators, but all of us - when faced with ugliness, destruction, and doubt - have the ability to choose to plant irises. It isn’t easy and requires that we get our hands dirty. But it is always worth it. Always.

Wherever you are and whatever you do, happy Earth day! And happy planting.

Happy Friday!

#DOGREATTHINGS

Give. Relate. Explore. Analyze. Try.

For more on . . .

Friday Thoughts : Blog