Friday Thought : Take the bin out!

I'm aware that my "Friday Thoughts" have been a bit on the bummer side these past few months. And for obvious reasons. Recent events have certainly cast a shadow over the day-to-day, and I know many of you can relate. Shadows take many shapes and sizes.

This picture, though, made me laugh. All because someone went "above and beyond." And that convicted me a bit. The amount of effort this made put into the photos isn't much. But it was intentional. And because it was intentional and because it didn't take huge efforts (which often derails our motivation), he got it done—rather easily.

And now, he is being spread across the internet, shared on a Friday Thoughts post, and remembered every week when his neighbor takes out the trash because he, rather simply, went above and beyond. 

Where can we do the same in the next few days or weeks? Where can we go "above and beyond" on something so mundane as bringing the trash out that it brings a smile to someone's face? 

Where can we give a little extra in our day to make someone else's? 

That's what I've been thinking about this week.

Friday Thought : Winter's Preparing

Over Thanksgiving, my family drove to Wisconsin to reconnect with several families we hadn’t seen in over 15 years. The time together was refreshing and healing. It was also convicting as they asked deep questions about who I am, who I’m becoming, and who I want to be.

Driving home and reflecting on these questions, my thoughts turned to the people and moments that have caused pain over the years, and I asked myself why these wounds still linger. And why I still carry their impact.

Then, I remembered the Turkey Walk. Like many of you, we got up early and started the day with a walk. In middle Wisconsin, it was through the woods, around a small lake, and over the snow. Everything around us was barren and cold. 

Strangely, that's what made it refreshing. The stillness. The silence.

As the year winds down and winter sets in, the world begins to rest. Flowers retreat, bears hibernate, and trees stand bare, stripped of all unnecessary weight. Yet, they remain rooted and strong. They are intentional. And they spend a season making space for what is to come. 

Winter reminds us that stillness isn’t emptiness. It’s rest, and its preparation for growth. But only if we can shed the unnecessary things.

"What are you needing to let go of, to make room for future growth?"

That's what I've been wrestling through this week.

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Friday Thought : "Who do you want to be?"

This past Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Brad Gustafson, an elementary principal in Minnesota and author of the newly published book, Overcoming Education: Complex Challenges, Difficult People, and the Art of Making a Difference. In our conversation, he kept referencing a mantra of his, "Who do you want to be?" At first, I blew it off because it sounded just like the millions of other mantras that gong loudly all over the internet world. The, "Rediscover your why," and "Be who you are meant to be" kind of stuff. 

But it isn't. It's much different. And much better.

In education - and life in general - we experience countless moments that cause disruption and frustration, challenge our patience, and exhaust our kindness. Even now, as I try and confirm a reservation I made over three weeks ago, on the eve of departure, our reservation is in doubt. I'm beyond frustrated.

Who I want to be is not who I was on that phone call. And now, after the fire in my gut has dwindled, I feel awful about it. 

It's easy to be kind and patient when dealing with kind and patient people. It's also easy to be nice when things are going my way. It's much more difficult, however, to exercise those qualities when people fail, systems collapse, or when Life simply sucks. In these moments, it is so easy to point fingers, sling accusations, or let rip my irritation. Because it makes me feel better (for a time) and gives me the allusion of control (which I don't have) and absolves me of wrongdoing (which it doesn't). 

In reality, in these moments, who I want to be is the only thing I can control. And who I want to be is a kind, patient, respectful person who lives a life defined by integrity. I can't control the actions and perceptions of others, nor can I control or prevent the World from invading my plans. But I can control the kind of person I will be in the midst of it.

When an unfair accusation is made . . . Who do I want to be?

When my bosses challenge me on a decision or ask me to do something I don't like . . . Who do I want to be?

When Life shifts unwanted burdens on my shoulders . . . Who do I want to be? 

The answer to those questions is what I will be accountable for. So that's where my focus should be. Even though I don't always like it.

Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about this week. 

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Friday Thought : "You suck at your job!" And other truths.

AI generated image.

"You suck at your job," I was recently told by an angry parent.

"You're probably right," I responded. 

Shortly after, she picked up her child and I dealt with another student. 

Later that night, I was thinking about the interaction, and although my response was out of frustration, the more I thought about it, the more I agreed with the statement because I do. Not entirely, maybe. Or at least not holistically in how she said it, that she meant it. But the obvious truth is I'm not perfect - not even close. I probably even suck at portions of it. And although I'm not okay with it, it's reality. And it's where I'm at.

Because here's another truth bomb . . . When some of the staff started their teaching experience, I was a middle schooler! Which

Again, it doesn't make it okay, but it does make it okay because who among us is perfect? Is a master at their WHOLE craft, be it a profession, parenting, adulting, or simply just living? Who among us doesn't suck at something?

But also, who do you know that eager to do our jobs? Who is standing in line, ready to step into our shows, and shoulder our responsibilities?

The crickets are deafening. 

Which is why I think this scene so often. It's from the movie Fury, a WWII tank movie. And it is one of my favorites. 

Four men are sitting in a tank, waiting for a battle they cannot win when one of them - who has mastered very little in the art of war and combat - quotes the Bible, "'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Then suddenly, they are ready. They are prepared for battle. 

Not many of us suck completely at our jobs. But all of us feel that way at times. Some of us are even accused of it. Even exposed of it. But when the question is asked, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" We are the few who stand and say, "Here am I. Send me!"

And I cannot think of a more courageous and noble thing - to do what needs to be done when no one else wants to do it. 
Thank you for doing it. Our world needs more people like you. Our world survives and thrives because of people like you.

Even when you suck at your job.

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.

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Friday Thought : Light up the Room

I love this quote and have been thinking about it all week.

I don't ever want to be the kind of person who makes a decision because I hate another or want them to lose. I want to make decisions based on what is best for those around me because I want us all to win. 

As a quality person, I'm sure that is a no-brainer for you as well.

I do, however, find myself struggling a bit more when the decision could mean I lose, or lose out. Be it in opportunity, favor, or advancement of some sort (position, popularity, financial - whatever), when the fear of loss creeps in, the tendency to hold back suddenly flares up a bit stronger. Suddenly, my selfishness and desire to "win" get pushed to the front of the line. And I hate it. 

So I rebuke it, beat it back and vow to never let it happen again.

Then it does. Again and again. And I hate it. 

Last night,  "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle," the quote read, "and the room gains everything," I thought. And I was reminded - yet again - of just how powerful purposeful giving can be. Be it time, materials, forgiveness and grace, or simply love, when we give, we do not lose something of ourselves, we simply add light to the room. 

And I love that. 

Lighting up the room . . . That's what I've been thinking about this week. 

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Friday Thought : Here’s to the Crazy Ones

In 1984, Mac released their iconic commercial. A decade later, Steve Jobs developed a slogan, "Here's to the crazy ones." It reads: 

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

If that doesn't define the teacher's spirit, I'm not sure what does. 

But recently, as I’ve reread and wrestled with it many times over, I’ve come to believe that it also seems a bit incomplete. 

Here's what I mean.

I have almost always believed that greatness and genius are manifested when we break through a ceiling of restriction - when we prove the impossible possible. Think landing on the moon, running a sub-4-minute mile, or summiting Mt Everest - things that no one thought could ever be done and then suddenly are. These acts have traditionally embodied the spirit of The Crazy Ones and have been my criteria for greatness.

Recently, though, I've begun to believe that many crazy ones walk among us, looking just like normal people, enduring seemingly impossible hardships yet continually changing the world. They may not be climbing Everest, but they are battling a terminal illness, enduring devastating loss, or shouldering the exhausting weight of life's struggles. And they do so daily, without complaint or attention, with grace, kindness, and dignity. 

We have several of these people working and walking in our schools. And I don't know about you, but these are the people who inspire the hell out of me. They are the ones who encourage me to show up and try harder than I feel, give more than I want, and keep me grounded in this beautiful yet seemingly impossible profession. They are - you are - the crazy ones who even amid the title waves of pain, frustration, and sadness, choose to believe they can still change the world. And then they do.

And I just friggen love that. And am fully inspired by it. 

So, thank you, teachers for being the crazy ones. For inspiring us all to be better and to do better. Thank you for changing the world.

As you do, please allow others - even invite others - to help you:) No one ever summited Everest, ran a record-setting mile, or landed on the moon alone. They all had help. They all needed help. 

And so do you.

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.

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