Meaning is in the Mundane.
My family loves road trips. And each summer, on our way to some far-off place, we have a stretch of time where very little is accomplished but racking up the miles. We start early and drive late, stop as little as possible, crank up the music, and talk. We spend time together. And after years of this routine, with a bucket full of memories and destinations reached, what we think about and miss the most on any given day is the time spent in the car.
Typically, the days between January through mid-March are considered the doldrums of education. There are very few major holidays to celebrate which in turn means very few days off, parties, and “things to look forward to.” There’s just time.
Which, if embraced, can make it the most productive and most memorable time of the year! But only if we are intentional, like a good road trip, and take advantage of those “drive-through states.”
Be intentional about building relationships with those one or two students who are always on the peripheral of your thoughts, who don't quite get the attention they deserve because they aren't a behavior kid . . . how can you spend time with them? See them? Get to know them?
Be intentional about BEING YOU! Over the next six-ish weeks, what can you bring to the classroom - our school - that is uniquely YOU? Most of the year we don't have time for silly moments or random FUN DAYS because we're too busy preparing for testing, concerts, or playing catchup . . . now, you have time, consistency, and a long road ahead . . . where can you inject something unexpected? Something new? Something YOU?
Be intentional about building memories.
Road trips bring us to some pretty great and memorable destinations. But the pictures we love the most, the times we often remember and miss most often are NOT the final destinations, it's the journey - the what happens during the mundane.
Take advantage of it and Create Meaning in the Mundane.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.
#doGREATthings!
Give. Relate. Explore. Analyze. Try.
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