Roll with It

This morning I was walking while listening to my Pandora channel on 80’s rock music when an REO Speedwagon song was played. I am a big fan of their music and I have seen them a few times in concert.  Every time I love the music even more. This morning the song ‘Roll With the Changes’ came on and the lyrics hit me. It was off their debut album “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish” which was loaded with hits. Anyways, back to the song. I’ve heard the song hundreds of times and it is one of my favorites to play on the guitar. This morning, it just hit me differently. I guess one could say I had a musical eureka moment. In the song, lead singer Kevin Cronin sings, “So if you're tired of the same old story, turn some pages”. That lyric seemed to resonate with me.  It is the creative way of saying ‘get on with it’ or for some ‘climb out of the rut’. Just stop complaining and turn some pages. I love the personal drive that is implied.  We don’t need anyone else to help, we just need to do it. Vincent Van Gogh once said that if you hear a voice that says you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. Van Gogh spoke those words at some point during the late 1800’s and I’m certain Kevin Cronin channeled them in some way. If that voice inside is telling something you don’t want to hear then do something about it. As the song says, turn some pages and roll with the changes. Take things in stride and simply don’t let it affect your path or goal. I know for one, I will be turning some pages this weekend, but it will be in a good book. Have a wonderful weekend. Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue "Roll With the Changes” — REO Speedwagon). 

Unit next time...

Let It Go

On Wednesday afternoon during a meeting I was notified that my 85 year old mother had a stroke and was being transported to Emmanuel Hospital in Turlock. I bring this up not to reach for an outpouring of support but to send a message that was delivered by the doctor to my mother. Thankfully she will recover completely as they said it was a ‘minor’ stroke.  Not sure I concur with the diagnosis.  Anytime the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen, it is a major thing.  I am relieved she will recover but back to the message that was delivered.  You see, my mother is a worry wart. She has been that way her whole life. She worries and stresses about things that are not under her control. Her doctor thankfully has been treating her for well over 30 years and knows this all too well. The message that was delivered by him to my mother is one we can all employ. Stop stressing about the things we cannot control and focus on the items that really matter. That is where we will have the most impact in our lives. We all know the advice and we all struggle with it. When you try not to think about something, you are thinking about it. The cycle continues. The real trick is to let it all go. If you can’t control it, let it go. As I try to do on a regular basis, keep my head down and do my best and let everything else take care of itself. And of course, take the time to relax. That will do a body good. Have a wonderful weekend. We have more rain on the way so stay dry. Happy St. Patrick’s Day…Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue "Where the Streets Have No Name" — U2). 

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Jingles

The other day I was in my office talking to a colleague and we happened upon the subject of Barry Manilow.  It could have been because one of his songs randomly played on my Pandora account or that I am a big fan, either way, the subject of old time jingles came out. The connection with Barry Manilow and old jingles you may not know, but as a fan, I know he wrote many of the hugely popular jingles from the 70’s and 80’s that are burned in the memory of many of us still today. Maybe it was just my yearning to want to talk about them, but I mentioned that Barry Manilow started out as a jingle writer and then proceeded to play a medley of his on YouTube titled, “A Very Strange Medley”. As we listened, I chucked at how he didn’t know any of them yet I knew all the words. This led into a discussion about how jingles are a ‘thing of the past’. Though we are inundated with commercials everywhere, I can’t remember too many jingles. I’m talking about the ones that used to anchor commercials like Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, or Coca-Cola. If they exist today, they certainly are not like the ones from decades past. Jingles used to be the big thing that we used to sing along with and when I was a kid, everyone knew them.  We would find ourselves walking to class humming or whistling the jingle. Now, jingles have given way to social media and the influencers. The attention span of most of us is not long enough to even get a jingle started, much less, complete a chorus. That itself is a narrative for our current state. Maybe, just maybe, we should all slow down a bit and have a ‘Coke and a smile’. As a society, I’m not going too far out on a limb to say I think it may just do us some good. Have a wonderful weekend and stay dry with all the rain. Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue A Very Strange Medley - Barry Manilow).

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My Why...

Recently I was asked why I wanted to enter the field of education. The reason I started my career was quite simple. My father was an 8th-grade Physical Education teacher.  He taught at the same junior high for 40 years and when he retired, they named the gym after him. He was the reason I entered the field. I grew up seeing his passion for teaching, sharing his love of sport, and observing his compassion for people. When I was in the 3rd grade, my teacher Mrs. Toler asked the class to perform a writing assignment.  We were to write an autobiography, of course, with the help of several prompts. As part of that assignment, I wrote that I wanted to be a teacher like my father. Mrs. Toler had told me later that I was the only one in the class that chose a teacher for my profession.  Most gave the really cool jobs like astronaut, fireman, doctor, scientist, rockstar, and even a lawyer. Teachers didn’t make the list of ‘cool jobs’ in the 70’s however, for me, the coolest guy I knew was my dad. He was not only a teacher, he was THE teacher, and I wanted to be just like him.  That was the case until I became a middle school PE teacher in my first year.  I quickly found out that my father was not just a great teacher, but a very, very, very, patient, almost saintly man. It took every bit of energy I could muster to do a good job. After only one year, I saw an opportunity for a high school science teacher/coach and elected to jump ship. Though I left a good job at that middle school in the rearview mirror, in high school, I found my stride professionally. I often think about that year in middle school and wonder how my father lasted 40 years. I know now that some of the skills that help make him so successful are similar to those needed to keep him and my mother married for over 60 years. A ton of patience, devotion, selective hearing, and true love for what you are doing. I strive every day to be better and maybe reach half the mountain he forged. One thing is for sure, my experience is one reason why I have so much respect for all educators at every level. Our work is uniquely difficult at each level. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue Good Luck Charm - Elvis). 

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Call to Leadership

When I first joined the ranks of administration, I worked with an administrator that reminded me of the difficulties I was about to face. He told me, “If you accept the call to leadership, you must be willing to be misunderstood, criticized, opposed, accused, and even rejected.” Funny thing was, that didn’t deter me, but inspired me. I believe that through communication and building positive professional relationships, we can bridge those gaps in understanding. The same can be said for students in the classroom. Many times they are going to say the same types of things, albeit for different reasons. They criticize, oppose, accuse, reject, and plenty of times misunderstand the intended directive. We in turn, cannot throw our hands up and quit.  We have to bridge the understanding, or misunderstanding, with solid communication.  Though I speak of this like I am proficient, I am not.  I know I am not perfect and can improve with my communication. Even if I am perfect in a situation, I can always be better, so really, there is never an absolute perfect. Communication and understanding is a moving target that takes effort. Effort that is appreciated when it is delivered. So back to what that administrator said to me when I first entered the ranks. I am not inspired to be misunderstood, but inspired to bridge understanding. I believe that in tough conversations, we can sow seeds of success for ourselves and our students. The challenge is in communication. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Stay warm and dry in all this weather. Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue Daydream Believer - The Monkees).

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Conquer It

For some reason this week on Sirius XM 80’s on 8, there has been a large amount of Michael Jackson music.  Not that I am bothered by it because I am a bit of a fan. In the 80’s he led a charge of music greats including Prince, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, not to forget the great bands like the Police, Genesis, Van Halen, or Guns-n-Roses.  The decade was filled with great music that was played by now-aging artists that are entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Understanding this, Michael Jackson, had a string of hits that spanned several albums.  Every time I hear one of his songs, I am immediately transported back to the past.  I was lucky enough to see him in concert three times, once with his brothers.  Every time was a unique experience that left me wanting to see another.  Though I have my favorites from him, there is one song and lyric that always draws my attention when I hear it.  In Human Nature, he sings “If this town is just an apple, then let me take a bite”. I always interpreted that as the ultimate go-getter attitude. I like the frame of mind that you are going to take a bite out of a big city like New York. It's the attitude! It is a modern version of the quote by Julius Caesar from antiquity when he said,”Veni Vidi Vici”. Again, it is all about the attitude. I understand it as not simply about the conquer but the confidence to do so.  Just think if we could instill that kind of confidence in our math students. The attitude that no matter what is thrown at me, I will not only conquer it, but have an enjoyable time doing so.  What a mindset! With that, enjoy your 3-day weekend. Conquer it with pleasure. Have an exceptional weekend! Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue Michael Jackson - Human Nature). 

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Reflection

This morning during my time of reflection, I began to ponder the power of reminiscing. Not so much getting lost in the past, but simply recollecting past events that were enjoyable and provided a rewarding experience. The moments may have been happy, or difficult, but the outcome became much more than expected. To avoid too much pontification about my mental state, I can simply say reminiscing is powerful. I find it boosts my mood and overall sense of well-being. I know it is because when we think about positive experiences from the past, we are reminded of the good times and the people involved. This helps to counterbalance all the negativity in the world we all experience. We all know this to be true, but many times fail to take the time for ourselves. Not that I am making another statement about self care, but the act of reminiscing can help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and our personal growth. When we think about our past experiences, we are able to see how we have changed and grown as individuals. This can be especially important for people who are going through difficult times, as it can help to provide a sense of perspective and hope for the future.  As we reflect on our past experiences, we can begin to see patterns and connections that we may have missed before. This can help us to gain a deeper understanding of our lives and the choices we have made. Indulging in enjoyable recollections or just thoughts of any kind can be completely beneficial because it is all about taking the time to slow down just for a moment. It truly is valuable. With that thought in mind, take a moment this weekend to reflect on the good memories and be grateful for them. Have an exceptional weekend! Go BEARS!…RiseUP! (cue Greenday - Time of My Life). 

Until next time...