Good Guys and the Bad Guys

On the way to work this morning,  I was intrigued by the original soundtrack of the Magnificent Seven written by Elmer Bernstein. I started thinking about how we in society treat ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’.  How intriguing it is to me that music can represent very clearly the good and the bad.  We all know that our basic understanding of good and bad is rooted in our moral upbringing. If you are anything like me, I had a very clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong from my parents however, the musical side has been taught through the movies. In the old westerns, the good guys wore the white hats and we all knew who wore the black hats. Not only that, but the music that accompanied them was also very identifiable. Fast forward to more current movies and the music continues to identify the villain. In the hugely successful Star Wars movies, the imposing Imperial March let us all know Vadar was on his way. In contrast, the Theme of the Jedi conjures a completely different feeling. It is simple to figure out the good guys and the bad guys.  In the real world however, things are not so simple. Nobody has a soundtrack that plays so we can hear.  In real life, sometimes, the ‘bad guys’ are packaged as a ‘good guys’. It is not as easy as in the films. Who really knows?  That’s one reason why I just try to focus on my actions.  I want to be the ‘good guy’ in the white hat.  I choose to do right by people and be comfortable in my skin. I want to be the best person that I can be. In my mind, I’m wearing the white hat with the music of the magnificent seven playing in the background as I ride off into the sunset...roll credits.  Have an exceptional weekend. Enjoy the beautiful weather...Go PUPS! (cue Elmer Bernstein, Magnificent Seven)

Until next time...

Lost in the Decades

I can get lost thinking about the past. When I see pictures of days gone by I wonder what it would have been like to be an adult in the decades past. The 1910s had the Great War and that was followed by the roaring ‘20s when the Stock Market was booming. The ‘30s was plagued by the Great Depression and then the ‘40s introduced world war again. The ‘50s are often thought of as the ‘Golden Age’ because of the tech advances and the post-war boom but it has a black eye from the racism. The ‘50s also gave us the end of segregation with Brown v. Board of Education sparking the dawn of the Civil Rights movement that gained momentum in the ‘60s. The ‘70s was a decade of struggle with a recession, disco, and skating that rolled into the ‘80s which brought about cable news, MTV and the the ‘Music Revolution’, then the fall of the Berlin wall.  The ‘90s started as a decade of hope after the Cold War ended, the release of Nelson Mandela, and the invention of the internet, but was mired in tragedy with domestic terrorism such as Oklahoma City and Columbine High School. Our sordid history in a paragraph. The point is simply that though times can be difficult, the struggle we each feel is relative.  Hang in there. We all know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we all are pretty sure it’s not a train. Let’s just stay off the tracks to be certain.  Have an exceptional weekend. Enjoy the cool weather...Go PUPS! (cue Billy Joel, We Didn’t Start the Fire) 

Until next time...

Roll with the Changes

October is upon us and we are seeing a mild change in the weather. It won’t be long before we begin to see the changes in the leaves. As educators, it is important for us to take notice of the things around us. Change is always the most difficult thing for anyone to handle because it thrusts us into something that is unknown or out of our comfort zone. I don’t believe change is disruptive for people because we all embrace it six times a year with the seasons and the time changes. We simply adjust to each change as needed because we know we cannot do anything about it.  Therefore, it is my opinion that it is not the change that is so disruptive but our attitude toward the change that fuels the fire of discontent. Charles Swindoll, the author of ‘The Grace Awakening’, said is credited with the idea that we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way or do a certain thing. We can, however, change our attitude. Have an exceptional weekend. Enjoy the phenomenal weather...Go PUPS! (cue REO Speedwagon, Roll With The Changes)

Until next time...

This Too Shall Pass

The first day of Autumn arrived on this past Wednesday yet the warm temperatures are still with us.  It looks like we are going to have to wait until next week to get some cooler weather. Maybe soon we will see waning high temperatures give way to some wet weather (Hope is our best strategy). Last week I made a reference to the rain and rainbows. Whether the rain is literal or metaphorical, just remember that in both cases, it too shall pass. That is a lesson we need to teach our students.  The measure of a person’s character is not how they perform during the easy times, it’s how they persevere in difficult ones.  Don’t quit, wait out the rain, and cherish the rainbow. Do we have any other choice? As previously written, just lean into the curve when the road is winding. Have an exceptional weekend. Enjoy the weather...Go PUPS! (cue Berlin, Dancing in Berlin) 

Until next time...

Better Days Ahead

We have made it to the middle of September and generally, that means more mild weather. We all hope that is the case because the heat has been relentless both literally and figuratively. If you are anything like me, the really hot days with higher than normal humidity just adds a bit more stress to the days. Cooler more mild temperatures may help to calm the nerves of everyone. This last week has certainly been a challenge from dealing with COVID, staff shortages, student fight clubs, and TikTok video challenges. It seems daily that our staff is put into reaction mode, frantically trying to respond to the next and most immediate challenge. During these times, it is important for us to remind each other that this too shall pass. I simply try to handle only what I can. Those things that are out of my control have to be cast away. I know better days are ahead and we will be better when they arrive. In the meantime, we need to take care of ourselves and not tear ourselves apart. We also need to understand that it takes both rain and sun to make a rainbow. Have a great weekend. Enjoy the weather...Go PUPS! (cue The Beatles, Let it Be) 

Until next time...

The Impact of Kindness

We have made it to the end of another week and stress levels are beginning to rise for both students and staff.  As we all know, stress can manifest in many different ways, most of which is not good. That is why it is important to stop, slow down, and breathe.  There is so much going on around us that can cause stress. The news alone is filled with stories that have some sort of connection to some angst for a certain group.  We simply can’t escape the hate that exists, but we can fight it. In this world people can hate for no reason, however, we can choose to do the other. I try to spread kindness for no reason. Yes, the times are crazy and I get just as stressed as the next person but my goal remains. I acknowledge that I am far from perfect, but I do try to spread some kindness and laughter when I can, wherever I can, and however I can. With COVID being omnipresent, we have a tendency to forget the impact. The daily exposure makes us numb to the effect it has on the lives around us and the stress it creates. The negative influence equally touches students and staff, just as a positive influence. That is why we all just need to spread a bit more kindness. Have a great weekend. Stay cool...Go PUPS! (cue Lunatic Fringe, Red Rider)

Until next time...

Labor Day

We have reached Labor Day weekend which, according to the History Channel, pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.  Our history has not been so kind to labor. During the height of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800’s, the average American worked 12-hour days for seven days a week just to make a basic living.  In many States we had young elementary school-aged children working in factories and mines. Certainly we can add this to the list of things we are not proud of in our collective history. As time moved forward the error of our ways was identified and things began to change.  In 1894, Labor Day became of federal holiday to acknowledge the significant contributions of labor.  As the first Monday in September, it has come to symbolize the end of summer.  For me, it symbolizes the start of the school cadence and pace. Every educator knows what that means. The idea of structured breaks, meal times, and even structured personal time. Gone are the days of summer when time was not so much the factor. By Labor Day, things have just settled in for the long haul. Statistically the time between Labor Day and Thanksgiving has higher student discipline rates and teacher stress.  Because of this it is important to take care of yourself. When the road begins to get windy, you can do what I do, just lean into the curve. Have a fantastic 3-day weekend. Enjoy...Go PUPS! (cue Keep The Beat, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Ynairaly Simo)

Until next time...