Time in a Bottle

The other day my wife and kids were in the drive-through at the local fast food restaurant. My son called me just before they were ready to order, to ask if I would like anything. I told him “I would like something” At this point, I could hear my wife beginning the order in the background as my son said, “Dad wants something”.  I knew the next question before it was asked. Frustrated by the time crunch of waiting for me on the phone, my wife then asked, “What does your Dad want?”  I said, “Tell Mom I want a large bottle of time.”  My son responded with “What?”  My wife overheard then said, “Oh my gosh!” She followed with, “He isn’t getting anything!”  As I laughed, I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great if we really could capture time in a bottle? Just have it to spend wisely or savor like an excellent meal. Time is so precious. If you are anything like me, it is wasted on ridiculous pursuits. I often don’t have enough minutes in the day yet, upon review with hindsight, I know where I can do better or try to be better with time. Being better is not always pressing my nose to the grindstone, so to speak.  It means taking the time to talk less, listen more, and share my time with those around me. With that sentiment, I hope you have a joyous weekend…RiseUP! (cue Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce – Jim Croce).

Until next time...

The Idea of Hope

Have you ever had a deep thought about the idea of hope?  The yearning for something to happen? In this piece, I am pondering the concept of both the desire of an expected outcome as well as, the older meaning of trust. I began to think of hope as a commodity. More like a tangible thing that I can possess. Seeing the unrest in the world and the horrific images coming to us from Europe brings hope to the forefront of my mind. The hope that conflict such as this never reaches my home. The hope that people have a right to be safe. I can’t imagine the helplessness many feel when they are thrust into that situation. Then I began to think about our students. Are there times when they feel lost and helpless? Do they feel that no matter what they do in class they are never going to pass? That feeling can quickly lead to a loss of hope. We have to help them defend against that by refocusing them on the positive. Next, encourage them to believe in themselves. Finally, surround them with positivity. Sometimes the most simple thing is an extension of kindness. It may be only the first step in a long journey, but we can help make it to rekindle hope. Just remember, we never know our impact until it has already been made. With that thought nugget, I hope you have a most excellent weekend…Go BEARS! (cue Kyrie (song) – Mr. Mister).

Until next time...

Motivation

This week I continue with the subject of motivation.  Some days, motivation is hard to find yet on others it finds you. This ebb and flow of motivation can be disruptive. In my life, I have found the best way to be motivated is to set goals. Real goals. Not the unreachable ones that need a lottery win, but the real tangible ones you can achieve. Every time I set goals and achieve them, I have renewed motivation for more. Though somewhere between the summit and my progress I experience several bumps and detours, my goal keeps me going. I try not to allow motivation to dwindle, but it is difficult at times. We humans are all hard wired to identify the negative. (We can credit evolution for that). Some can do this better than others and fortunately for them, through conscious effort, those thoughts can be redirected. How many times have any of you been in a difficult situation and suddenly, doubt builds. It creeps into your mind and begins the process of unraveling all the positive thoughts you had in your abilities. It happens to everyone. The famous test pilot General Chuck Yeager was once asked if he ever had butterflies before a flight and his response was, “Yes, but my butterflies fly in formation.” The bottom line is that we need to control both our thoughts and our emotions. Keep your energy focused on what you want to obtain. Sometimes, it is easier said than done. Have a super weekend! (cue When in Rome – The Promise).

Until next time...

Will or Skill

In a meeting the other day, the idea of motivation was discussed. That is a really difficult subject because it is different for everyone. Yes, there are motivations that can generally move the masses when it comes to products, that is why commercials exist. Individually, motivation comes in so many different ways. We know there are intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for all of us however, we should always be asking ourselves, “Am I unwilling or unable?” There are some things in life that no matter the motivation, I am unwilling to do…like bungee jumping or swimming with sharks…simply not going to happen. I am unwilling. Then there are those things that I am unable to do. For example, I cannot perform calculus, or surgery, or bake a macaron. I do not have the ability or the skill level to do such tasks. No matter how many times someone asks me, I will not be able to complete the task. It is therefore not my will but my skill. Understanding this, I know our students have the same situations. Though they have things that will motivate them both intrinsically and extrinsically, even the most motivated student will fail at a task if we do not teach them the skill. So are they unwilling or unable?  Is it will or skill? Those questions I will leave it to you to decide. Enjoy your weekend…Go BEARS! (cue Kenny Loggins - This Is It).

Until next time...

In a Hurry

This morning I was pondering the idea of being in a rush. How much time do we really get to make up when we find ourselves in a fit of panic over being in a hurry? Are we more efficient when such a state of mind exists? I certainly do not have the empirical data to support my position, but it can’t be good. For the majority of us, when in such a mindset, our decision making ability is impacted and sometimes results in a poor choice. Time however, is relative. When people can slow down their perception of time, they are thought to be different.  We see this often in great athletes. The great ones experience the game at a slower pace relative to their teammates. This allows them to make better decisions in the face of crazy odds. The reality is they are not really slowing down time. They simply have a relative perception of time giving them the ability to see the pitfalls that may be heading their way.  Bottom line is that being in a fit of panic or overly hurried, does not help anyone. It adds stress, tension, and a reduction in your well being. Therefore, slow down, see the world around you, and appreciate the little things.  Just breathe and live a healthy life. Have a tremendous weekend...Go BEARS! (cue Alabama - I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why).

Until next time...

Preparation

If you are anything like me, you love the Olympics. I watch all the events and find myself becoming an expert every four years in curling and the triple salchow (you know, it is all about the backward edge). Oftentimes while watching the competitions, I begin to think about the concept of preparation. The time and dedication it takes to compete at that level is amazing. The athletes live their lives measuring themselves as more than or less than. With more preparation, they have a better chance of success, with less, of course, the opposite is true. Though the Olympics only happen every four years, they all have interim competitions to measure their improvement.  Though the athletes want to be successful in the Olympics, they also want to win all the competitions leading up. That motivation and work ethic is what we need in education. The desire to do your best is intrinsic. We all know internal motivation is the best. We just have to help our students find it. No matter the motivation, the success is in the preparation. By meticulously preparing for success we can ensure a level of success for all our students. Have a tremendous weekend. (cue Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better).

Until next time...

It's Okay to not be Okay

The other day I was meeting with some teachers and the subject of teacher ‘burnout’ came up.  No doubt, the pandemic has not been kind to teachers.  Educators work hard and are very unique in that we are always trying to find ways to improve.  Because of this, we often don’t leave time for rest and recovery.  We push through to the next break and then we rest. Many times, we fall to the ‘teacher sickness’ getting sick during vacation time (Just regular sickness like we had in the good ol’ days pre-COVID, because regular sickness still exists). Knowing this, it is important to remember that you are more than just your job.  Yes, being an educator is part of your identity, however, there are other parts also.  It is important to give attention and care to you.  When you are less than 100%, you can’t give 100%, and it is okay to not be okay. Our roles are demanding in that students need us. Let us not forget that they are successful because of what we do. So this weekend, take the time for yourself to enjoy what you love.  Take in the beautiful weather over this 3-day weekend. Enjoy the Super Bowl commercials and laugh. Laughter is the best medicine we have to battle the burnout. Have a restful weekend...Go BEARS! (cue Jackson Browne - Running on Empty).

Until next time...