Happy New Day

Wow! Yesterday certainly flew by and by the time I noticed, I was at home away from a computer and didn't post. While this was intended for New Year's Day, it certainly makes sense every other day of the year. Wait, maybe I actually did plan that as a way of making a point. Then again, that would have been too clever and didn't happen.

The title comes from a passage in a little daily reminder book I read. As many begin the new year with resolutions to change this coming year, this phrase reminds us that change comes about day by day. Commitment to taking action each and every day is the only way to bring about change over a longer term.

I am also reminded of an article about Chris Mullin (One Day at a Time) that I believe ran in Sports Illustrated several years ago. It told the story of Mullin, now a former NBA star, was dealing with his alcoholism. Committing to a course of action for this particular day seems easier than thinking about doing it over a longer period of time, even a lifetime. It's a little like eating the elephant one bite at a time. 

As you look forward to positive change in your life and work, what are you going to do today to begin moving toward that goal? Good luck and Happy New Day.

All is well

This thought came from a short article I read this morning about looking at the world as "fundamentally good." Each year, the PCSD#2 board hosts a Christmas gathering for staff and spouse/guest. A great meal is served and everyone seems to have a good time and enjoy the camaraderie. The thought that all is fundamentally good resounds around the holidays and is something we could keep in mind throughout the year. I am certain that at various times throughout our work and relationships, each of us is confronted with people or issues that challenge us. Reminding ourselves that while we may have different philosophies, values, and ideas, the world is fundamentally good for the most part and the challenge becomes to find that goodness and commonality and build on it.

Help

"Accepting help is not a sign of weakness, but an opportunity to further our progress."

As I was reading a daily meditation book I like to look at each day, this quote struck me as something that could apply not only to one's personal life, but to our professional lives as well. You may have heard it said that many schools have individual "silos" within which each teacher closes his or her door and teaches the curriculum. I've seen colleagues unwilling to ask for help and continue doing what they have always done even if evidence points to a need for change.

However, if we look at it from a different angle, without help, none of us would be where we are today. We needed help when we were young in order to survive, then later to learn. Considering that many, if not most, of us are working for someone else, we needed help to get the job we have. Asking for help can certainly help us learn more quickly, which in turn provides us with the skills and knowledge to succeed. Sometimes all we need is a small change or bit of knowledge to grow exponentially.

Now, I know men are notorious for NOT asking for help. I'm coming to realize that this may do more to slow down progress than just biting the bullet and asking. Just don't tell my wife I admitted that.

Thanksgiving 2011

I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately on giving thanks, saying thank you, and being grateful for all we have in our lives. I've included a couple of links below to provide some reading material on the benefits of an attitude of gratitude.

Sometimes we overlook the simplest of things for which we are grateful. Our lives, the air we breath, and if you're reading this, our sight. I've read many authors who have stressed being grateful in some way every day. Whether this is writing a thank you note every day for a year, as this man did, writing in a daily gratitude journal, or some other form of giving thanks, it is important to consistently do it. At first, it seems either awkward or repetitive, as there are days when you may not be able to think of anything different than what you have listed before. But that is okay, as being grateful daily for the most important people and things in our lives helps us appreciate them.

So, I encourage you to give daily gratitude a try if you don't already. It can and will change your outlook and provide opportunities you may not have seen before.

Live your own life

The quote below, by Steve Jobs, reminded me of another quote I read a long time ago. I had gotten a plaque that said, "To live your life in your own way, to reach for the goals you have set for yourself, to be the you that you want to be, that is success." One of the philosophies I've always tried to live by is that we need to model the things we want our children and students to learn. It's time we all start, if we haven't, to teach our children to live their own lives and give them the skills to follow their heart.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."