This video is inspiring on so many
different levels.I do not surf.I am from Texas.I eat Bar-B-Que, drive a pick up, and go to
football games.But when I watch this I
want to learn how to surf.It looks like
so much fun!Look out TRINTY RIVER…YOU
ARE ABOUT TO SEE ME SURF!
The
woman truly has a positive outlook despite her circumstance.She has every reason to be bitter, resentful,
and see all of the negatives in her situation.She says that sitting in the chair is the “easiest” part of her
situation. The skin and balance issues never occurred to me. Her desire to
learn is extremely admirable.She has to
try new things and learn a completely different way to live. Her resilience or grit is something that we
could all strive for.
I
have a great admiration for the young man in the video.When I first saw this, I thought that he was
her son.When I realized that he was
her son’s friend, it made me think of how far I would go to help someone else that
was not related to me.Surfing is
probably a time for him to hang out with his friends and do something that he
enjoys doing.Instead, he chose to get
out of his comfort zone and help a person who is struggling.
Are
there people around you who are struggling?Do you know of a person who is in a similar situation as the woman in
the video?You may see a person like
this every day.You may see a person crippled
by their circumstances.There may be a
person who is unable to stand and walk without you, maybe not literally, but
figuratively.
What
would you do if a colleague was having a really bad day , week, or month?What if they were really unhappy with a class
period and began to criticize their student’s behavior or intellect?What if you were in the lounge and a teacher
began to criticize one of your co-workers?What if this type of criticism seemed to happen each day?
You
could talk with your friends in the lounge about what a complete beat down or how
negative the person is after they microwave their food and leave.You could retreat to your classroom and never
go into the lounge.You could join in
and agree, but all of these would just keep your colleague on the ground and
pull you down too.
The
systems that we have put in place will not have the impact on our students without
a solution focused faculty.Being
solution focused doesn’t mean that the expectation is that there will be no
delta’s.One of the great things about
being focused on continuous improvement means that we will have opportunities to
express ourselves constructively. Being solution focused is about responding to
the delta’s that life hands us with solution to the problem in mind or as the
woman in the video says, “to concentrate on the positive in life.”
Much
is being asked of us right now.In many
cases, we have to learn new things. Professional learning communities, a new
prep, or working at a new grade level are challenging and sometimes
uncomfortable.As well as the normal
challenges of teaching, a tough class period, a difficult parent, or deadlines
that come faster and faster….it is easy to feel overwhelmed. When we see or
hear a colleague who is overwhelmed, that is our opportunity to put that person
on our back and help them.
Our
profession is one of service to others. I want to encourage us to embrace a
phrase or a queue.The queue to help us
stay solution focused will be, “I hear
your frustration, what I can I do to help?”.This is not a phrase of punishment or retribution. Done in love,
this is a phrase to redirect us to the reason that we entered the profession.
When
you hear a colleague who is really down, and their situation appears to be
getting the better of them, that is your opportunity to assist.We are human.We all become overwhelmed.Find
out what is frustrating and see if you can put them on your back for a little
while.It is what epic stories are made
of.
This Week @ HMS
Monday, November 4
NFL Monday
Continues!Cowboys are still in first.
Volleyball
vs. Hurst
7th
grade @ Hurst
8th
grade @ HMS
7th
grade football vs. North Ridge @ Birdville Stadium
