Being thankful ...

For some strange reason, I started thinking about Thanksgiving this past weekend.

If Thanksgiving Day is really about giving thanks for our blessings and we are truly thankful, why only do it on that day?

My son will be coming home from the navy soon. It always bothered him when people would thank him for serving in the military. He didn’t do it for them, he did it for himself. And while he is serving his country, he is doing the best job he can. If others happen to benefit from his efforts, that is OK with him.

I did not get involved with the union for gratitude. I did it because I saw injustice and could not stand on the side. I am still surprised when I am thanked for my hard work on behalf of educators. I don’t do it for the thanks. I do it for me, because I must if I want to live with myself. I believe it is the right thing to do. How about you? Are you an educator to get thanks or because you believe in the greater good of public education? If there are any educators who entered the profession for riches or adulation, I have never met them. The ones I’ve met believe in the importance of educating our youth, and public education.

Still it is a moving experience to receive a thank you from a student.

It is a nice surprise to be thanked for doing what you believe in. And don’t forget to thank others for what they do. It makes every day thanksgiving day. Thank you.

Fall back.

This past weekend we experienced the switch back to standard time. We became time travelers, falling back an hour and getting to use it all over again. As I was thinking about this, several things arose in my mind. When you “spring ahead” you lose an hour. When you “fall back” you gain an hour. However, moving ahead too quickly can be intemperate, and while stepping back can give you time to think, get a better handle on things, and a fresh perspective, you have lost ground. No matter what you do, it comes at a price that needs to be considered.

As I was jotting down some thoughts this past weekend, a group of people walked by, laughing and having a happy time. I chuckled at something one of the people said, and then they noticed I was writing and became concerned that I was recording them. After I explained what I was doing, they moved on, much more quietly, and it got me thinking. Why do we not want to be noticed? Why do we not think we are important enough to have our deeds recorded like the heroes of old? Why has it become something to be scared of? Has our behavior changed so that we are no longer heroic? Or is it that we only record non-heroic deeds to humiliate and embarrass? Is it our priority to knock down or is it to build up? What is our focus?

When I was still in the classroom, I noticed that when I praised good behavior, it was generally repeated. I don’t want to pretend that I never wrote referrals, but the power of the positive was astounding. It even works on yourself. Be positive. Be prepared for things to be less than perfect, but proceed and base your outlook as if things will work out for the best, and they will. You almost always find what you are looking for.

And next spring, you are not losing an hour, smile as you leap an hour closer to summer.