Additions, Ripples and a Dash
I was rolling around the idea for this post for a few days, and then yesterday morning there was a shift. A shooting at a church and school in Minneapolis. Another community heartbroken, reeling, angry. A state and a nation yet again hearing the disturbing news. Two children left for school yesterday morning, ages 8 and 10, and will never go home. There are no words.
As Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said yesterday, “Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. We need action.” What actions can I take today to contribute to the good in the world and to make connections with others so we aren’t isolated and marginalized?
Schools are great places for creating good and for making connections. Millions of students and teachers head down hallways and into classrooms each fall for a fresh start to a new school year. I am heading into my 38th year in schools. I am always ready for the return to routine and school arrives right around my favorite season—fall.
The equation above breaks down my previous 37 years. I started out teaching at my high school alma mater for two years, moved to another school in another part of Iowa for two years, and then made another move to northwest Iowa for six years. I taught high school Social Studies and coached.
I wasn’t seeing myself in the classroom forever, so I appreciated the opportunity to attend graduate school while working full time. I became a licensed school counselor. I was an elementary counselor for two years and have now been a middle school counselor at my current school for 25 years. There are many things I am looking forward to about year #26/38, and also a few things that leave me cynical and troubled.
When I see those numbers, broken down into the various stints at various schools—this is my sixth school—I am surprised by a few things. How quickly those years have gone. How much has changed in society and in schools. How much has stayed the same. I count far more blessings than curses over my career, but the challenges have been significant at times. School and personality dynamics, cultural shifts, entitlement, technological advances that have also set us back in ways, especially concerning overall student well-being.
I look at the little dash in my equation above, between years 37 and 38. There will be days when the dash feels miles long, and others when it flies by. What will I put into the dash? There’s the key. I will put good energy, creativity, smiles, hope, listening ears and heart, direct conversations, supportive words, and love.
Two children lost their lives yesterday. Their dash closed far too quickly. Hundreds of others had their lives changed forever in an instant. What can you and I do today to help the healing grow and to bring real change to our suffering society? Start small. Energetic ripples creating more energy. Never doubt that it makes a difference. Start with kindness, helpful actions, speaking up. Start with love. End with love. Lead with love.
