There are 2 ways to confront people, based on your worth or based on theirs. The proper way to confront someone is not to convince them that you are better than them, but to convince them that they are better than their current behavior.
Well then, let me show you, because that’s what I do for a living.
Right now, it’s this time of the year, and the little ones have just freshly hatched:
You’ll notice they’re still blind and naked when they hatch. So I make them little coats to keep them warm during their first winter:
See how they happily line up to put them on:
See? Better. Now they’re ready to go and explore the world.
And if they make it through the winter and we take good care of them, they will grow up to be strong and wise like their older fellows:
So, in case you were ever wondering, now you know.
As a Publishing Professional I can say that this is 10000% accurate, and I am a little concerned you’re just giving away all of our industry secrets on Tumblr.
There once was a girl named Lenore And a bird and a bust and a door And a guy with depression And a whole lot of questions And the bird always says “Nevermore.”
Footprints in the Sand
There was a man who, at low tide Would walk with the Lord by his side Jesus said “Now look back; You’ll see one set of tracks. That’s when you got a piggy-back ride.”
Response to ‘This Is Just To Say’
This note on the fridge is to say That those ripe plums that you put away Well, I ate them last night They tasted all right Plus I slept with your sister. M'kay?
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening
There once was a horse-riding chap Who took a trip in a cold snap He stopped in the snow But he soon had to go: He was miles away from a nap.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
There was an old father of Dylan Who was seriously, mortally illin’ “I want,” Dylan said “You to bitch till you’re dead. “I’ll be pissed if you kick it while chillin’.”
I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud
There once was a poet named Will Who tramped his way over a hill And was speechless for hours Over some stupid flowers This was years before TV, but still.
You’ll never, ever, ever regret going to the last game of their high school career.
You’ll never regret patting them on the back, looking them in the eye, and saying “I’m proud of you.”
You’ll never regret smiley faces on graded papers you return.
You’ll never regret speaking encouragement about who they are and who they could be.
Teaching is really hard and it is often full of “I coulds”. I could have reviewed that better, left more space to cover that, done more, etc. I find my heart so full of big ideas that my exhaustion demands I say no to, ideas like decorating my classroom differently for each unit or putting up the audio from each class online.
BUT at the end of the day what often gets cut is not the grand ideas like cutting my grading turnaround or creating technology guides for other teachers. The things above are the things that get cut. I forget to speak life, to stop and SEE, to love well.
So this Thanksgiving break I’m pushing reset. I’m stopping to think of all the wonderful things I love about these students and I’m committing to finishing out this year with honesty, encouragement, and a whole lotta love. After all, dear fellow teachers, we only get them for a short amount of time. Now is now. Let’s do life without regrets.
