Give Thanks

During this time of year we are bombarded with society telling us to, "be thankful" or "give thanks." That is all fine and good, but why are we only giving thanks to the positive things in our lives? To be honest, a lot of our negative experiences provided us with our happiness, so shouldn't we be more thankful for those people/situations? 

Example: Work/Career

I am thankful that my old school district that didn't hire me, because I am in a job that I absolutely LOVE! If they would have offered me the position, I wouldn't be able to make the difference that I am today. I thank them for showing me that being comfortable, isn't growing, and without growing you become stagnant. 

Example: Love/Relationships

If all of our ex-relationships worked out, where would you be today? I am not even going to answer that one! lol. However, I am overly thankful for each man that showed me exactly what I didn't want in a partner. I am able to reflect back on each of my relationships that didn't work out and give thanks to each man that loved me so much to show me what I didn't deserve in my blessed life. They are the people that made me more determined, stronger, and braver than others that influenced me, so I thank you! 

Example: Life

If we view each person that we come in contact with as someone who serves a purpose it will change your life. The rude cashier at the check-out, maybe ask how their day is going and that you appreciate the job that they are doing. That person is trying to show you something. Maybe what it feels like when we are rude to others? 

I put people we meet into two categories:

1. A mirror

2. A lesson

The mirror:

People we meet that we bitch and moan about are typically trying to show you something about yourself that you are not satisfied with. Think about it for a moment. Reflect on the people that you dislike the most. What is it that you dislike? I would bet that if you dig deep, you will realize that these people are showing you something about yourself that you are unhappy with. Embrace these people, love them, and then give them thanks! 

The lesson:

I love these people that cross my path in this journey. These are the people that love you so much that they are going to put you through hell and back until you learn a lesson. Most of time it is the people that hurt us the most that love us the most and won't stop loving us until we learn the lesson that they were supposed to teach us while on Earth. The lessons may vary, from a horrible boss or to the lying, cheating ex-husband. They are all serving a purpose and teaching us valuable lessons, so thank them.

Long story short...Be thankful for every day and every person you meet. Look at them through new eyes. Focus on giving them thanks in the darkest hour.  Life doesn't always have to be perfect and positive. Some of the most beautiful disasters come from our most negative experiences. 

Hope you all have a kick ass day! Keep being awesome!

xoxo, Leigh

Are We Really Preparing Our Students for the "Real World"

In education we hear the term, "real-world" all of the time. It is embedded into our curriculum, our daily verbiage and in every classroom you walk by you hear the famous statement, "because you will need it in the real-world, that's why you need to learn it." We as educators are supposed to be preparing our students for this world we speak of in everything that we teach within our classrooms, school systems, and education in general, but are we really doing just that? I don't know about you, but I am dreading to find out what this "real-world" really looks like, because it sounds like it sucks!

In the "real-world" if you fill out a form incorrectly is it not accepted? In my experience what typically what happens is, your supervisor meets with you, explains what is incorrect, helps you fix your mistakes and then allows you to resubmit it. So, why when students turn in something that has mistakes, do we not re-teach what they did incorrectly? We simply, mark it wrong, or worse, we give them give them a zero, allowing no opportunity for growth or improvement? That doesn't really sound like the "real-world" to me?

Example: If a teacher is supposed to turn in a field trip request form 10 days in advance and accidentally turns it in late, should I not approve it, restricting them and their students from taking a trip? "It was late and I don't accept late work!" Wouldn't we do that to a student? So why is it okay for us to bend the rules for adults? Oh yeah, it's the real world, how could I forget?

When you are in your career or dream job, do you sit in silence in the staff break room with your colleagues during lunch? The answer is no. Yet, we expect our students to sit quietly everyday in the lunch room. How is this teaching them "real-world" experiences?

In my career, I am most successful when I ask for advice or guidance from my co-workers. We take time to brainstorm, collaborate, and build relationships to find the best solutions to our problems. On the contrary, our students are still sitting in rows of desks, within their own minds, and not working with their team members next to them to discover the next great invention!

During staff meetings (I am guilty of this one) we talk over or during the meeting when our superior has the floor, yet if a student did the same within a classroom they would be sent to the office for being disrespectful and rude! A teacher would NEVER tolerate this type of behavior during his/her lecture, but again, it is okay for us to do as adults?

I guess, I am just confused about the "real-world" that WE all live in? I guess we need to practice what you preach or start living up to the standard that we set for our students to follow. I mean, if we are are asking an 8 year old to do it something, I think we should do the same?...right?

Also, we must realize that the "real-world" looks different at 33 than it does at 16.

Hopefully this might peek some interest or give you some thought provoking material for this evening. Whatever it it does, please understand that everything I do or write is for the good of kids. They are our future and the best investment in the world.

Keep being awesome,

Ms. Leigh Ragsdale