I don’t know about you, but the stress and anxiety I have experienced since March have been monumental.  Too often we can be hardest on ourselves.  

This week I was listening to the podcast, Let’s Talk Soon, and Tricia Williford Lott said, “You can either look healthy or be healthy.”  She continued by explaining you can work hard to look or appear healthy when you actually are covering up a lot of mess in your life.  On the flip side, you can be healthy, which requires vulnerability and acknowledgment that others can see you aren’t perfect and that you are working to improve.  

This message resonated with me as we all have been thrust into a new world that exposes our fears and anxieties.  Let’s take a moment to acknowledge we are trying our best and that is okay to not be perfect all of the time.  Each day we show up to school, regardless of our role and in spite of our imperfections, we are striving to meet the needs of our students and colleagues.  I would welcome you to take it easy on yourself and just breathe.  We are in this together!       

“I love me” (Clean Version)

Lott, T.W. & Lott, R.A. (2020, May 15). The One About Rocks [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-the-one-about-rocks/id1509091203

Today marks the 19th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks on America.  It is a day of reflection and mourning for one of our darkest days in modern history.  On September 12th we awoke as a country that was more unified than ever, where you could see American flags flying almost everywhere as a sign of our patriotism.  

As our country continues to face the COVID pandemic, I worry we have forgotten how we are stronger together than apart.  

Public schools serve as the bedrock of this country and are a symbol of prosperity and unity for our youth.  This week for the first time in six months, we saw yellow buses rumble down the road, heard hallways full of chatter, and this morning saw kindergartners walk into school for the first time.  

As we finish up our first week of in-person schooling, I want to thank you for being a part of something extraordinarily special for our community and ultimately our country.  You have faced fears and worry with grace and we have persevered for our students and families.  Thank you for your dedication, it does not go unnoticed.    

I have been searching during this pandemic for the words to share with the Class of 2020. A class who has arguably been through more than any in recent history.  I was looking for ways to look at this time perhaps through a different lens.    

In my search, I stumbled onto a story that Eckert Tolle (2005), the famous spiritual teacher, told in his book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Below is a slight modification from the original text:

The story was about an ancient king in some Middle Eastern land who was constantly torn between happiness and despondency.  The slightest thing would provoke an intense reaction and his happiness would quickly dissolve into despair.

The king eventually became tired of himself and his life and sought out help from a wise man who lived in his kingdom who was reputed to be enlightened.  He said to the wise man, I want to be like you. Can you give me something that will bring balance, serenity, and wisdom into my life?  I will pay any price you ask.”

The wise man said, “I may be able to help you. But the price is so great that your entire kingdom would not be sufficient to pay for it. Therefore it will be a gift to you if you honor it.” The king gave his assurances and the wise man left.

A few weeks later, he returned and handed the king an ornate box carved in jade. The king opened the box and found a simple gold ring inside. Some letters were inscribed on the ring. The inscription read. This too will pass. “What is the meaning of this?” asked the king. The wise man said, “Wear this ring always. Whatever happens, before you call it good or bad, touch this ring and read the inscription. That way you will always be at peace.”   

Tolle goes on to explain the words on the ring are not telling you that you should not enjoy the good in your life, nor are they meant to provide comfort in times of suffering.  Rather, they have a deeper purpose to make you aware of the fleetingness of every situation.  The saying allows one to create space or stillness around a situation in other words peace.     

Class of 2020, there are countless reasons to be downhearted with the things that you missed out in your senior year.  On the other side of the coin though there is plenty of good that came out of the pandemic as well.  A prime example is the precious time you were afforded. Time to slow down and be with your families. The time that would not have been available in normal times.  The time that hopefully shed the importance of the gift of being with our loved ones.

The message from the wise man in the story takes on a relevant meaning during this time in history.  It is not as important to classify life as good or as bad, as it is to acknowledge the impermanence of our lives.  A wave of inner peace in knowing that regardless of the situation, this too will pass.  The words allow us to lean into the good times and truly appreciate that and lean out of the bad times, knowing they will not last forever.  

My hope for you is to lean into the good times and graciously endure the tough times, realizing all along the journey this too will pass.  Today is a good day and unlike any graduation, we have ever done complete with a drive-in theatre, parades, and even fireworks.  Enjoy the good, class of 2020, you will always have a place in my heart!

Tolle, E. (2005). A new earth: Awakening to your life’s purpose. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Many of my education colleagues have been blogging for years, however, this is my first ever attempt at the art of blogging. I have wanted to jump into this world for a while now, but I have never made the time.

Of course, making time is easier said than done when you are pulled in countless different directions. I find time even more elusive in my role as a school superintendent, husband, and father of four. While I thrive in the chaos of daily existence, it is easy to avoid tasks that are perhaps uninteresting or nerve-wracking such as, putting your thoughts and writings into the ether for everyone to read.

I found myself wondering “If not now, when?” One of the unexpected silver linings of the Coronavirus is the world has been almost been put on pause. The normal buzz of everyday existence has seemingly quieted. The picture above is my family on our trip to California in February. I was attending the National Conference on Education presented by AASA in San Diego and afterward my family traveled to Disneyland in Anaheim. It is incomprehensible to me that one month later the world would be changed forever.

The challenges we are facing as leaders and families are monumental and now seems like a time to capitalize on the newfound stillness to reflect on leadership and life. After all, “If not now, when?”

“If Not Now, When?” – Hillel the Elder

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