A Positive Outlook for a Satisfied Saturday
So Satisfied Saturdays are back (or at least that’s the plan:). Yesterday I was reminded of the importance of being satisfied with where we are and with who we are.
At the last minute, I decided to go to a Temple Grandin conference. Her mother, who is in her 80s also spoke. What an amazing treat to hear both of these women live!
The other speaker is someone I had not heard yet but had definitely heard a lot about! Jennifer O’Toole, with Asperkids, spoke twice. Check out http://asperkids.com -an amazing place for encouragement and resources! In her first talk she encouraged us to find the positive in each person-thus her phrase “relentless positivity.”
As I thought about teaching, I realized that many times, we (or at least I) get sucked into the negatives…I think we truly care about kids and want what’s best for them, but it’s so easy to see all the needs and not to focus on the positives. Yes, we want kids to make progress so we have to know their needs, but what if we made a point to focus on their strengths and what they do well and then use those strengths to help them grow where they have needs. Isn’t that what we want people to do with us?
I also had the unexpected joy of spending time with some good friends throughout the conference. We started talking about the term “relentless positivity.” I think it might be my new mantra:). Am I being relentlessly positive? Am I looking for ways to be encouraging with those around me? (not just my students, but my neighbors, my family, my friends, the cashier at the grocery store, etc) Are my eyes open to see the good? Am I enthusiastically searching for strengths? Am I determined to find the beautiful things in those around me? Am I uncompromising when I share positives with others or do I get caught up in the gossip or in the negativity? Am I unstoppable when I start looking for the constructive instead of the destructive things in life? Am I unrelenting when I look to affirm others instead of tearing them down?
Do you remember my last post-how I tend to stress when August is upon us? Well, yesterday was just what I needed. I walked away from the conference encouraged and excited about starting the school year again:). I was once again reminded why I do this job. Thanks to Jennifer, Temple and Eustacia for encouraging us to think positively!