You Are Worth the Wait (2-minute read)

Let me set the scene: You are walking along and entering a building on a sunny morning. As you turn your body to maneuver your bags through the narrow doorway, you notice someone walking up behind you. They are strides away, but clearly, they are headed for the same doorway. What is your inner dialogue? Should you pause in order to hold the door for them? Should you move along? Are there factors that help determine your next move?

Others are around or it's only the two of you...

You are in a rush, or you have plenty of time...

You've had a rough or smooth morning...

They are a few steps away or several...

Many factors can contribute to our consideration of whether or not we pause to hold the door for someone. But do any of those factors really matter? 

Each morning as I approach the doorway, I watch in the glass reflection to see if there is anyone coming up behind me, and if they are, I wait. On the flip side, if I see someone walking ahead of me to enter the building, I make silent predictions on whether or not I am worth their wait...and then I avert my gaze to the ground to see if I hear the distinctive sound of the closing door. 

That sound...the sound of...the sound of...what?

"I didn't see you..."

"I saw you, but I didn't want to wait..."

"I saw you and it didn't even cross my mind to wait..."

"I saw you and I deliberately moved on with my day regardless..."

The sound is a sad sound. Who would it need to be for those folks to wait and hold the door? Their favorite athlete, actor or actress? The principal or superintendent? Someone who looks desperate? Someone they want to ask a favor of or with whom they want to share the latest tea?

A mindset worth considering: If I see you in the lot behind me, I will wait for you. Doesn't matter how long. YOU are worth the wait!  YOU are the person with whom the universe thought I should share this part of my day, and I will wait for YOU!

I'd love for you to share your thoughts, feelings or comments! You can comment here on the blog, online, or email me at: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

"Peace comes to a heart that makes space for it...

 ...it doesn't matter what shares that space. I am happy and at peace." (Past Journal Entry)

Wow!  Those were my words in a journal entry years ago. I like to go back and visit with my younger self...we sit, we talk, (though it is a one-sided conversation), her counseling me, telling me all about how she was feeling and what she was enjoying or enduring at that time.

Some might consider my journaling to be ridiculously abundant, oddly compulsive or overly emotive. I find it to be cathartic and comforting. 

At any time, I can have up to 5 journals in progress: 

my "Five Year Journal" that chronicles the lives of my children and me,

my "Wisdom and Reflection Journal" that contemplates life and offers insight

my "Daily Journal" that I will never share with you because I protect that one as a safe place to be brutally honest and open  

my "Reading Journal" where I agree and argue with authors, and

my "Peace and Prayer Journal" where I emanate gratitude for all I am blessed to enjoy in this life.

I find it to be interesting to read my journals at a later date, knowing that the feelings and events they hold and remember for me were fully lived, survived and successfully managed. I've decided it might be interesting to share some of my older journal entries with you so that you too might sit with younger me and gain insight and comfort reading her words. In many ways, Current Me believes that I've lost some of my wisdom in the tedium of life, so I look for it in the pages of Younger Me's journal. I suppose in my future, today's Current Me might have something to offer, but that is often difficult to believe in real-time.

With that in mind, welcome to this unedited "Wisdom and Reflection Journal" entry:

"It's a lines kind of day. Sometimes I don't know what I want to write. I marvel at the fact that in about ten minutes, something will have appeared on the page that 15 minutes prior I had no idea was even needing to be expressed.

"In so many ways, these are some really happy and peaceful times. And in many ways, they are not. I'd like to focus on how they are, but I keep getting interrupted with comments and questions-haha! But isn't that the key? Accepting all those distractions, interruptions, annoyances, setbacks, intrusions, as part of life and being in a place of peace anyway. I mean, anyone can feel peace laying alone on a clean blanket on an empty beach with no one and nothing to take your attention. But where's the glory in that? Where's the sense of accomplishment or victory? There is none. That peaceful moment was handed to you on a platter. Being at peace in the midst of real life? Now there's a challenge I can wrap my competitive edge around! That's the victory of preparing a full dinner for my family and their various boyfriends and guests while decompressing from school, driving kids here and there, feeding dogs and planning for tomorrow's school day. If I can pause in the middle of that and think, "My heart is happy and at peace." That is a true accomplishment.

"Peace comes to a heart that makes space for it. Doesn't matter what shares that space. I am happy and at Peace." 

I hope you enjoyed that glimpse into my journal and maybe gained inspiration that you can take with you as you move into the days ahead. To be honest, part of Current Me wants to strangle Younger Me and explain to her that when she gets older, her stress will take new forms such as a series of onslaughts on her physical health...haha!  But still, Younger Me had wisdom, and I could use some of the optimism she has to offer. I will be digging up some more entries if this seems to help people who come here to read, relax and find connection. Peace!

I'd love for you to share your thoughts, feelings or comments! You can write here, online, or email me at: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

The Show Must Go On...We Must Let Go & Move On

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending my school's musical. I approach any event cognizant of all of the work that goes into making it happen. So often, we take for granted the product that is put in front of us without realizing, understanding, or appreciating all of the effort that went into producing it. Taking a group of middle school students and creating a production that everyone, not just the families of the participating students, would be lucky to enjoy is no small feat. I will not pretend to understand how the directors in a middle school production get from point A to point B. However, I do think we can assume they do not get there by holding on to things that are not working or things that are not necessary.

Prior to attending the musical, I was planting my springtime flowers and my summer vegetable garden. In doing so, I found myself pruning plants, taking off old flowers and dead leaves. Dead leaves on a plant, if left to linger, can cause the entire plant to suffer. This is so much like us! We carry things around physically, mentally and emotionally, even though they no longer serve us, only to watch the things that we care about wither away due to our lack of ability to tend to their needs.

And so I challenge you, just as the directors of the Middle School Musical must have done, to let go of those things that no longer serve you, your purpose, or your goals. This will look different for each one of us and it's not a one-and-done. The letting go of what no longer serves us is a lifelong endeavor and not always concrete. Perhaps it's our desire for things to stay the same. Or maybe we are holding onto grudges or anger or jealousy. Sometimes it's insufficient self-care due to the lack of ambition to take care of ourselves with healthy food, exercise or adequate sleep. The thing is, we get into patterns or habits, and we forget that we need to let go and move on. Let this post be your reminder; your catalyst. 

Now that my school's musical is over, the cast, crew and directors will take the memories and lessons with them. They will no doubt hold onto thoughts that will linger in their minds with a sense of accomplishment. They will leave behind however, the long hours of rehearsals and the tedium of memorization of lines and songs. They will move on to make room for the next goals they set for themselves and all the work and energy necessary to reach them. I challenge you to do the same for the show must go on and for that to happen, we must move on.

Want to share how you are letting go of what you no longer need? Leave a comment here, online, or email me at: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Adults Unite! You Are Not Alone!!!

With the school year entering its final stages, consider the year behind you. Think about your most challenging moments in the classroom if you're a teacher, or if you're a parent/guardian the most challenging moments with your child at home. Were there moments when you just couldn't get a handle on a situation? Episodes of feeling you weren't being heard? Respected? Effective? When they have needs that need to be met, children have an uncanny way of making us feel ineffective and inadequate. It's just part of their charm. But this post is not about children. 

Well, actually it's all about them by being about you and me, the adults in the life of children.

What I'm attempting to describe is the frustration we can feel as teachers or parents and guardians when we are functioning as a single adult in the life of a child. We have created a culture where everyone believes they have to function alone. We have in essence, divorced home from school, and school from home, and forgotten that children need us to work together.

I hear your thoughts as you're reading this:

"If I invite parents/guardians to help, they will walk all over me."

"They're the problem! Why would I try to work with them?"

"They're the professionals. They should be able to help my kid. That's what they get paid to do."

But I believe if we listen closer, we will hear a different story. One that is clothed in fears and insecurities:

"I'm afraid to call that parent/guardian. I've heard how they can be." (Give it a try! Maybe you can be the first one to help them feel that they are part of the team.)

"I'm not going to pick up the phone when I see the school calling. I never understand what they mean, and I always feel attacked. I'm not able to talk with them and feel confident that they will listen to what I'm saying." (Sure, they may be the educator, but you are the expert on your child and they need your input.)

"That parent/guardian is difficult. They believe their child does no wrong and will just blame me." (Try to call them seeking a solution, not to determine blame. Maybe you can be the one to build the relationship that will help their child succeed in school and beyond.)

"I'm working three jobs just to support my children and me. I cannot take calls during the day. The school will have to deal with it themselves." (Try to think of other ways to communicate with the school about your child. In this age of technology, we have e-mail, texting, or even the old-time paper and pen. Let's find a way that we can work together.)

There are a plethora of reasons home and school don't take the time to create the relationship necessary for student success. None of them are valid!  I know this sounds harsh, but it is irresponsible to deprive students of this imperative relationship. It doesn't have to be so difficult, scary, or perhaps the worst... indifferent. Students, all students, need to know the adults in their life are united to provide the support they need to succeed inside and outside of school. And you, the teachers and parents/guardians, need to know you are not alone! Your mutual respect, communication and support is available to you whenever you make the choice to build the connection for the benefit of the children who matter in your life. 

What tips can you share for making the most of the school to home connection? Please leave a comment here or where you found this post.

Want help navigating the school/home relationship? Leave a comment here or email me at: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! School2HomeConnections@outlook.com

Have I Told You Lately About Your Purpose?

Our school building is currently under restorative construction and so each morning when I arrive, I cross paths with various construction workers in the parking lot. We exchange morning pleasantries then enter the building at our respective entrances. Two occupations with differing purposes entering
the same building. A day of work ahead, both with the intention of creating, building on past successes, and making progress toward our goals. Assuming we each do our job well we will leave the same building at the end of the day having made a difference. We will have affected change and growth and made advances in our respective endeavors. The changes will be subtle, so much so that we will not even think about them, but if we hadn't shown up, the loss would be felt.

About twenty minutes after our arrival, the front doors open and about 600 middle school students enter the same building. They have yet another set of goals. Or do they? If you were to ask your students what their goal is when they enter the school building, what do you think they would say? I realize this answer will differ depending on the age of your students. As a middle school teacher, and the mother of a high school student, this question holds a lot of weight. 

Why does it matter? Let's think about it. Construction workers have their blueprints. They have very specific instructions to follow that will undoubtedly lead them closer and closer to achieving their final goal. Teachers follow lesson plans based on the scope and sequence of their curriculum to guide their instruction day after day, inform their classroom management and instill work habits to help their students grow. Though we may often feel as though we are constantly changing our direction to meet student needs, we really do have an end goal that we are aiming to achieve; work alongside parents to guide children in becoming decent human beings.

But what about our students' purpose? If our students don't know why they are showing up to school, if they don't have a purpose beyond compulsory education, can any of the rest of us entering that building really achieve our goals? Sure, the building will be restored, repaired, and improved. Certainly, lesson plans will be followed, curriculum spoken, and skills modeled. But how much does any of that matter if students don't know what it is they are trying to achieve beyond staying awake until the conclusion of the school day?

As is my way as I'm sharing my thoughts I often pause and go back to read what I have written, and wow those words seem dire. But there is hope and it is in your voice! Since you're here it's probably because you have kids in your life that are important to you. If you're a parent, you want what's best for your children, and you want them to grow into amazing adults. Have you told them that lately? Have you helped them chart the course to their future selves? If you're a teacher, you probably became a teacher because you thought that education was important, and you wanted to help affect the future of our world by teaching children. When is the last time you said as much to your students? 

Throughout this portion of this post I have been humming the song "Have I told you lately that I love you?" With the inundation of information and voices that our children have to endure, it is going to become more and more important for us to make sure our voices are heard by them loud and clear and often. They may be too young or too immature to understand the importance of school, but if we keep telling them that we believe it's important, that we believe their effort matters, and that we believe through hard work in school they can become an amazing human being, they will begin to believe it and find purpose in their school day. 

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! maccaronicrew@outlook.com

Living in Constant Awe

The entertainment industry is littered with movies, books and vignettes of folks having a brush with death that wakes them up to the reality of life. But do we really need such a drastic event in order to live each day as though it is an amazing gift?

I have always been blessed with a penchant for finding awe. There's not much that is more mundane than a plain green leaf, yet as a kid I would look at a leaf through the car window and marvel at the fact that in the entire world, I was the only person seeing this leaf in this moment right now. Or I would look out toward the horizon and imagine all the happenings in the world right at this moment...someone is enduring the pain of lost life, someone is welcoming a new baby, someone is eating an apple, the war I saw on the news is actually happening, my dog is likely asleep, my pen is right where I left it on my nightstand, that list goes on and on. I've got a good one for you...at this moment right now as you read these words, someone else is reading the exact same post, maybe even the exact same word! They may live nearby or across the world. And maybe, just maybe, someone is thinking just like you and wondering what the point is of all this gibberish, or even more amazing, thinking OF you and knowing you would relate to these words just like you do. 

I could go on and on with my imaginings, and if I'm being honest, I still harbor these types of thoughts on a daily basis. After all, I’m the only one in this whole world, past or present, who saw the inside of the orange that I ate this morning. That's crazy! These are the awe-inspiring thoughts that run through my mind. A friend of mine once told me to stay out of my mind because it's a dangerous place.  Haha! So I don't question my awe...I just enjoy it. It brings me back to the present moment and I am reminded of the blessings that permeate my life:

My children and family...Their friends and the parents of their friends, who become my friends, first by association, then by shared experiences...The students I love, the parents who lend them to me...The co-workers who bring love and humor to ensure our students find success in school...Potato chips...Beautiful words...Running...So many amazing, wonderful pieces that make up my life! I am grateful for it all and I am blessed!

I want to always be filled with awe.  I want to live every moment of every day in a way that makes a difference in our world. I know I have the power to do this. I can change lives, beginning with my own, just by seeing beauty, and even excitement, when it's not immediately apparent. I can take this moment to create a smile, create hope, create connections, create love, or create nothing. What incredible power and responsibility! We are so lucky to have this life, and when we fill each moment with the proper sense of awe, we will become the force necessary to change the lives of others and live our own life to the fullest.

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! maccaronicrew@outlook.com

Take Me to Your People: finding those who lift you up

Finding your tribe, the people who breathe life into you day after day, is not an easy task. No one teaches us how to find these people, but they are so very important to our well-being, to our happiness, to our very ability to say "Yes!" to the life we have built, even on the days it attempts to tear us down. At this point in my life, I have watched my five children work their way through the K-12 years. I have comforted them when friends moved away. I have wiped tears when "friends" were unkind and needed to shift into a different lane. I have attempted to be level-headed as, more often than I would have thought possible through my rose-colored glasses, we embarked on the conversation that begins with, "X is so mean!". Repeatedly I have asked myself, "When did this get so hard?"

I remember childhood days in my neighborhood. If the sun was out, so were the kids. We didn't have to look for the neighborhood kids who lifted us up. We all lifted each other. Sure, there were the few kids who when they turned the corner the rest of us would heave a sigh of...a sigh of what?...Maybe, "This isn't what I would have asked for, this changes things, but we can make it work."  And we did. We invited others in. We switched the game. We repeated the rules. We came out with snacks for everyone...even the kid who might be a little bit edgy or mean spirited. Most of the time we had fun. Sometimes kids had to be reminded to not be a "dweeb". haha!  But even that was done in a way that endeavored to include. We wanted to lift. We wanted to live. We wanted to just have fun.

Where did that go? Why did that go? And how do we navigate this new social landscape? As a mom and as a middle school teacher, I try to help the younger people in my life know their people and kindly dismiss those who threaten their well-being. But as adults it is just as imperative that we find others who will lift us up and share the higher ground. Hopefully we find that in the people who share our dwelling, but we also need it in the workplace. Have you found your people? Do you have someone or a few someones, to whom you can go when you need a smile, or a mental hug, or a mental shot of something strong enough to get you through the day? And how do you find them? For me, it is in the shared joys of the day. It is in the shared 'what the ...?' of the day. And it is in the shared understanding that we are in this together and we believe in the good of each other even on the days when life's circumstances bring out our worst. These are my people, and as we near the end of Spring Break, I find that I am not completely disappointed that my break from work is coming to an end because next week I get to reunite with my people and enjoy again all the joy, laughs and energy they bring to my life!

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! maccaronicrew@outlook.com

Words Matter: Affirming Students Beyond, "You Are Enough."

My kids used to talk about the "Love Languages" and try to determine with which one a person leads. "Words of Affirmation", Love Language #1, always brought my thoughts to the classroom and the way words can work magic with children, who by their developmental nature hunger for affirmation. 

If you scroll through social media, you will encounter various general affirmations intended to help people feel good about themselves. "You're Doing Great!", "You Are Enough!", "You've survived 100% of your difficult days." etc...Do these blanket affirmations work for you? Or do you need something more intimate? A co-worker telling you that your time and effort made completion of a project possible. Your spouse thanking you for all the work you do to keep the family running smoothly. Your parent finally acknowledges that you are a successful adult. Specific affirming words from those we love carry more meaning and let us feel seen, appreciated and valuable. 

Let's take a look at affirmations in the classroom and our goals when delivering them. What do children need from the adults in their lives in the way of verbal affirmations? Is our goal with students and children to simply let them know, "You are Enough"?  While this statement affirms someone in the moment to know they are accepted, I would posit that our intention as parents and teachers must be so much more! Yes, students need to know they are loved and fully accepted for the human being that stands before us; that they are fully loved for all that they bring to the table and completely accepted. They belong and they matter. 

But there it is, that final word, "Matter". That word needs to drive our intentionality of language. Because if you "matter", then you'd better be open to personal growth and improvement. Therefore, my mere approval of you doesn't matter. You need so much more! You need to know that your growth, your ability to own your effort, and your desire to make constant improvements, is imperative. You need to be able to listen to the feedback and use it to affect improvements, not because you are not enough, but because you believe you can be so much more! You matter! Your growth and improvement matter. Your confidence in yourself matters. Your growth toward your true potential is not dependent on the words or ideas of anyone else but YOU!

How do we guide students to this level of self-awareness, self-efficacy and growth? By choosing our words carefully. By crafting our verbiage to support students while challenging them to fully know themselves and take personal ownership of their outcomes and the achievement of their goals. 

--- Sometimes this means we must talk less: "I like how you're sitting and setting an example for the class," becomes: "You're sitting ready to learn."

--- Sometimes this means we must talk more: "I'm proud of you for finishing your work." becomes: "You worked hard to finish that. That last one was challenging. How does that feel?"

--- But always, it's about taking ourselves out of the verbiage so that the words speak solely of and to the child: "You read the directions carefully and reached the goal you set.", "You are showing self-control and demonstrating focus.", "You learned from your mistake and made changes that lead to the results you wanted."

As I write this, I find it ironic that I spent so much time in my personal relationships with a partner or my children, learning to make "I" statements instead of "You" statements. But doesn't it really make sense after all? I was learning to own my feelings, my actions, and not to lead with blame or finger-pointing. But here we are...we want to point the finger at our students to help them own their learning and growth! We want them to feel empowered to drive their own personal growth and learning; to do all of this regardless of who is around to praise them, notice them, or elevate them. 

"You Are Enough"

Oh yes, you are...but there is so much more you will achieve if you just believe in your potential, set goals for yourself, and never stop growing. You will work to get this right! Your words matter and shape the future of children!

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! maccaronicrew@outlook.com

Keynote Speech: Including the (Never-Before-Heard) Forgotten Parts

I was honored to be among three staff members asked to speak at my district convocation on September 2nd. When we first met to discuss what we would like to say, we realized our thoughts all centered around the idea of being invited. We created a slideshow to depict the Appetizer (1st amazing speaker), the Entree (Amazing Speaker #2), and the Dessert (Yours truly). Because I am ridiculous, I decided that memorizing my thoughts was the best and most entertaining way for me to go. I practiced at home in front of my dogs. I practiced in my car on my way to anywhere. I practiced on my walks, my runs and my workouts. I practiced all summer! I practiced at nauseum, as the saying goes, until there was NO WAY I would forget any parts.  Until...until my mouth got so dry from nerves that I began to focus on whether or not that was affecting my speech. Haha!  I dutifully forgot the next line...the one that led to the one after that. It's OK. I laughed it off. Luckily, I was almost finished anyway. BUT in the end, I felt I missed an important piece, one that tied in beautifully with our Superintendent's message. So here I am, to reveal the entire lovenote to educators and share the words that were missed or altered. I hope you enjoy, and I hope these words energize you in ways that will lift you on days that are difficult.

You are invited!  How will you RSVP? This is not a yes or no answer. We've already said, "YES!", (that's why we are all here right now), and today we embark on a ten-month journey together and yet, each of us will have a unique school year. The key to your unique experience is YOU. 

YOU decide.

YOU choose how you will RSVP.

YOU create the year that will become the history YOU will look back on in June of 2026.

And so I ask you again to consider, "How do you plan to respond to the invitation that is offered to you?" You know me, and as a writer, I HAD to write my answer to that question, so I wrote it as a note to you that I'd like to share now in case some of what I plan for my journey might help you on yours.

(Begin RSVP): 

I joyfully accept the invitation to the Lawrence Township Public Schools 2025-2026 school year.

I arrive at this moment knowing there is no one way to be a great educator (just look around this room!) and that I am not expected to be perfect (oh the irony here in my mess up only a few moments later...haha!) but that by creating certain habits I can be at my best for those I serve. So throughout this year, I will create and practice two main habits: filling my heart with gratitude and keeping peace in my mind.

First, gratitude. I believe gratitude finds its home in the heart that is open to the present moment. At this moment right now, as I look around this room, I am grateful for you!

This room is full of the most amazing people created on this planet!  I've seen your greatness and felt gratitude for you through many different lenses. Here are a few:

As a community member, there are people in this room who live with me in Lawrence. sharing the same trash pick-up days and barking neighborhood dogs. We live among our students, at the daily risk of seeing them out and about, and that connects us. Thank you for living here!

I see you through my parenting lens, having sent you 5 LTPS students. We've been together a long time!  It's been twenty-one years since my son Max began his Integrated Pre-School experience and some of his teachers might be here today. From 2004 to now, as my youngest, Bernie, prepares to grace the LHS hallways as a junior, many more of you have walked alongside me, helping me raise my five children. For 21 years, your names have been spoken at the Maccaroni dinner table! I am grateful for all the guidance you have given my children and me!

As a fellow staff member, I've seen you work your magic. Some LIS colleagues from my first LTPS teaching position in 1999 are here today. Others are here who worked alongside me as I stayed home to parent yet remained connected as a district-wide substitute teacher and home instructor. Each year I witness our LHS staff as they welcome middle schoolers through their doors and in four years crank out amazing young adults. And my summers are typically spent working with and admiring our K-6 staff as they adeptly work with our youngest students at summer programs. And since 2015, I have been privileged to work with Mindy and the LMS staff, who year-after-year prove that Middle school educators are a breed that stands apart for all the right reasons that make them able to embrace, empower, educate, and love early adolescent children.

Of course, there are those of you who are new to LTPS, and many others that I don't know personally, yet. But I still know you are amazing because I know that our administration: our principals, supervisors, superintendents, and Board of Ed. are on point, and hire only those educators that exude passion and will continue to make LTPS a place where students thrive and succeed.

And so, as a community member, parent, and colleague, I've seen YOU and what you bring to LTPS! This room is full of expertise!  I plan to practice gratitude all year as I am surrounded by your brilliance. I know I can look to you when I need guidance, support, and reminders that I am not alone in this work. When I smile at you as I pass you in the parking lot, my neighborhood, or in the hallway, know that I am silently mesmerized by your presence. YOU ARE AMAZING! And I am privileged to be here with you, sharing this school year. For YOU and the work that you do, I am grateful. 

Let's talk about the work you do as we discuss the second habit of cultivating peace in our minds. Not that your work is peaceful! But that by cultivating peacefulness, we will be able to embrace our work and remain grounded. 

Our work is some of the most difficult work people can do. No matter your role as we enter this new school year, your...job...is...hard! We are responsible for what happens from beginning to end. If we fail to show up, it's like the pilot not showing up for a plane full of passengers, but that plane still takes off. We are necessary...we are imperative...all the time...and that is stressful to live, every...single...day...

Add to that the fact that we are at the mercy of several personalities all mixed together. Children and their families come with their histories and preferences. They don't get to pick us, we don't pick them, and they don't pick each other, yet all are expected to show up and be well-mannered, productive citizens of our schools. (***THIS IS WHERE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT LEFT THE TRACK***) Because of this, though we plan and schedule and plan some more, we can never plan for all the possibilities of things that might happen at any moment of our day.

These are only a few examples of what makes our work challenging in ways those outside of education will never be able to understand. NO ONE can endure this level of stress and still be at their best without deliberately creating inner peace. Inner peace is a habit. Habits take daily training. We must be deliberate about practicing peace in the peaceful moments, so we can find our peace in the chaos. We are going to practice right now with the last few moments I have with you.

I want you to let go, for just a few moments, of anything that is bothering your mind:

• that argument you had last night
• your ailing parent or anxious child
• the traffic you faced this morning
• your college child living hours away/your 5-year-old starting Kindergarten/your baby at day care
• the worry you have that you might not be able to get ready for the arrival of children on Thursday
• the sadness at the end of summer break and even the excitement at the start of a new school year

Push out every thought (don't worry, they'll come back when we are done), and let's spend the next few moments together in nothingness...peace. We will share the Gift of 20...that's it...just 20 seconds of mental nothingness to rejuvenate our inner peace. In that 20 seconds, we will take two long breaths. We will count in for 5, out for 5, in for 5, out for 5. Are you ready? Here we go...(Gift of 20) (Reader, you can take yours now!)

Thank YOU for spending your time with me this morning.

Thank YOU for accepting the invitation to this school year with me and all of us!

Thank YOU for being my amazing colleagues and mentors.

Thank YOU for realizing that every single interaction you have this year, with students, with colleagues, with families, matters.

Being present to those in front of you is love's loudest voice and the heart of our profession.

Being grateful and at peace in our hearts helps us to be our best selves in order to be present to others and accept where they are, struggles and all, to build them up and champion their growth.

It is a HUGE undertaking, responsibility, and privilege. YES! And here it is!

The invitation to create the school year you desire. 

How will YOU RSVP?

I hope you enjoyed reading that. I hope if you are an LTPS staff who was present at the convocation, you know how much you are appreciated and supported! We are here together and need to lean on one another, as well as support one another through positive interactions, relationships, and the use of our words for GOOD (our first speaker's message). We need to step outside of our comfort zone and allow ourselves to be a little uncomfortable in order to truly embrace all that life has to offer (our second speaker's message). And we can cultivate gratitude and peace in our hearts in order to be the best version of ourselves to serve those put in front of us.

YOU are imperative! YOU are invited! YOU WILL BE AWESOME! Create a great year!

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Wish I could come speak to your staff and colleagues? Give me the topic, I'll make it come alive! Contact me! maccaronicrew@outlook.com

Drive Like Your Kids Play Here: Teach Like Your Kids Learn Here

"Drive Like Your Kids Play Here" This powerful reminder has been living in my mind since my previous post where we discussed using the summer months for self-reflection and improvement. I wrote that post to suggest that the summer months are a perfect time to form strong habits that can follow you into the upcoming school year. Making the most of the quiet, non-demanding days of summer, we can focus on ourselves and ways to form positive habits for healthy living all year long.  This practice would not only help us to become better teachers, but also to just be healthier for ourselves. It seemed pretty simple and obvious to me...and so I sent it off to encourage others to consider what habits they might like to cultivate for themselves.

It might be hard for those of you reading today to believe that I received some super-snarky comments about that post, one person flat out saying, "You go ahead and use your summer that way. I'll be on the beach with a Margarita." Wow. OK. Thanks for reading...(insert happy wave and big smile). 

Let me assure everyone, I don't generally reply to comments like that, and I don't take offense. They are a great reminder that I am not solely surrounded by like-minded educators, and that I am not everyone's cup of tea. That's OK. I just let them slide on by and chuckle in my mind. That is, until one takes root and fuels the next post. To suggest that self-reflection and personal growth is a waste of one's time, well, I just can't quite wrap my mind around that from a teacher perspective. I mean, I will have my time of relaxation and enjoyment this summer. I will spend time lounging and enjoying the non-stress of summer, reading too much at times, soaking in the summer sun. And that's just fine. However, I will balance that alongside the work I will do on myself. 

So, I want to personally thank those commenters for today's post. TEACH LIKE YOUR KIDS LEARN HERE! When I look back at my own growth as a teacher, there was a distinct shift in my mindset when I had children of my own. I wanted to be the teacher I'd want my children to have: I wanted to have a striking balance of intelligence, empathy, curiosity, self-worth and confidence. Knowing my children would learn as much from observing a teacher's habits as from absorbing their lessons, character and kindness were paramount. The teachers I admire are those who are life-long learners. They model self-reflection and attempt improvement at every turn.  

And so, I am here to applaud those teachers who Teach Like Their Kids Learn Here. Thank you for being an example of all that is wonderful about teaching and learning! And my friends with the snark, I am pretty sure you are here again, thanks for continuing to be intrigued by what you might learn by being around positivity and lifelong learning. I toast you with a Margarita of my own, send you a smile, and commend that little part of you that just had to come back to see what we were talking about on here. Let's spend this summer becoming the teacher we'd want to have.

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

Here...Together...Now...Sharing & Supporting Summer Intentions

I am a pensive and contemplative person by nature, and as such I enjoy odd realizations in my mind from time to time. 

Here is today's: In all the world, in all time, people and places that have existed, you and I are here right now, together, embarking on the summer months of 2025. Think about how many people have lived on this planet! Consider that countless summers have existed, each holding their own enormities, each with their own stagnated struggles, confronted challenges and extraordinary achievements. But in all of that, here is where we, you and I, find ourselves. Together, on the precipice of these months of summer, prior to the 2025-2026 school year. What will we do with this time we have to share?

I have ideas...but first, some seemingly random backstory...

Dogs need to be trained in quiet circumstances so that they can then practice gradually increasing levels of distraction until the command is generalized to all areas. For example, dog owners do not wait until there is a threat of the dog running into traffic to introduce the "stay" command. Yelling "stay" to an untrained dog who is intent on chasing a squirrel on the other side of a four-lane highway will prove useless. My dogs, we have three, all know the "sit" command, as well as the "stay" or "wait" commands, provided: 1. we are in the house, 2. their two canine companions are outside, 3. all is quiet, and 4. I am dangling a piece of steak in their line of vision. However, have a guest walk through the door, or introduce the world of the "outside", and all bets are off. They have not yet had enough practice in a calm atmosphere to generalize successfully following the commands in other circumstances. And so, we continue to practice, practice, practice. We gradually introduce distractions so that they can build their skills over time and eventually be able to adhere to the commands regardless of the surrounding events or circumstances. 

Why am I talking about my dogs? Because, and please don't be insulted, we are not very different from dogs in the realm of training. A personal example: I work diligently to control my mind and my thoughts. I practice not allowing worry to seep into my mind unless I have invited it. I use affirmations and strong one-word reminders to bring my mind back to reality and calm. I have gotten adept at not worrying...when the stakes are low. I can actually at times convince myself that I have become an expert at controlling my thoughts and quelling my worry. And to be true and fair and self-appreciating, I have increased my ability to control when and how much I allow my mind to turn and churn on items that concern me. However when the going really gets tough, I might find myself down the tunnel of worry where I experience difficulty in putting troubling thoughts aside. My heartrate increases as my mind and thoughts spiral out of control. And as I work to reign them in, I am reminded that I have much work to do when the stakes are low, to practice for when they have been raised to higher levels.

Here we find ourselves, together at the beginning of Summer 2025. As so many before us, we look ahead with anticipation and hopefully feel blessed with the pause in our school routines. Because summer is a time of reduction in distractions and responsibilities, it is optimal time for us to work on those items in which we need to train. What challenges you throughout the school year that you can use these calmer weeks to work on? The answer will be different for each reader, and so I ask you to give it some thought. 

If you need some ideas, here are some intentions I plan to use the summer weeks to improve for myself.

Compartmentalize my worry: I eluded to this above. As my children move through their teens and into adulthood, the worries morph and shift. I find that during the school year it is difficult to put my thoughts at bay and let them rest. Knowing there is little I can do to alter anything, especially from 300+ miles away, I must be able to give brief thought-time to my concerns and worries, then let them lay low.

Daily morning physical care: As I enter this summer, I want to acknowledge and appreciate the 50+ years my body has been working with me on this earth. It needs me now, more than ever, to honor it with some physical awareness; sleeping an adequate amount, stretching for mobility, eating what it needs and taking time to align it properly for the day ahead. 

Reaching out to others through mail: I have a long list of people who mean more to me than my absence in their life would indicate. It is easy for me to dismiss writing to people when the responsibilities of school demand my attention. I hope to make a habit of writing and sending notes during these quieter months, so that I can continue to practice doing so when school arrives in the Fall.

I am honored to be here with you in this time together. Please be assured of my support of your growth toward your intentions!  Sharing your intentions here as comments, or on the platform where you found this entry, might help others find ideas for growth and support. I hope your ideas help you feel you are embracing the months ahead and appreciating them for the unique and glorious gift they are to us in Summer 2025!

Enjoy reading what I write? Copies of my book, Connections Across the Student Desk, are available on Amazon: LINK HERE  or Barnes and Noble: LINK HERE

All of a Sudden, It's Over: Give Yourself Grace

School years end abruptly. Count down or not. You can be planful and have therefore been anticipating the coming of the end since the beginning of the final marking period, or you might be spontaneous, riding by the proverbial seat of your pants, marking papers up until grades are due at noon on the last day. It doesn't matter. The fact is, one day you are still expected to be 100% on stage in school and the next day, you're not. There you are, nothing to do, no one to answer to, no emails to read, lessons to plan or parents to call. Some may find this to be a dream come true and have the ability to jump immediately into vacation mode. I admire those folks and their ability to go with the flow so easily. But for those like me, the first few days of summer break, are a bit sad, draining even, and an inescapable yearly eventuality to be endured.

Please don't misunderstand. Last week I wrote about how teachers deserve the summer months, actually even need them in order to be our best for those we intend to teach. And I meant it. I want us to have the recharging months of summer so that we can rest and find peace that is not available during the school year. But this suddenness, this immediate emptiness, is hard for my heart to handle. No matter how many times I encounter it, there seems to be no way for me to fully enjoy the ending of a school year. And so, it is time for me to give myself grace. Here is my list of "It's Ok's". I wonder what you would add.

It's OK to be sad. I just spent 180 or more days with children that I pledged to treat as my own. I loved them so that I could teach them. I spent time getting to know their parents during easy times so that we could work together during challenges. I learned about each child; what they prefer when it comes to teaching styles, and what helps them to have a good day. While weekends were a nice break, I always looked forward to Monday morning and a new chance to make them smile, help them grow, and watch them reach milestones as they displayed their status as works-in-progress. And now, it's over. I will miss them. I will miss knowing I can help them have a good day. I will miss them helping me have one as well. I am sad. And that is OK.

It's OK to feel less important. For the past ten months, Monday through Friday, I was messaged through emails, and texts, and our district school-to-home communication system about everything from "high importance "!" items to mundane drib drab. I was greeted daily by many emails making me aware of what I needed to know. Some required a rushed response in the short time before children arrived. Some needed to be filed for full attention later. All made me feel that I was part of something bigger, something important, something that needed me. A friend of mine just celebrated the decrease in the number of texts and emails received daily as one of the best parts of summer. I will agree...in a few days. But right now, the loss makes me feel less important. And that is OK.

It's OK to feel uncertain in the abyss of unstructured time. Living from bell-to-bell might irritate us as educators, but it is a way of life that does not require us to think about what we are going to do. 9:03: I'll start teaching period 2. 10:28: I can use the bathroom. 11:54: Lunch for me. and so on. It's all planned out and I need to follow the schedule, whether or not I want to, and regardless of whether or not I have other things I'd like to do. And again, while I may pine for the luxury to make a phone call during the day in the midst of the school year, this sudden allotment of unstructured time is unnerving. When I wake up these first few days of summer without the need to be at school, I wallow in nothingness, unsure of what to do first. I feel wasteful, and useless; uncertain that I will know how to best use the time. And that is OK. 

It's all OK.  This school year ended...just like the other 50 or so school years I have lived through...abruptly. I may feel sad, less important, uncertain, and any other number of ways, but it is all OK. I will give myself grace to feel it all. I will live it, be mindful of it, embrace it and work through it. Will I feel loss all summer long? Most likely, no. Possibly, if I were to continue to look back. But I know that won't last long. I will be mindful of the present moment and enjoy it. And then at some point, I will start to look forward. I will become excited for the possibilities ahead, and prepare myself to say goodbye to the nothingness, peacefulness and not-being-needed-ness of summer. Because just as abruptly as summer came, a new year will be upon us, and we will need to give ourselves grace again.

Summer Break: Don't be Ashamed to Defend Why We Need It!

Summer Break...the sound of those two words together evokes so many memories, feelings and opinions. Personally, I have never known a life where summer didn't disrupt the natural flow of the school year. As a child, summer for me was an abyss, sometimes welcome, other times frighteningly endless. Then came college when summer months allowed for fruitful employment to gain as much income as possible before the start of classes in the Fall. I fell directly into a teaching position upon my college graduation, spending my last "non-adult" summer as a travel-camp counselor and bus driver. I spent that summer heading up and down the east coast of the States before I was mature enough to let the incredible responsibility of keeping teen campers alive get in the way of my having fun. Then, in Fall of 1993 I began my first full-time teaching position, and adopted the routine of school year-summer break-school year-summer break, as a way of life for myself. 

And so, here I am, here WE are, on the precipice of another summer break, and I find myself compelled to help others who are not in teaching to understand that the word "break" is used simply to imply a disruption to the routine, and not as a synonym for "vacation" or to imply an inactive, placid, complacent time. In fact, it's quite the opposite! 

These weeks of summer are not a respite from something undesired. WE CHOOSE TEACHING! 

These weeks of summer are not a time of nothingness. WE ARE REGENERATING! 

These weeks of summer are not time off. WE ARE A BREED THAT IS ALWAYS PLANNING!

These weeks of summer are necessary after a marathon of planning, showing up, being present in the moment, being available for students and families, and being vulnerable to daily scrutiny and judgement. They are a reset, a renewal, a reflective time of mental and emotional replenishing, for students, their families, and educators.

With this in mind, I have decided to take this summer to reacquaint myself with my passions, many of which have been pushed to the side to make time for other equally important endeavors. The reason I am telling you this is because YOU, my blog-reading audience, are one of those passions I have neglected over the past few years. And so, as I at one time made it a point to do, I am publicly stating that I will write to you weekly over the summer break, highlighting and contemplating issues and challenges of the educator, the student, the parent, the guardian and the family.

Please, as you plan how you will spend your summer break, consider making it a point to check in here with me, or to set up an email delivery of my posts, so that we can renew and revive ourselves together. Happy Summer Break!!!  You not only deserve it, you need it! Peace! 

Thank You for All You Do!!!

If you know me, you know I believe that each of us on earth has a purpose that is in some way related to serving our family members, neighbors, and fellow earthy inhabitors. Sometimes when I think about it, it seems ridiculous, even to me. I mean, there are so many people!  And each one has a purpose?  But, of course, it is true. And for each time you answer your call to serve, I want to say, "Thank You!" (I hope this video will play for you.)

Today I was honored to witness a group of musicians serving others by sharing their incredible talents. The members of the Lambertville Brass Band performed a concert at a nursing home/senior center for an audience comprised mostly of the elderly and their caregivers. As the mother of a trombonist, this type of venue wasn't new, and so I sat there enjoying the moment with the audience. As the songs ticked by I began to ponder the service these musicians were performing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon when they could have been anywhere. They were here. That seemed extraordinary, even as it was the norm for this group. Then something happened that was neither overly amazing or earth-shattering, but it was transformative just the same. The band played a conglomeration of older tunes, and when the song, "Daisy, Daisy" came on, the audience, jolted into the moment by memories, began to sing along. It was beautiful!  It was touching! It was so amazing in fact, that just after the chorus ended and the band began playing the next tune in the combined piece, the conductor gave the signal to stop. The music came to a halt and he turned to the audience and clapped for them, elderly men and women, mostly in wheelchairs, all of them unaware of how much they had just served the conductor and his band. The conductor proclaimed, "That was so beautiful, I want to hear it again!" He promptly led the band in repeating that part of their music so that the audience could sing along, louder this time, feeling every note and enjoying the trip to memories of happy times. 

Who was serving whom? That beautiful moment was possible because those folks in the Lambertville Brass Band were willing to serve. This all-volunteer band, full of amazingly talented individuals, affected people today and brought joy to the hearts and souls of a room full of amazing human beings. Could they have been anywhere else? Yep. But they weren't. They were available to serve their elders and those who care for them, and in the end, I think they may have been the ones served when their music touched hearts and created a combined effort of happiness. 

We are all called to serve. The way we are called and the audience we are led to is different, not only for each of us, but also in varying ways at different stages of our lives. How are you called to serve today? What talent do you possess that you share with the world? Better yet, how can your family or your classroom full of students serve others? In Connections Across the Student Desk, I challenge the reader to find a way to share their unique gifts that fits "naturally" with their groove. I go on to point out that I used "naturally", not "comfortably" on purpose. 

When we serve others, we need to do so in a way that fits into our way of living. For example, I am the first to say that my family will never be in a position to volunteer financial service.  It is not a natural way for us to serve because we rarely have extra money to donate to others. Luckily, financial service comes naturally to others, so my family can instead donate our time and love of children, music, coaching, whatever. This doesn't mean that we are always comfortable in our service. Service can be challenging, and that is OK. It is a stretching of our comfort and a strain on what we would be doing if we weren't serving. I would bet that any one of those musicians today would have loved to have had that time in their gardens, watching a ball game, hanging out with friends, etc...but they were instead sharing their natural talents, and in turn, their joy, with those in attendance. That is a gift!  That is service! That is what we are all called to find our way to do. 

Need ideas or more encouragement? Check out Connections Across the Student Desk, available on:

 Amazon  

BarnesandNoble 

Thank you for reading!

Usain Bolt and the Lens of Ability

This quote, which hangs on the doors of our public library, came to mind in light of a recent conversation I had with a close friend. Our conversation was not about reading at all, but about being "able".  It stemmed from the linguistic understanding of disability as the opposite of ability and our shared agreement that there is a tremendous difference between having a disability vs. inability; and the difference between having an ability and being able. 

Why does it matter? I wasn't sure it did, until I started seriously pondering. That is when I realized I needed to share my thoughts with you. As per my nature, I like the lens of optimism and positivity. So, I started to think about some of my favorite people who are said to have "disabilities", and how I like to look at them from a different angle, the angle of abilities. Think about it. What if we were all seen from the lens of what we CANNOT do? 

An example: I love to run, that's no secret. But, put me up against Usain Bolt and my running "disability" will be highlighted tremendously. I can run, just not as fast as Usain. He's incredible on the track! But what if he were asked to do something that he's not great at? For this argument, let's say playing violin. If judged in that regard, his disability would be noticeable. When people are considered great at something, we don't tend to define them by what they cannot do. We define them by their ability; what they CAN do. You and I, most of us, are defined by what we CAN do. What we can't do, such as run at 27.78 miles per hour, does not usually factor in. 

Still, so often we do get stuck in what we can't do. We define others through this lens as well. What a defeating way to view our world! What would happen if we all adopted an ability mindset instead? When is the last time you took inventory of what you are able to do? What are your abilities? Go ahead, write down at least ten. I'll wait....

Now, when did you last appreciate those abilities of yours? Do you always act on them? I mean, on my list of ten abilities, I wrote that I think I can write in a way that helps others. Then I realized that I had not been on here consistently writing for others in quite some time. I have the ability, but I wasn't making the time to be able. What more am I capable of doing that I neglect to prioritize or even worse, deliberately stifle? 

A final thought: In my opening paragraph I noted that the initial discussion which led to this post centered around the fact that, "there is a tremendous difference between having an ability and being able." This brings me to the other piece that is haunting me in all of this. Consider Usain Bolt again. Someone found him and guided him to improve his ability. His story goes that he was playing soccer, and it was suggested that he consider sprinting. Watching Usain Bolt share his ability is like watching an incredible artform magically take shape. What if no one paid attention to notice the gift he had to share with the world? What if he wasn't able to be seen for any of the various reasons some of our students remain invisible? Poverty, housing insecurity, language barriers, academic struggles, etc...

How many kids are out there not being noticed for their abilities? Those abilities, if left untapped, will just disappear. Each child, each person we encounter has unique abilities. As parents and teachers let's find the abilities held by each child and student and exploit those abilities, guide them, and build them up. Let's pay special attention to those students who might hold an ability, but not the means to be able to perfect it on their own. Strive to be the means by which those you love are able to share their abilities with the world!

If you like what you read, please share my post and consider reading more of my thoughts and ideas in Connections Across the Student Desk, available on Amazon. Here is the link: Connections Across the Student Desk

For more work from amazing authors, podcasters and human beings, visit the X-Factor EDU Community.  Here is that link: X-Factor EDU

*(Quote from 1914, though often attributed to Mark Twain in 1945, the original author is not certified.)

Pam, Pennies and Purpose

I am a strong believer in the power of purpose. Feeling we have purpose brings a sense of value and belonging to everything we do. Purpose helps us to know we are where we are meant to be and opens our hearts to fully sharing ourselves with those around us. Our culture has decided that certain traits and characteristics hold value, and therefore provide purpose, while others do not. If our culture consistently got this right, this wouldn't be a problem. But instead, our culture gets pieces of this horribly wrong, and some of our children and adults suffer from a lack of feeling purposeful and valued because of that.

Think for a moment...if our culture were to put price tags on various traits, which traits would hold the heftiest tickets? I don't plan to answer this for you, but I will put a few traits on the docket to get you started, and I will suggest using price tags ranging from $10 to $1,000 to help you with your ranking. Remember, this is society's perception. It might be fun to make a separate ranking of your own perceptions of these traits as well.

☑ attitude

☑ age

☑ honesty

☑ athleticism

☑ appearance

☑ integrity

☑ monetary wealth

It would be difficult to find people that agree in their societal monetary determinations of the traits listed above. The answers and possibilities are determined by our perceptions and are as varied as the readers of this post. That's OK. Agreement is not the point. Societal value of personal characteristics is subjective and situational. (Just ask any comedian who now gets paid to do exactly what caused them to repeatedly get into trouble in grade school.) This is why it is so important that we, as the adults in the lives of children, help the children we love to find, see, understand, accept and internalize their personal purpose and value. 

As is my way, my mind goes to the ordinary and mundane to make a point. Let's take a look at cooking spray and the penny. 

Cooking Spray:  When my children were small and we would visit our friends, my children enjoyed the huge (to them at the time) hill that sloped up and away from the back of the house. That hill was used for running, rolling, and generally expending energy. One of their favorite activities on that hill was to slide down the hill in the Bilibo. The Bilibo was basically a bowl that was large enough for a child to sit in. The Bilibo was fun, sliding down the hill in the Bilibo was fun, but nothing beat when our friend would take out the aerosol can of cooking spray to coat the bottom of the vessel to bring it to warp speed! A little spritz of cooking spray and my children were flying down that hill with giggles increased exponentially. Our friend took a common everyday household staple and changed its purpose to create incredible fun. 

• 
  Item purpose is not one-dimensional. Neither is yours! In every situation your purpose will be defined and redefined by you and those around you. It feels terrible when you haven't yet found your purpose, and so your perception of your worth and value decreases. BUT, you don't know the perceptions of others!  And maybe, just maybe, you are fulfilling a purpose that goes beyond your awareness. Take a moment to consider the places in your life where you feel the least amount of connection to your purpose. Once you get that thought, now think like my friend, and look beyond the obvious. You may be fulfilling a purpose beyond your imagination!

A Pile of Pennies: My sister went to Tahiti for her honeymoon and left her parakeet with me for safekeeping. During its three-week stint in my dorm room at Trenton State College, that bird proved it was cut out for college life by being up all night. A few days in, my roommate and I gathered pennies to have near our beds. When the bird would wake us up with its chirping, a swift fling of a penny dinging the cage bars would quiet it for some time before it would begin again. This alternative to going outside and opening the cage door was a relationship saver. A simple pile of pennies, the very coin whose purpose is in question, served to stop the bird's chirping and keep our sanity. 

• 
  Sometimes purpose is subtle like that. Sometimes we are called just to be present to alleviate something that would otherwise cause tension, unhappiness or strife. We are that sharp "ding" of the bars that jolts someone back into kindness or compassion or much needed silence in a situation that would be fueled by verbalized adversity. We feel we are doing nothing and offering no purpose when in fact, we are the reason everyone is at peace.

Every human being holds value and worth beyond our understanding or any societal ranking. We may never know the purposes we hold beyond our own perceptions and awarenesses. Knowing that we hold purpose and value beyond our understanding insists that we have self-love and a faith that we are meant to be. Society does not assign your purpose, value or worth. Your very existence does!  You are meant to be! The children you love are meant to be! Don't let a day go by without remembering that and reminding others.

If you like what you read, please share my post and consider reading more of my thoughts and ideas in Connections Across the Student Desk, available on Amazon. Here is the link: Connections Across the Student Desk

For more work from amazing authors, podcasters and human beings, visit the X-Factor EDU Community.  Here is that link: X-Factor EDU