A Message from Dory



Courtesy: http://www.the-leaping-lamp.com/dory-finding-nemo.html

A few weeks ago, my nephew introduced me to a new workout he was using.  The workout consists of following along to a routine from one of those infomercial DVD series.  The name of the workout suggests that those following along must be mentally ill.  Anyway, being relatively physically fit, I decided to give it a try. Very few minutes expired before I was ready to stop.  Not wanting to be outdone by a 19 year old, I continued.  Later into the workout, I decided I couldn't go further.  Something in my mind made me think of Dory from Finding Nemo.  Her simple message "Just keep swimming" repeated in my head.  In just a few more minutes, the workout was over.  I must add that I was exhausted and couldn't move well the next day, but that is beside the point.

What I realized through this experience is that Dory's message, though simple and straight forward, has been the message communicated to various cultures for centuries.  We must stay positive, move forward, look to the future, and keep searching.  Be persistent!

I recently heard Dr. Evelyn Nettles speak at a conference about How to Keep Dancing When the Music Stops.  Her message and Dory's message are very similar.  Dr. Nettles stated that the music really never stops.  The music may change, speed up, or slow down but it doesn't stop. 

Music changes - starting a family, dealing with aging parents, family illnesses, marital problems, etc.  Understand that we all face similar challenges and our thought process may not always be together.  When dealing with others, follow Covey's advice - Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood.

Music speeds up - deadlines, multiple commitments, balancing work and home tasks, etc.  Deal with one thing at a time.  No human can perform multiple tasks simultaneously.  We may "multi-task" and have several things going on at one time.  However, we can't truly drive and read an email at the same time.  It is a disaster waiting to happen.  Do the one thing and "just keep swimming".  You will get to the next thing when you need to.

Music slows down - lying in bed at night stressing about the day's events, worrying about the unknown, listening to Chicken Little and believing that the sky is falling, etc.  It is great for us to reflect.  Just make sure your reflection time considers the positive.  Many times after self reflection, I figure out ways to be proactive for the future.  Understand that we aren't in control.  God wants us to plan, but He prefers we have faith that control is left to Him. 

When I completed that "crazy" workout, I felt a rush of satisfaction.  I don't think I would have traded that feeling for anything.  I truly believe that we can create that same feeling each time we are faced with a challenge and stay the course.  During your next stressful moment or upcoming challenges, remember Dory's message. 

A New Beginning

It is the time of year again when school children from all over are ready to start a new year.  Some children are thinking about such important ideas like which clothes they plan to wear to school on the first day.  While other children are thinking about how good the hot breakfast in the school cafeteria will taste because it has been a couple of months since they had that luxury.  In either case, children will become students again and will begin the life of socializing and studying.

Educators are also thinking about the start of a new year.  Rolling thoughts about getting to know a new set of students may be at the forefront of minds.  Teachers are wondering what the students will be like,  what their interests will be, or which ones need extra, extra love.  New curriculum and standards bring forth feelings of excitement and eagerness to begin. 

My childhood elementary school principal must have known about these thoughts, concerns and feelings from students and teachers.  He had a great way of bringing a calming spirit to the beginning of a new year.  Each first day of school, Mr. Osborne would read a poem during an assembly.

I came to my Teacher with quivering lips, my task undone.
Teacher, hast thou another sheet for me?  I have soiled this one.
He took the old sheet, stained and blotted,
And gave me a new one, clean and unspotted,
And into my sad heart smiled,
Do better this time my child.
I came to the Father with a trembling heart, the old year gone.
Father, hast thou another year for me?  I have soiled this one.
He took the old year stained and blotted,
And gave me a new one, clean and unspotted,
And into my glad heart smiled,
Do better this time my child.

I could understand even as a child that this poem meant that I could start over at the beginning of a new school year and do a better job than the previous year.  Through the years, I've come to learn that we each have that opportunity to reset not only after every year, but we can reset after every breath.

Now, take a deep breath, start over, and do better this time.

Shifting the Paradigm

Over many years, I have heard others talk about shifting paradigms.  Early on, I wondered "how do I do that?"  I couldn't wrap my head around it until someone explained it to me.  A paradigm shift is defined as a radical change in belief. Basically, it is changing one's thinking from their present standard.

So, recently I started thinking differently about my role as a leader.  Whether the role exists in my life as a Christian, dad, or school administrator, one thing remains constant - doing.  I can't think of how many times I've had opportunities to do something and for some reason step aside and let others take the lead.  What I've realized is that my satisfaction in any role I play depends on how I feel about the job I've done.  I had to shift the "feeling" paradigm.  Instead of thinking that I will feel better by not doing, speaking, or giving, I now understand that I will feel better by doing those things. I've now challenged myself to do.  This doesn't mean that I will always be perfect.  It doesn't mean that I will always be excellent.  It simply means that I will do a better job in the future. 

As a Christian, dad, or administrator, I plan to continue to excel.  I want to do better than the past.  In the future, I will want to become better than the present.  I view this as an upward spiral.  This is a way for me to get to the pinnacle in a state of constant improvement.

The road will be difficult and challenging, but I will do.

I couldn't make this paradigm shift without the help of some great professional development sources.  I read The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey, What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whittaker, and various blogs and posts on Twitter from the likes of Principal J, Eric Sheninger, Justin Tarte, and others.

This summer at the annual CLAS Conference, Jon Gordon inspired the group of Alabama administrators to be positive and make a positive impact on others.  I learned that anyone can be positive.  It is a choice.  No matter what "the enemy" has lying in wait for us, our positive outlook can get us through the dark days.  You can make the pledge to be positive at Jon's website http://www.thepositivepledge.com/ 

Understand your thought of the norm on a topic and view it from a different perspective.  You may be shocked to find that shifting a paradigm leads to a less stressful life.