A Simple Way to Make A Difference Today
Making a difference can be easy. Sometimes we think it has to be a grand gesture or a heroic act. Making a difference can be as easy as making those around you feel seen. This episode talks about the importance of making our peers feel seen.
What's going on everybody, I hope this finds you striving and thriving and doing absolutely amazing. This week, I was walking into school, and it was the beginning of the day. And one of the paraprofessionals, she opens up the door, and we greet each other. And she said that she can't wait for next week. And I smiled. And I honestly thought that she must be referring to winter break. So I said, you know, winter break is going to be fantastic. But she stopped me. And she said, that wasn't what she was talking about. She was talking about something that was much more important. My name is Brian Martin. I'm a second grade teacher and hosted the teaching champions podcast, you see this young lady. Every day, as I come in from lunch, I walked past our conference room, and I could look in there and I would see her in the room by herself. She had a laptop open. And she was using that lunch break to do work. You see, she's going to school online. And when she mentioned next week, what she was referring to was the fact that she will be completing her bachelor's degree. And this is a big deal. And I'm sharing the story because it's reminder number one for me that I need to make it a point to congratulate her next week. But it's also a reminder that in every school, there are things going on in the lives of our colleagues that we have no idea about. And I was having a conversation with a friend recently about the students who can go unseen if we're not intentional with our interactions. And he pointed out something that I found to be very profound. And he said, You know what, adults can go unseen as well. And it's easy for those adults that we pass by in the hallway, to go on scene. Each and every single one of us, we have our own stuff going on, we have our own to do list and things that we need to attend to. So it's easy to get caught up in our own world. But today, take a look around, try and be a little more aware of the adults around you. If you see them doing great things. Let them know, if you see them going out of their way to help someone, let them know. If you hear them, lift someone up, let them know. And I was listening to the book, The Art of noticing the other day. And the author was talking about connecting with those around you and noticing the special things that they do. And he mentioned that we should challenge ourselves to give five compliments every day. And he also said that we should challenge ourselves to ask five questions every day. And then snot that basic. Good morning, how are you today? Real questions, follow up questions, questions that show that you're interested in what someone has to say. And it doesn't have to be a long conversation. You can learn things about others while you're just copying papers. Or if you're pouring that cup of coffee in the teachers lounge. The key listen and be interested because there's so many adults that walk around pouring so much of themselves into others who are doing so much and having one person recognize them. Having one person affirm that what they do is making a difference. That can mean all the difference in the world to someone. So take that time, and let's make our peers feel seen today. We've been blessed with another sunrise. Have an awesome day.
