Reflecting on last week
It had moments to remember
I posted the following on my LinkedIn page on Monday. I thought it valuable to share here, too.
Last week had many reminders of what's important.
Colleagues and neighbors joined my wife and I in lacking power; and sadly as the new week unfolds, some are still lacking electricity. No, I'm not casting doubt on how hard the men and women from the electric companies are working to get power restored everywhere; rather, I'm pointing out that storms that seem to be "no big deal" are a really big deal when they touch areas where you live.
Meanwhile, my wife and I continue to face challenging decisions surrounding a family member who is 98 and destroyed by dementia. Her living situation needs to change, but the logistics required to make that happen are vexing. When to move her, and how that will be accomplished are at the top of the list. That list grows seemingly each day. That woman is my aunt, but it is my wife who has the ability to handle her and her challenging life far better than I. I'm lucky to have that super woman in my life, and this month we'll celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary.
The stress that accompanies the end of the semester was evident in the faces of many college students. Like so many of them, I was raised to believe that straight A's were the only possibilities; anything less was an indicator of not working hard enough, which is a polite way of saying failure. As an educator and parent, I do all I can to remind students that seeking perfection carries real risks. Of course, some parent reading this is likely ready to challenge me, especially because of the job I have, because I'm suggesting that grades are not the be all and end all. They're not. And no student should fear something less than an A is equivalent to failing.
At the same time, I took part in an awards ceremony in which inquisitiveness, skill, passion and determination were evident for all to see. Whether students were being recognized for outstanding work in the classroom or in some aspect of career preparation, the many smiling faces served as an important reminder that one accomplishment builds upon another. The students I saw last week are soon to leave college with a strong foundation for professional success. May they also find reward in being a positive contributor in the community in which they live. All of us have gifts and talents to share with others; those who do that are fortunate.
Growing up, I often heard one of my aunts say "you never know what the day brings." I chuckled; yes, life seemed so linear then: Wake up. Go to school. Come home. Do your homework. Play with friends. Go to bed. Repeat each weekday. She was right: Each day might be remembered for something joyous or awful, happy or sad. You never know what will happen, but you can do your best to find meaning in everything and in ensuring that you're living your life to make someone else's better.