The Pig and the Chicken

As you will recall, our first group meeting in August included a story about a pig and a chicken that wanted to honor the farmer by providing breakfast for him.  As second semester begins, remain cognizant of our commitment (think pig) and daily contribution (think hen) to our kids, our parents, our colleagues, and ourselves. The small toys of each animal were given to you as a visual reminder of our work.  Remember that there is a distinct difference between being committed to something and just being interested in something.  Interest means you only do it when time permits.  Committed means accepting no excuses and choosing to make a difference.   Your commitment will come from your daily contribution. 

I had two questions posed to me last weekend that I now pose to you:  (1) How important is it to you to maximize the remaining days of your life? and (2) Why are you here – not why are we here?  Relate this from a career point of view.  So, how about it?  What drives you from the inside?  Forget for a moment that we all get paid to do what we do.  What drives you on the inside, what fuels your fire?  Don’t over process what your heart is telling you.  Working with kids is really a matter of your heart’s desires.  If it is not, then I would suggest backing away and evaluating what your heart is telling you.  Yes, this goes against conventional wisdom that tells you to think with your head and ignore your heart.  Guess which people tell you that? – the very ones who truly don’t enjoy doing what they are doing.  Things are external in that world.  The same ones who mark the days off on the calendar to some date when they are finished, when they don’t have to go back anymore.  Working with kids isn’t something we “have to” do; it is something we “get to” do.  If that doesn’t fuel your tank, then use your head.  If it does, feel your heart.  This isn’t a career by default ; it is a career of design.  Yes, continue to be both the pig and the chicken.  Maximize every opportunity with every kid.  Know that there is a purpose to what you do in this school no matter what the job description is.