Serenity

Oct 31, 2021

It’s good to have a place called home. It’s good to have a warm bed to sleep in. It’s good to have family members and pets who love and miss me when I’m gone. Sadly, I often take these things for granted – until I have a really bad day and am reminded of several behavioral lessons I need to revisit.

Earlier this week I was scheduled to attend a conference with a group from my church, but unfortunately, we never made it. After an initial flight delay, we safely arrived at the Dallas Love Field airport to switch planes – but due to an airline staff shortage, mechanical issues, and troublesome weather, we eventually had to turn around and head home, missing the conference all together. It truly was “the perfect storm”.

Thankfully, the airline agent was great. She was accommodating, gracious, kind – and smart. “I really feel badly for everyone,” she told me, “so I do what I can, try to remember that I can’t control what I can’t control, and keep in mind that things could be worse …trust me on this last one,” she added. And there you have it – the three-point lesson for the day.

It’s easy to get frustrated when life continually throws us curve balls – unscheduled meetings, kids’ poor behaviors, angry parents. But the key is to not let negative external events, no matter how overwhelming they might be, tear down our internal positive and hopeful perspective. Do what you can, relinquish control over the things you can’t, and count your blessings. Sound somewhat familiar? Yep. It’s called the Serenity Prayer for a reason.

Have a great week.

Start of School Goals

Welcome to the new school year. Consider kicking it off by working with your students on setting behavior and/or academic goals. I tell younger students, “One goal makes our heart happier, and the other makes our brain smarter.” Frame the discussion in terms of...

School’s About to Start! Woo Hoo! …or not

While at a restaurant earlier this week, I really enjoyed a conversation coming from the booth next to me. Two brothers were talking about the start of school. The soon-to-be first grader told the waitress he couldn't wait! The soon-to-be eighth grader...not so much....

A New Year

As we said goodbye to 2025 earlier this week, I was thinking about one of my favorite animated children’s specials, Rudolph’s Shiny New Year. In it, Father Time tells Rudolph that if the horrible vulture, Eon the Terrible, takes Happy, the Baby New Year, time stops...

Enjoy the Journey

Perspective and attitude carry a great deal of weight when it comes to behavior. Accordingly, I need to slow down during this hectic month. Of course, my tendency is to speed up. I make a list of all the tasks needing completion before the year’s end and check it...

Homeostasis

You might have noticed I stepped away from technology over the past few months. It wasn’t a choice at first. 2025 has been a challenging year - and one that has reminded me of the importance of homeostasis. A simple definition of homeostasis is “any...

Using Our Time Wisely

So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Sorry – this was not my intent. As I mentioned in a prior blog, my wife and I spent a great deal of time over the summer in Ohio with a lifelong friend who is now in hospice care. We’ve felt fortunate to be able to do this. ...

Unseen Challenges

We don’t know what we don’t know – this is the mantra that’s circled through my brain on several occasions this summer. People have all kinds of challenges that are not always visible to outsiders. And when we don’t know the full story behind people’s behaviors,...

Acknowledge, Defer, Step Away

So parents, are you enjoying time with your kids while school is out? Though summer can be great for families, it can also present challenges. Close quarters, combined with high amounts of together time, can become a breeding ground for conflict. Keep in mind that...

Blooming Challenges

II’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Parents, you are going to get frustrated with your kids. But when that happens, find an activity you enjoy and step away. This strategy help you avoid a power struggle, and more importantly, adjusts your perspective....

Time to Refuel

Educators, this is just a reminder that It’s called summer break for a reason. Your work August through May is draining, which takes a toll on your physical, emotional and mental health. You might not be consciously aware of this now because when your brain and body...

Mother’s Day – A Collective Effort

It’s Mother’s Day - and the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. This seems appropriate since most teachers play the role of surrogate mom about 180 days per year. Teachers nurture, support, encourage, provide boundaries, model, listen, and teach. These...