In the past few months many of my friends have lost loved ones; parents, step-parents, grandparents in particular. Some have been sudden. Some have been expected. I read the comments that try to convey the depth of feelings that range from love and grief, to acceptance and relief. They talk lovingly about what made that person so special in their lives. They try to share a little bit about who they were. Encapsulating the essence of their being into words that cannot completely impart the complexity of their lives.

It made me think about the loved ones in my life and how much they mean to me.  I think they know it. I hope they feel the depth of my love. To be sure, I don’t want to wait to speak those words only after they cannot be heard. I want them to hear those words of endearment while they can appreciate and receive them.  I want to speak them often.

It also made me think about how I would like to be remembered. Are the things that are important to me obvious to others? Do I make others feel as special as they truly are to me?  We don’t all get the opportunity Ebenezer Scrooge had to overhear the remembrances and opinions of others about lives. But we can all appreciate his epiphany and contemplate being a better person to those around us-to make the world a little kinder and a little better through our words and deeds.

We get busy with life, with work, with responsibilities and it isn’t until we are reminded of our mortality through the sorrows of others that we stop to take stock. We can honor those sorrows and grief by reflecting on the gifts we have, including our loved ones, and showing our gratitude while we can.

Don’t wait.  If you are grateful for someone’s love and presence in  your life, speak the words to let them know….SAY IT TODAY.

I was up for hours, knowing she was heading back this morning. She came down the stairs and made a quick breakfast. The dogs huddled around her feet as she tried to shuffle through the kitchen.

“Need any help?”

“Nah. I got it.”

She knelt down and rub her hand across  Murphy’s back.  He knows something’s up. He’s been loving that lap of hers all week long. She’s not sitting down. There’s no lap to leap on. She’s buzzing around without lighting.

She heads back upstairs. I wait a few minutes before following.  Her bags are packed and stacked neatly in her room.  Her Baboo sits atop the pile.  He’s been her stuffed companion since infancy. “No bear buddy left behind”. 

“Want me to carry some down?”

“Yes, please.”

We lug a week’s worth of clothes, textbooks, and “stuff” down to the door and plop it in a pile.  The dogs rush over to sniff and check it out.  She sits on the floor and they rush to her.  Murphy snuggles in tight.  Tubbie jumps about, snorting and wiggling. Oreo meows and joins the group hug.  She soaks it up…getting her fix of furry love for the next six weeks.

“Ok. You ready, dad?” She hoists her back back and adjusts a bag on her shoulder. She hugs her Baboo close. I snap a last minute selfie and plant a kiss on her cheek.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She and her dad walk to the van, loaded down. I stand in the doorway, loaded down. This is what all my parenting has been about.  “You’ve done a good job,” I tell myself. Success doesn’t always feel so good…at least not in moments like this.

I think the proverbial Road Less Traveled is overrated sometimes.  Sure it’s great to try new things and be original.  Breaking new ground or creating your own path can be rewarding in many ways. Newness keeps life spicy and fresh.  But sometimes it’s good to realize that there is great value in the variety of paths we can take-that each offers its own rewards if we mindfully contemplate and appreciate them. My snowshoeing yesterday brought this lesson home for me.

Creating new paths where none exist takes courage and strength sometimes. It is easy to get lost, it can wear you out quickly, but the anticipation of new experiences can keep you going.

Following the path of someone so different from yourself can bring insights and understanding. You don’t know where it may lead, but curiosity compels you to seek out new knowledge and understanding.

Following in the footsteps of a trailblazer let’s you learn from their steps and lean on their work. Somehow you feel less alone and more empowered to build on those steps and perhaps stray from the path when it is right for you.

Following a well-worn path may seem less adventurous, but remembering that there is often good reason for the shared pathway-it probably led others to joy or enlightenment. It was valued by many so perhaps we can trust that it is worth our time as well.

Whatever path you take today, I hope you take the time to appreciate it a little more.  We never know when the path may end, so enjoy and savor the journey.

If you clicked on this blog post today, chances are you are working on, or have achieved certification with National Boards for Professional Teaching (NBPT). When I thought about next steps/challenges for my teaching career I thought I might give it a try. I already tackled Reading Recovery training, multiple college degrees, and advanced coaching training. “Hey, let’s check out National Board Certification” I thought.

When I looked at the the 5 Core Propositions for accomplished teachers, I truly embraced and believed in all of them:

• 1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
• 2. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
• 3. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
• 4. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
• 5. Teachers are members of learning communities.

So last year several teachers from my district and I embarked on this journey together. We tackled components 1 (a grueling test) and 2 (differentiated instruction that never seemed good enough!) last year and now we are up to our eyeballs this spring in components 3 (the dreaded video taping) and 4 (being an effective/reflective practitioner).

It’s frustrating, exhausting, and truly eye-opening.  I’ve never dissected my teaching so many different ways. I’ve never questioned everything I did to the nth degree. (Well, Reading Recovery training may have caused as much guilt-ridden reflection, but enough time has passed that it’s all a pleasant memory now!)

I don’t think I could do it without my colleagues to collaborate and console, to nudge and to nag. Thank you Caroline, Katie, Maureen, and Gigi. We’re getting closer each day to that May 15 deadline. We’ll upload that last file, hit submit, and …

wait 6-7 months for the results!

Here’s to any of you slicers who are trying to plug away at NBPT work and slice each day. You’ve got moxie and motivation! Now go back through your writing and make sure it is clear, consistent, and convincing!!