I don't need to be training

It's funny--I am swamped with pending contracts, another potential presentation to a customer, personnel issues, e-TRAIN snafu's, marketing needs, my back is whack-- and basically, I don't need to be training, but it's 11:00 p.m., my presentation is spread all over the floor and I'm actually pumped about facilitating All Kinds Of Mind on tomorrow. First of all, because I'm a special educator at heart and I truly believe that focusing on children's affinities can transform teaching. Second, it has phenomenal implications for RTI. By merely understanding how children are wired, real solutions can be implemented. From the truly gifted to the truly learning disabled, we bring their passions and interests to the table and help them soar. So although I really don't need to be training--I REALLY NEED TO BE TRAINING!!

Hope and a good attitude

My beliefs and values are grounded in my faith and my faith is built on hope. So when I was not my typical optimistic hopeful self last week, I was pretty hard to live with. I didn't realize it at the time, but seeing progress and forward movement made me dread returning to an entrenched bureacracy. And I failed to bury it to get the work done. I spoke words out of turn, worried a few people and walked around angry with myself. I was simmering all week.

And then, this morning I went to my church and Daniel with his beautiful voice sang, LLM "Love Lifted Me", a song I grew up with. It touched me to my core and filled me with hope and a good attitude. Got some disturbing news-twice-and didn't get shaken. Re-occuring backpain is back--but got some brief therapy and I'm set for the week.

So when folks look at me sideways this week, and fires start to pop up all over, I'll replace the negative thoughts with positives and quietly hum that sweet old hymn.

Success

After the Senior Staff presentation on Friday I have a new respect for the group that leads our division. My team members came correct and all brought their A-game. Thank God, the technology worked and the transitions were seamless. Although we used three tools, they were extremely well received--a sometimes wordy group(except for our mist in our sist) we were all masters of Marzano's top strategy "Summarization" It was a good feeling to be the perfect tag team on a day when we only got one shot.

Wild Ride

I hope we have a wild ride this year with lots of new learning and finally a true new way of doing things. I'm hoping our speak will match our action. I'm hoping we we will all become creative innovators who are technologically savvy using web 2.0 tools in relevant ways. I hope we won't be afraid to ask the difficult questions. I hope we will stretch ourselves in ways that are uncomfortable but rewarding. I hope that we will be the first choice of many as we become so off the chain, they will label us 'fascinating'. I hope.....

Magic is magic

Today we heard from a basketball icon and legend and I was surprised by his business acumen. Magic Johnson captivated the audience as he shared his expertise on making a profit while making a difference. A caring man, he reviewed a business plan on the spot and provided "real time" support to a group of visionary thirty year olds. I was amazed at his knowledge of education, 21st century technology and critical urban issues.

He admitted to having reading problems as a teenager, but overcame his deficit with the same strategy that made him a basketball star....practice. An amazing man making a real difference just like magic.

My Wisest Investment

As we experience our first Urban League conference, my husband and I are impressed by our daughter's influence in this org.
As she ends her two year term as president of the Young Professionals, her influence is heavily stamped in dynamic and relevant ways.
She is a true visionary leader- with devoted followers. We observed her impact anonymously for 2 days. Her leadership was heralded by many.

I often reflect on my own contributions and relevancy to the world. Cassye is verification that I need not worry. She is my wisest investment.

I am enjoying time away from work. After having spent some time in a slow moving town, "Palacios", with family, I'm reminded of perspective. I try to stay connected to all my worlds or it's just too hard to re-enter. For instanceI spent time at the bank closing out my term as president of a non-profit. I dreaded that like --a broken leg because I didn't want to interact with anybody or anything unless it was in my 'world of family' It was torture making the connection.

So once done, I read e-mails from work in about 5 minutes-responded to none. I didn't want to--I felt I had to--re-entry is eminent I feel myself separating more and more after one week--after next week it will be even harder--It is destined to be a fast paced and fun filled time. I'll be in the company of the "cerebrals". Which is going to be amazingly exciting--all those young minds solving the worlds problems--(my gosh they are all so very brilliant-i love that) and all the old guard-encouraging them and paving the way for action. I'm pumped that my youngest is key to the movement and the chests of me and my husband will probably be visible to the entire world.