Last week, I took the above video of one of our marvelous teachers, Mrs. King. This clip quickly became viral, and has thousands of views, because what you see is nothing less than CONTAGIOUS!
When you watch Mrs. King every single morning THIS is how she greets students. No lie. Not only will you see her saying hi to students and smiling, but you will see overflowing amounts of JOY and love spread from her to our students in a flash. Her excitement as she sees students approach the front doors is unparalleled! She claps, she raises her hands as she cheers, and she gives students words of affirmation that help reaffirm that they matter to us.
Each morning when I pass by Mrs. King and watch her in her element, I am reminded to ask myself the following question: Would those around me say that I bring joy to their lives on a regular basis? Starting my day with this thought and question, helps me become more intentional about my daily interactions with those around me while reevaluating how I can be better.
Another crucial point to note is that joy may be presented differently for everyone. Some people may want express joy in a more subtle way, but it does not make it any less significant. Joy does not always need to be bold and pronounced, it can be quiet and subtle. As the saying goes, ANY joy shared is a joy doubled.
Here is a challenge for yourself, your staff members, or your students: Answer the following question:
Are you bringing joy to YOUR school?
Some days, we may not feel like ourselves. Some days, we may walk into school with personal things that are affecting us. Some days, we may have simply just woken up on the wrong side of the bed- it happens to the best of us. What matters the most is not that we had a bad day, but how we respond and adapt in the future.
After the rain, the sun will still be there. After our bad days, our joy is still waiting to be tapped into. Refrain from feeling guilty for joy lost. Remember this: The best news is that you have the ability to make tomorrow a day worth remembering.
