Angels and Heroes

Angels and Heroes

I cannot imagine a school shooting being more sensational than the last but this time it was. The images of the Sandy Hook Elementary School will be long lasting in my mind and the minds of my children at home and at the school where I work. It’s puzzling that now we are on a renewed heightened awareness just as we were after 9/11.

There are some differences with this school shooting mainly because of the ages of the children, our new angels. I hope you didn’t wait for this tragedy to hug your children. Even though it was the first thing I did when I returned home, I always make it a habit and so should you. Tell the people around you that you love them.

I remember after 9/11 that everyone was friendlier. Too bad it took a tragedy and too bad it didn’t last. Maybe this time the kindness will last. At the time of 9/11, I heard a man on the radio say he made a commitment to buy a stranger a cup of coffee at least once a week. He said the reactions were unbelievable in ways he could not imagine. Some people could not believe the kindness. I tried it. He was right. Some people are surprised when others are kind to them for no reason.

I always tell my kids at home and my kids at school that their heroes are all around them in their parents, grandparents, teachers, military, and first responders. This latest tragedy has proven me right. Parents always want to know that their children are safe.

I received a call from a local television station asking me for comments about the Sandy Hook tragedy. I agreed for two reasons: one, the television station visits us when we have success. They weren’t contacting us just because there was a tragedy. Every news media outlet should try the positives once in a while. Another reason was because I want the parents to know that we treat their children with unconditional love just as we do with our children at home.

The latest incident has proven that our children’s educators put themselves in harm’s way to protect their students with unconditional love and unconditional leadership. I am not surprised because that is the commitment educators make when they decide to enter the noblest profession on earth. They are true heroes just as the first responders are in this case.

Be nice, angels are watching. Accept your role as a leader and empower those people around you to be leaders. Peace.

Choose Your Attitude

Attitude

You have total control over one thing every day: yourself (your attitude). It starts as soon as you get out of bed. When your feet hit the floor, you’ve already overcome one obstacle. Then when you turn on the light in your bathroom, don’t scream. That reflection in the mirror is you! Some people let the slightest thing set them off in a negative direction.

“Attitude determines altitude. Altitude determines outcome. Choose your attitude; make it a positive one!” –Rudnesky

Your attitude will control your destiny. Your attitude will definitely control your leadership. Choose your attitude, make it a positive one. See every barrier and conflict as an opportunity to improve the quality of your leadership ability. It’s not always easy but it will allow you and the people around you to be more successful in the long-term.

People that are negative, underachievers, and complainers become a disease after awhile. It is much easier to complain than to do something to improve. It’s easier to sit on the couch and eat chips and drink soda than to exercise and eat right. It’s much easier to bash your coworkers than to take charge of yourself and your attitude. It’s much easier to complain than to join the positive revolution. If you are shooting for average, congratulations you are almost there. If you think you can’t, you are there! Close this book and relax. Sleep on the couch and when you wake up join a social network.

Instead of a complaint, praise a coworker. Instead of underachieving, reach your potential through commitment and hard work. Instead of bashing your supervisors, join the Leader-Ship. It sails every day.

You may not always be able to always control your emotions but you should certainly be able to control how you act towards other people.

Excerpt from a letter sent by a student:

I had so much fun at Almost Anything Goes last night. ………….We work so well together no matter who we are with. At AAG, everyone was with new people. Right from the start my team was stretching, talking, making up names, cheers, and figuring out plans. As we looked around the room, every team was together and talking, I was so happy to see our school as one big, happy family. I have always wanted to make a change in people’s lives. That is what you do each and every day. Thank you for all your determination and courage to make this school a great place to be. I love every single Jostens renaissance event. You rock!

Almost Anything Goes is an annual nighttime event our organization has every year. We pack our gymnasium with ten teams that perform quirky relay races and activities. The culmination is an obstacle course where the team captain gets a shaving cream pie in the face. The premise is team-building and fun. 

Now choose your attitude and have fun!