As this year wraps up, I've been thinking about the impact of words on each other, as educators. I wonder if the phrases of gratitude I've tried to share felt genuine. I hope, in some way, as the team I've worked with looks back on this year, they are able to remember more positive than negative. It was a steep learning curve for me to learn so much about a new district and department with little start time to a new year. I've appreciated so very much what I've learned from the staff I work for and with. Their words have helped me throughout the year.
I wonder if speakers of criticism (including those directed at me) can still even recall the words all these days later. It's funny how words can stick more with one person than they do the other. We say so many words a day, give them away sometimes without even thinking. Criticism on its own isn't usually all that helpful.
Feedback, on the other hand, that's where understanding can be possible. But, sometimes feedback is lost when we hold our words afraid of having the difficult conversations. When we clutch onto them, it almost gives the phrases permission to take refuge in our mind, rehearsing and festering. If we had only just spoken them or taken the time to begin a thoughtful conversation, we might have gained new insight that we never could have anticipated.
And sometimes, the best of times, we take the opportunity to say something beautiful to a friend or colleague just when they need it. Sometimes, we send the kindest notes to another to let them we are on their side. I've seen that first hand. Those are the words that go straight to the heart. Those are the words I'm holding onto these days past the end of the school year.
That's the real power of words.
What if we tried really hard to use them for that? More of that than anything else.
I wonder if speakers of criticism (including those directed at me) can still even recall the words all these days later. It's funny how words can stick more with one person than they do the other. We say so many words a day, give them away sometimes without even thinking. Criticism on its own isn't usually all that helpful.
Feedback, on the other hand, that's where understanding can be possible. But, sometimes feedback is lost when we hold our words afraid of having the difficult conversations. When we clutch onto them, it almost gives the phrases permission to take refuge in our mind, rehearsing and festering. If we had only just spoken them or taken the time to begin a thoughtful conversation, we might have gained new insight that we never could have anticipated.
And sometimes, the best of times, we take the opportunity to say something beautiful to a friend or colleague just when they need it. Sometimes, we send the kindest notes to another to let them we are on their side. I've seen that first hand. Those are the words that go straight to the heart. Those are the words I'm holding onto these days past the end of the school year.
That's the real power of words.
What if we tried really hard to use them for that? More of that than anything else.
What If by Five For Fighting
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