Reflections

One of my favorite games at a fair or amusement park is the one that involves shooting water straight at a balloon target. That target helps the horse move up the pole. It takes a laser focus and unwavering aim to win that game and watch your horse slide to the top. Over the years, it's become the one game I still play. I know the rules, I know the technique and I usually have a chance at moving that horse. Up until this year, I felt the same way about leadership. With over 10 years in teaching and over 10 in administration, I've been fortunate to have this career. With each step I've made beginning in Indian Lake, NY and ending here, I've learned from every experience and have tried to use that in the next step of the journey. I can still fondly recall so many from each school I've been in that (still) impact me and my practice. Taught me so much. Helped kids so much. So, it would seem I would feel more successful than I really do right now. Perhaps, it'...

The Urgent Care doctor seemed incredibly concerned. Instead of treating us there in her office, she instructed us to gather our things and prepare to go to the Emergency Room. Emergency Room? That didn't sound right. And in a split second, what I thought was likely a benign, treatable illness had become something so much more. With her one comment, my mind sped forward 2000 scenes and it was a new movie, new script, and a sad ending. There was nothing she said in particular at that moment that made me create this new movie, it was all in my head. But, it felt so much more like nonfiction than fiction.  Thankfully, the ER doctor took some time assessing the situation and determined there was not a cause for grave concern. But in that long hour, between Urgent Care and ER, trepidation had already painted some scenes and had already staged them out in my mind. Places everyone! Shame on me. I knew better than that. I know that positive thoughts always make the biggest impact....