Lessons Learned

Do we teach so others learn? Do we teach so we learn? I often wonder if I am here to help children learn life changing lessons or am I here to learn life changing lessons from the tender hearts of precious children. Precious children sent to touch our hearts. Children truly teach me more than I will ever teach them. Life lessons taught by resilient children inspire me. I feel blessed to learn from children who approach life obstacles with zeal and optimism. A few years ago, a kindergarten child was hospitalized after a playground accident. I never look forward to visiting someone in the hospital. I feel helpless. Fortunately, my young kindergarten friend made a full recovery. The elevator stopped a few floors below my destination. The doors opened. My heart sank as a young girl, about the age of my son, entered the elevator. She walked with two IV trees. Her hair was patchy. I tried my best to smile. Her spirit was infectious. She greeted everyone in the elevator and her smile was...

My Brown Eyed Girl The cold wind ripped through the winter bare branches. Pins of sleet hit my face as I walked around the corner of Lincoln and Wick. The moonless sky made this bitter night dark and dreary. The frigid wind burned at the tip of my nose and edge of my ears. I sludged along the street dragging a bag of frustrations that were simmering towards boiling into anger. Even though I knew my physical location, I had lost my path and was wondering aimlessly. I was taught to pray in times like this, but it was God with whom I was frustrated. I didn't have enough life experiences to understand that life has moments when love ones suffer with illness, economic downturns challenge families, and struggling to learn makes success sweeter. I didn't pray. I demanded answers. Turning down the Fifth Avenue hill, I descended the wet slippery hill alone in darkness. Through my rain soaked eyes I could see a window light shinning like a lighthouse beacon. Desce...

Attitude If it is to be, it is up to me! Doyt Grandstaff’s character stood taller than most men. His commitment to faith and family stood for others like a beacon on a stormy night. Standing like a rock for your principles was a constant lesson he taught. His word was his promise and his handshake was his contract. In the early 1940’s, Doyt was a basketball and football player at Westerville High School. One hot steamy August day, Doyt and his friends went swimming after football practice. Doyt dove into the water. His body went motionless and he began to sink to the bottom of the old Glengary Pool. The lifeguard dragged him to the edge of the pool and Doyt would never walk again. His spinal cord was injured causing a strong high school athlete to become a quadriplegic. Doy’t’s body was confined to a wheel-chair but nothing could confine his faith, commitment, and desire. He stood tall. Doyt credited an old country preacher who told him that if he was goi...

Learn to Lead Six months ago, I started to plan a project with a simple premise to prepare students for middle school, high school, and post-graduation options by teaching leadership skills. I wanted to provide them with experiences associated with participating in a business breakfast as they learned these skills. Today, students participated in our first "Learn to Lead" business breakfast. About 150 students and some of their parents attended the meeting. They arrived on time with many of them dressed in business casual. Young looking professionals politely visiting as they shared a breakfast with their colleagues. In my arrogance, I thought my students needed to learn how to conduct themselves in such a setting for future success. I should have known better. Today, they became the teacher. 150 students listened attentively and interacted appropriately with our speaker. You could see it in their eyes as they made connections to the diversity presentation. The...

Mother’s Day Hallmark doesn’t sell a card suitable for my Mom. Simple poetic verses by American Greetings are inadequate. You simply can’t buy a card that eloquently says what my Dad knew best. My Dad knew that Mom was the reason that we had a good life. You can’t describe my Mom without mentioning my Dad. eHarmony.com would never had put my parents together, but later on this year if the creek doesn’t rise they will celebrate their 50 th wedding anniversary. What they have is a partnership that capitalizes on the uniqueness each of them brought to their marriage. I never spent one day in doubt that my parents loved each other. My Dad always put my mom first and expected my brother and I to follow suit. My Mom sacrificed. She went with out. In my 48 years, only two sofas and one recliner were in her living room. New things were just not important. She wore the same winter coat for years, but her kids always had a new jacket. My Mom wen...