2 Years of Running and Life Perspective 2.0

My running journey started two years ago--February 6th, 2016 to be exact.

Lacing up an old pair of athletic shoes, tears streaming down my face, hurt and anger raging in my head, I raced out the front door. I ran only one block before stopping to walk on that cold brisk February day. Out of breath and with my whole body aching, I called a friend and kept walking and talking.

Within days of learning life-changing traumatic news, I resolved to run my first 5K. Since running my first 5K April 30th, 2016, I've run over 1,500 miles (including two half-marathons), lost 50 pounds, and gained a whole new perspective on life.

Crossing the finish line Sept. 2017

Life perspective 2.0

Be determined.

Seriously. Determination. To run long distances you have to be determined. You learn not to give up. You press on, even when you want to stop. You tell yourself, one foot in front of the other. One mile at a time. Reminds me a bit of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, one of my favorite books.

Set priorities.

You make time for what’s important. Life as a runner is important to me because it’s a

healthier way to live, and it keeps me grounded mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Back when I was reading a book a week, people used to ask how I had the time.

I made the time because it was important to me. We all have the same 24 hours in a day,

and it’s up to us how we use them.

Be compassionate.

We can be hard on ourselves and others with negativity, doubt, and judgment or we

can be compassionate and offer kindness towards ourselves and others. Whether

we make our race goals and our life goals by an established time or we pause to enjoy

the moment, we can connect with ourselves and others when we engage in positive,

compassionate, and kind talk and care.

Look inward for peace and contentment.

Long hours on the trail or the road offer time for contemplation and a freeing of the mind

from daily life worries. Running makes life better.

Be humble.

When you consistently run toward the mid-back of the pack, humbleness takes on new

meaning. It doesn’t matter how fast or when you cross the finish line. What matters is that

you’re out there running the same miles as everyone else. So, if you snap a selfie because

you’re proud of yourself, it’s ok because you’re humble in your endeavors. Sometimes you

can’t even believe what you’re capable of accomplishing!

Take action.

Instead of sitting around and hoping or wishing for a better life, you take action and hold

yourself accountable. No one can run the miles for you. No one can force you out of your

big red comfy chair and onto the road for a run. You’re the only one responsible for your

choices and actions.

Be grateful.

You learn the importance of smiling and being grateful for small things like the birds chirping,

the sun shining, the snow and ice-free running trail, the strong legs and body you have from

working hard. You run and enjoy it.

My ongoing running journey brought me a new life perspective for which I am grateful.

It also brought healthier eating habits and weight loss. I didn’t start running to lose weight

or to win any races. I started running to lose the parts of life that were headed straight downhill at accelerating speeds. I gained a new life--one that’s worth loving and worth living passionately. Each day I have a choice to make, and nine times out of ten, I choose joy (and running).

  Jan 2016                                Feb 2018

What Being a Classroom Teacher Taught Me about Being a Leader

In January 2009 I left the classroom and have been working in various leadership positions since then.  Even though I long often for the classroom, I have found if I remember these ten things I did in my classroom, I am more successful as a leader.  I only wish being a leader hadn't meant having to leave the classroom because it shouldn't have to be that way.  Teachers are leaders too!

1.  Value each individual.  No matter how busy my schedule became or how many students there were, I found it important to treat each unique individual with respect because respect goes a long way in building student/teacher working relationships. 
2. Provide choice.  Student choice in learning was by far one of my favorite tricks in my teacher goody bag.  When people feel they have a choice about what they need to do, they generally enjoy the task and learn in the process.
3. Provide frequent feedback.  Frequent, descriptive feedback has been shown to be one of the greatest factors for improving student achievement. 
4. Use passions positively.  I entered the teaching profession because I am passionate about teaching and learning.  Sometimes these passions cause me to react emotionally to imprudent decisions made in public education. 
5. Be creative with resources.  I spent my entire teaching career in Title 1 eligible schools, so we always had to be creative when looking for books, supplies, and equipment.  It’s amazing what you can get when you ask for help from the community.
6. Encourage collaboration and creativity.  These skills are supremely important for living a productive life, so I always liked to provide students opportunities to collaborate with one another and with opportunities to express their understanding of text in creative ways (e.g. through creating a painting, a poem, a song, a movie, a skit, etc.).
7. Listen more than talk. This goes back a long way for me.  As an undergraduate, I practiced Rogerian Therapy (Person Centered Therapy) for part of my graduation requirements for a B.A. in psychology.  This was all about listening to the client.  I employed similar listening skills in my classroom.
8. Provide experiences. As a believer in John Dewey’s philosophy of education, I believe students should experience positive interactions and learning opportunities which will prepare them to be confident and capable citizens in society. 
9. Don’t try to do everything because I can’t and shouldn’t.  This theory applies in the classroom and in the work place.  For a smooth running classroom where learning was happening, I needed the students to work harder than me.  This took a ton of up-front preparation, but my classroom always ran itself when I was a facilitator of learning rather than a deliverer of knowledge.
10. Set specific and measurable goals, but don’t forget the stuff that can’t be measured. While achieving success and reaching goals often meant I needed  to have numbers or measurable data for my students, I believe we must remember that being human centered doesn't always equate with measuring in numbers.