Move The Snooze

You hear the alarm in your head, telling you to get up, get out, and do something. For some, they spring out of bed and start grinding. For others, they press the snooze button. They tell themselves, "I will do that tomorrow, next week, or next month." Putting it off, you know, that thing that feels right just means you will never do it.

I had a goal to wake up in the morning and workout before I went to work. This was a wonderful idea, but when it came time to do it, that was a different story.  Sometimes, we have to break old habits by forcing our way through. So, two years ago,  I starting  waking up at 5:00 a.m. I was excited! The first week was no problem.  The second-no problem. The third, well, the excitement wore off and the grinding started to kick in.

I did not want to get up at 5:00 a.m. anymore. For one,  I was not seeing the results Two, I felt like I was not getting enough sleep; and three, my mind did not want to work that hard. This was all true! Deep down,  I wanted to finished this 90 day workout routine and would have felt like a failure had I quit. So, I had to move the snooze.  That's right!  I moved the snooze.  I had to push beyond my comfort zone and turn a chore into a habit. I moved the alarm in a distant place which forced me to get up and off the alarm.  I knew if I was up,  I would not lay back down. I went on to complete P90X four times.

Do you need to move the snooze?  Do you need to do homework when you do not want to?  Do you need to make the doctor's appointment you are dreading? Do you need to enroll in the college course you have been avoiding?  Do you need to start or end a relationship that has been consuming your mind.  No matter what it is, move the snooze, and do what needs to be done. Period!

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

"Have To's" & "Want To's"

I will never forget what Denzel Washington said about life. He said, "You do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do." That makes so much sense to me. Once, this guy said to me, "Rodney, I do not want to work at this job, it is wack! My response was, "Well, you do not have to!" He would go on to tell me that working at his current job was a necessary evil because he had bills that needed to be paid. I understand!

There are some things we "have to do" in life such as paying taxes and dying. We have to do those things. You may feel you "have to" work on a dead end job. You may feel you "have to" stay in a crappy relationship. Most of the things we feel we "have to do"-we feel forced to do them. What about your dreams and goals? See, when it comes to your dreams, you are working on your own time. There are no penalties for not calling potential clients. No one cares if you do it or not.That is up to you! 

The sercet I have learned is that when you get to the point when the thing you "want to do" becomes the very thing you "have to do",your life is going to change forever. No joke! Let's take this a step further. When the "have to's" become your "want to's" it will become a whole new world. Stay with me.

See, if you are like me, you love working out. However, it was not always this way for me. Only on, after graduating from college with my BA, I "wanted" to workout. I did it sometimes and sometimes I didn't. Also, my diet was suspect at best. I was downing Big Macs and Whoopers whenever. Here was the tipping point, when my workouts changed from "want to's" to "have to's"- Ooooo wee! I changed the game. Yep, my body composition changed, my eating habits changed, and my body weight changed. That's real! When your dreams become you, you bring them to life.

While working as a sercuity guard at a local high school in 2004, I felt beat by  life. I needed the job, but I did not want this one. For goodness sake, I had a BA in Broadcast Communication. Now, I was making sure high school kids were not skipping class? Really? Here was the tipping point, when I transformed a job I needed into something I wanted! Do you get that? I made that job the greatest job a graduate from college would ever want! I coached basketball, worked with teachers and administrators, and mentored students! I changed the game, folks! I made it necessary for me to show up and show out!

Listen up, I will leave you with this-your "have to's" and "want to's" are all part of your success. There will be things you "want to do" and "have to do." It is all part of the achievement process. The closer you can bring those two together, the better your chances of briniging your vision to life! Simple!

Stay Hungry! Stay Foolish! Let's Get It!

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

What's The Purpose?

What do you do that is like breathing? What wakes you up early in the morning? There is more to life than paying bills and clocking in and out! For you, I do not know. For me, the thought of writing and speaking wakes me up early and keeps me up late. There is nothing I enjoy more.

What is it for you? Whatever it is, follow your passion. We all have a purpose for living. You were not put on this earth to build someone else's dream! Are you kidding me? You are here to give back and make this world a better place. It is that simple. There is no need to complicate this stuff. It is what it is, you know? Your unique gifts make you one of a kind. That is what makes you, you!

It does not matter what people think! It really doesn't! This is your dream, your purpose, and your vision! This is about you. As long as you are willing to pay the price and not count the cost, and put forth the blood, sweat, and tears-your purpose will reveal itself in determination, guts, and sacrifice!  Stop playing with life and take what belongs to you-your purpose! BOOM!

-Rodney Lewis, Ed.D.

I Am....Who I AM

“You are a scrub!” “You can’t play basketball!”  Those are the words from my classmates after my basketball games in my senior year of high school. I remember, I would hear those comments and just shake my head, as I would walk to my next class. One of the most important lessons I have learned in my short lifetime is that negativity, like the sun, will always gleam on you. You can’t avoid it, and you can’t hide from it. That is just a fact of life. Sometimes you may feel that the more you do, the more people tend to rain on your parade.  Well...they are raining on your parade! Don’t be upset about the rain, just learn to dance in the rain.

I have to be honest; I love a little negativity. I need people to drink a full cup of Haterade and then give me their opinion. Oh ...yes...I needed people to tell me that I was a scrub! I needed people to tell me that I was a bad employee. I needed my ex-girlfriend to tell me I was not a good writer! I received the love and support of my co-workers, when they claimed that I stole FREE food from a summer program I managed! (By the way...how do you steal FREE food?). I needed people to call me a nigger, monkey baby, and porch monkey. Oh..yes...I ate it up like a BBQ chicken dinner!! My mouth just waters when I think about all the words of encouragement from my past!

This is life! You may have experienced words like this in your life. The natural tendency is to get mad and fight! That is an option, but please allow me to challenge that notion; what are you fighting for?  Who are you fighting for? Are you getting mad because someone hurt your feelings? You better get tough skin because the world does not care about your feelings. As great as Michael Jackson was it seemed like he was the butt of many jokes in his short life span. I would conclude to say that most of the world thought he was a great American artist. Why did he get hated on so much? Why? Why? Why? Was it because he was different? He was different. He was coined the King of Pop. Not the Servant of Pop, not the Best of Pop, but the King of Pop. In my eyes that is different. As he sat on the king’s musical throne, people continued to throw rocks at his throne. To respond, Michael just made more and more hits!

I need hate like the grass needs the rain. The rain helps the grass, along with the sun, to grow strong. Do you get it?  We need that hate, some hurtful words, and negativity to grow strong. Do not get me wrong; I’m not saying that hurtful comments are the only thing we need, because you are missing the point. As humans, we need positive energy to propel us into the future! We also need some resistance from life to keep us striving for more. If we allow it, the hate can provide us inspiration to achieve our goals and live our dreams.

Furthermore, why would I waste my time on individuals that I call Social Cancers? These are people that always find room to hate on you. If you try to do something they can’t do, let the hating begin!  If you believe something they don’t believe, let the hating begin. Hell, if you try to change your lifestyle and they can’t do it, then let the hating begin. The more you build up, the more they tear down. I will not allow Social Cancers to tear down nor knock down what I have built. Like, the King of Pop, I will continue to strive for greatness until they put me six feet in the dirt! As Kobe Bryant say, “ I do, what I do.” Those are great words from one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. Those words from Bryant are just a small peek into his mindset not only as a professional athlete, but also a person. He is saying despite what people say about him, despite if he wins or loses, he will continue to do what he believes to be true for him.

Here is the deal, I’m the one that is putting in the work to be successful for my life!  When I wake-up every single morning and I brush my teeth and wash my face, I ask myself one question, “do I like what I see?” If the answer is no, then change must take place. It may be a small change, a mental change, a physical change, or a social change, but something will change! We don’t have the time or the energy to waste, trying to get the approval or consent of haters! As the great Les Brown states, “It is a full-time job to work on yourself.” Let haters hate. It is there job to hate. They have earned master’s degrees and Ph.D in the major of hating. Since, I’m the captain of my ship, I will not delight or entertain what people think or say about me! Period! I’m not sure how you can focus on your success and worry about other’s perception of your success. Something has to give. When I came into this world, I was born alone and when I leave this world I will die alone. So, I need enough hate to wake my ass up when I don’t want too.

Before, people said, I was a scrub, I was in the gym 5 to 6 days, every summer working on my game. I was watching and analyzing old Michael Jordan games I recorded on VHS. Before they said, I could not be a writer, I have been waking up at 3am to write papers and read my doctoral assignments. Before, people called me a nigger, they didn’t know I was raised by my mother from Mound Bayou, Mississippi. They didn’t know that my mother picked cotton to provide financial support for her family. My mother is the definition of Black History. They didn’t know that my mother instilled what I called “Mississippi Faith” in me. That is an undoubtable, undeniable, and supreme belief in my abilities.

A colleague once stated, “If you don’t understand my STORY, you won’t respect my GLORY.” That is powerful and so true! If you are willing to wake up in the morning with me to write the papers, or if you never went to the gym with me to participate in some of the most grueling workouts, you would not know my story! You would not have a clue of what I could or could not become. To all the haters and social cancers, please continue to provide those words of encouragement, then “Kick Rocks!”.

"I am who I am and I say what I think. I'm not putting a face on for the record."

-Eminem

-Ron S. Lewis, Ph.D. Candidate

Enjoy The Time

It seems like yesterday, we were working this summer in the library trying to refine and redefine the culture of our school. 

Time flies! We have done so much together and the best is yet to come! If you remember, we created posters of what we wanted our school to look like, sound like, and feel like. 

Our quest is to create greatness and become one of the best elementary schools by having strong instructional practices, effective day-to-day systems, and trust and support from each team member.

As Spring Break draws closer, I want to thank you sincerely for the dedication. As you my know passion rages because I care deeply.

Our children deserve the best, and I am personally dedicated and motivated to ensure they receive it. That mindset makes the hardest task appear easy. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, “Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail.” 

There is no doubt we are leaving a trail! Enjoy the break with your family and friends. 

"Wonder rather than doubt is the root to all knowledge."

-Abraham Joshua Heschel 

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

Leaving A Mark

0ur students are experiencing some challenging times. Having the opportunity to serve as the principal gives me the pleasure of interacting with our entire student body. 

The concerns traveling to the office the last two months have been disheartening. The behaviors, in many cases, are a massive cries for help. Without looking at the whole child, and accounting for what it “brings to the table” , it would be negligence on our behalf.

There is a Chinese proverb which sums up this lead the best, “Every child is like a piece of paper, on which every teacher leaves a mark.” Those are powerful words! What you give them is going to stick with them for the rest of their lives.  

It is at this time, when our students are faced with circumstances beyond their control, we have to be cognizant of the marks we leave.

I cannot help it, but the father in me is drawn out when I am working with our students. Regardless if it is a boy or girl, I cannot help but to imagine I am speaking with a little girl with long black hair, big beautiful brown eyes, and a three year old voice full of hope and promise.

I want my students to have the same opportunities as my little girl. If nothing else, I want them to feel the support and optimism about their existence. 

Finally, ponder these questions: Whose students are they? Are they “those” students, “your” students, “my” students, or “our” students?

How you answer this question, may determine the mark you leave. 

“Be kind to everyone, because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

-Plato

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

The Re-inventer

Malcolm X

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for today."

-Malcolm X

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father, an avid civil rights activist, was murdered by white supremacists in 1931, forcing his mother to admit herself in a psychiatric ward. 

Despite the hardships in school, Little was extremely intelligent. However, his perspective changed when his teacher told him he could not become a lawyer because he was black. 

It was in prison, in 1946, where he regained his loved for learning and began devouring books . In 1952 Malcolm  dropped “Little” as his last name and replaced it with “X”. This was a tribute to his African ancestors, and in the same year, he officially joined the Nation of Islam.

X’s powerful rhetoric for blacks such as ending racism “by any means necessary” and “you don’t have a peaceful revolution, you have a turn the cheek revolution”, helped the Nation of Islam accumulate 399,600 members in eight years.

After leaving the Nation of Islam, on bitter terms in 1964, he traveled to North Africa and the Middle East to regain a since of focus and deeper self understanding.

On February 21, 1965, at the age of 39 years old, Malcolm X was shot 15 times at point blank range by three Nation of Islam members.

Throughout his life, Malcolm X was constantly reinventing himself. Like X, our students, should take note that we are not written off by our past, but creators of our future. Malcolm went from a childhood of dreams, to a young man embraced by prison, to one of the most respected and controversial voices in the civl rights movement; and finally, a man who ended his life believing all men and women in this country had a place to live together in harmony. 

Malcolm X shows our students that we can use our voice to change the world and more importantly, change ourselves!


-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

The Birth Of Black History Month

“I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me.” 

-Dr. Carter G. Woodson

If I could meet Dr. Carter G. Woodson, I would thank him for having the moxie to, nationally, raise our country’s awareness about the significant contributions African Americans made toward society. To a larger degree, he did not realize he would be gracefully recognized like those he admired. 

Dr. Woodson was born into slavery on December 19,1875 in West Virginia. Although he could not attend school early in his childhood due to poverty, the determined Woodson taught himself the basics until he was 17 years old.  At the age of 20, in 1895, he enrolled in high school and graduated two years later. Fourteen years after obtaining his diploma, in 1912, he became the second African American to earn his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Once he completed his graduate studies, Dr. Woodson noticed the lack of distinguished African Americans presented in our “history books.”

Eager to change this historical account,   Dr. Woodson, in 1915, created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week as an effort to elevate our national consciousness to the notable efforts African Americans demonstrated throughout the country. 

He decided to place this celebration in February as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln (born in February 12, 1809) and Fredrick Douglass (born in February 20,1818) because of their positive and seismic influences on African Americans. 

As African Americans have shown through out history, change happens from thinking big ideas, communicating big ideas, and staying persistence with those big ideas. If our young minds understand and connect these three themes once this month is complete, our celebrations will be time well-spent.


-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

The Life and Legacy of Booker T. Washington

“There are two ways of exerting one's strength; one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.” 

-Booker T. Washington 

The legacy of Booker T. Washington inspires me. No matter how many times I read about his life or his book, Up from Slavery, I am reminded of the courage it must have taken to advocate for people, who in some cases, were not very receptive to his advocacy.  

I wonder in 1881, when the Alabama legislature approved $2,000 for a trade school for African Americans to attend, how did he feel? What’s more, I wonder how he responded when General Armstrong, a white man and his mentor, recommended the 25 year-old Washington take on the challenge of starting and leading the school from nothing?

By the time Booker T. Washington died in 1915, 33 years after he opened Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University)-the college had accumulated over $2 million in funding, trained students in 38 trades, employed 200 faculty members, constructed 100 buildings, and enrolled 1,500 students. Booker T. brought his vision to reality. 

The complexity of his legacy is more amazing than his accomplishments. Politically, he advocated for African-Americans to play a submissive role in society and not interfere with whites, while behind the scenes, he challenged the legal system on racism and unfair practices.

I am moved because he understood the power of goal setting. During his time at Tuskegee, his mission was to help African-Americans gain financial independence through specific areas of training. 

Finally, Booker T. Washington’s passion for education is the central theme for me. His story tells us how valuable our work is to our students. Washington understood that without an adequate education, his students were servants to rigid opportunities. However, with one, our students are servants to their limitless possibilities.

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

Leaders Of The Past: Fredrick Douglass

“If there is no struggle, then there is no progress!”
-Fredrick Douglass

As I was working on my dissertation, I came across some literature about Fredrick Douglass and was instantly intrigued. His story of slavery, writing and speaking, and his assistance in the Civil War has left a lasting impact on my thinking.

Douglass possessed the determination and persistence for greatness. As a young boy, he taught himself to read, ran away from his master by the age of 20 (that was the last time he was enslaved), and wrote three autobiographies: The Life of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave in 1845; My Bondage, My Freedom in 1855; and the Life and Times of Fredrick Douglass in 1881.

For sixteen years, this former slave, authored a newspaper, went on a two year speaking tour in Great Britain and Ireland, delivered thousands of speeches, and was a prominent champion for ending slavery. 

His passion for racial equality was transparent once the Civil War arrived. Fredrick Douglass was one of the most influential men in the world, and that influence was noted in 1863 when President Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves from the Confederate Territory. 

Douglass went on to serve on several political positions such as the president of Freedman’s Savings Bank, charge of affairs for Santo Domingo, general counsel to the Republic of Haiti, and in 1872, became the first African American to ever appear on a presidential ballot as a vice presidential nominee. 

Fredrick Douglass shows our students that our start does not predict our ending. Believing in yourself, taking advantage of all opportunities, and using your written and spoken communication can effect positive change in the world.

If our students carry these three traits, like this American legend, they can change the world as well.

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

The Five Leadership Traits My 3-Year Old Has Taught Me

" To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter. "  -Unknown

1. Focus On 1 Task 

Once Sophia, starts watching her daily episode of Doc Mc Stuffins, on Disney Junior-for 22 minutes-nothing else exist. In her mind, she could not focus on her show if she were doing something else.

2. Speak Your Truth

I remember when Crystal cooked dinner and asked Sophia if she liked it. Sophia’s response was, “No mommy, I do not like it.” If you ask her a question, she gives you an honest answer. It is as simple as that. 

3. Be Decisive  

After picking Sophia up from school, she said she wanted to go to Pizza Street, a buffet restaurant of different types of pizza. I suggested Chevys or Chic-fil-A. She sharply replied, “No, daddy! I want to go to Pizza Street.” I suggested the alternative restaurants 4-5 more times. The same response was replied back to me. We went to Pizza Street.

4. Ask Questions

“Daddy, what shape is this?” “Daddy, can I have some candy?” Daddy, are we going to school today?” “Daddy, can we play?” She does not assume anything and understands if she wants to know something, she must seek out the knowledge.

5. Use Your Imagination

I cannot tell you how many times I have turned our house into a super hero battleground between Spiderman (Sophia) and the Big Lizard (me). Spiderman always wins. She is always playful at heart with a smile on her face. 

Learning is around all of us. Sometimes, the teacher is an unlikely source. These five leadership traits stay with me during every walkthrough, parent phone call, and student interaction. What are you learning from an unlikely source?

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

I Cannot Imagine

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge

and controversy. 

-Dr. Martin Luther King

I cannot imagine leading a national boycott at twenty-six years old. Think about it, one person was able to work with so many, to boycott the most prevalent transportation system of its time-for 382 days. That type of dedication to a specific cause is unthinkable!

I cannot imagine going to jail twenty times, being stab in the chest, having my house bombed, being attacked frequently, and having threats against my family.

I cannot imagine in eleven years, traveling nearly 600 million miles, communicating  2,500 speeches, writing five books, a dozen articles, winning the Noble Peace Prize,meeting with the president, and being named Time magazine's Person Of The Year.

I cannot imagine delivering one of the most powerful speeches in United States history, in front of 250,000 people on the Washington Monument. 

His vision for equality made it possible for my wife and me to date, marry, and start a 

family. His voice inspired hope all over the world. His value for humanity brought all walks of life together. The valleys this country experience became the spring board to the victories I experience daily. Along the same lines, it is hard to believe that a man would volunteer his well-being to make my daughter's better.

His short-lived life embodies some of the most essential character traits we want from our students: collaboration, imagination, dedication, honesty, and critical thinking. 

I cannot imagine this world without  Dr. Martin Luther King! I cannot imagine the world without his dream.

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

Common Thread

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“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” 

-Mother Teresa 

​Every human being in this world shares one common thread. Despite who you are or what you are, we all share this same common thread. If you are lower class, upper class, or middle class-we all share this common thread. If you are a celebrity, CEO, stay at home parent or part of the working class-we all share this common thread. If you are healthy or inflicted with a disease-we all share in this common thread. This common thread can never be altered, manipulated, changed, or modified. 

Every human being from ancient to modern civilization all share this common thread. The one common thread that I am not referring to is that all people on this earth were conceived from a female. That is powerful, yet, we are not discussing that concept. This common thread, despite positions of power, share the same theme. By now, you are probably wondering what is this common thread? Every human being shares it. What is it you ask? It is simply this....we only have 24 hours a day.  
​
As a college instructor, I have shared this concept with my students and I receive the same look of “That’s It!"  As I have shared with them and now with you, despite, money, fame, grades, social status or emotional status; we have only 24 hours a day to make a difference. This realization is a powerful notion. We may be born with different resources, but NO ONE is born with more or less time. Therefore, the professional athletes, celebrities, business professionals, have the same amount of time as you. They have nothing more or nothing less. From my experience, most people don’t understand the significance of this concept. Conversely, once you truly understand the common thread, then it becomes a gift and a curse.
​
The gift is we should be encourage that we share the same basic element that some of our most successful counterparts share. No one is born with more thread than you. Everyday, we all start out with the same amount. We all end with the same amount. As Eric Thomas, one of the most powerful motivational speakers states, “...... the differences between Oprah and the person that is broke is how they use their 24 hours.”  Simply put, individuals are not successful because they have some magical gift; instead, they reach success because they understand the gift of time.

​The curse of the common thread is we cannot physically touch time. Time is elusive. Unlike money, you can see yourself giving the dollar away and seeing the immediate return on your purchase. Time is slightly different; you can spend one hour watching your favorite television show and you don’t physically see the time leaving your life-never to return again. It is so easy to waste time doing nothing. Before you know it, you have spent your day during meaningless activities and nothing to improve your life. America is one of the fattest nations in the world. The number one reason why people do not workout or have an active lifestyle is time. Most people use the same words to describe their reasoning for a non-active lifestyle, “I don’t have the time.”  Wait you don’t have the time? Most gyms open up no later than 5:30 a.m. and several facilities are open 24 hours. GET UP! You do not need 25 hours in a day, just use more of the 24 hours you already have.
​
The common thread is the most important element to any living organism on the earth. It has been said that the average lifespan of Americans is mid 70s. In one year, you will have 8,760 hours to use for your life. Once you have reach the age of 70 years old, you will have used 613,200 hours in your lifetime. Anyone that reaches 70 years old will have the opportunity to use those same number of hours. How are you going to use your hours?



-Ron S. Lewis, Ph.D. Candidate
-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

Normal is NOT AMAZING!

www.bigisthenewsmall.com

 “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

-Maya Angelou

What if I told you this is the best we can do? You would probably laugh and try to find your way to a new elementary school. No hope....what is the point?

We, as educators, are moving toward greatness! Yes, I said, “Greatness!” Why do I feel this way? Because the beginning of our success has nothing to do with the demographics, socio-economics, and/or test scores of our students.The power of change starts with us. 

We all play a major role on this team; therefore, the movement of change starts within. That means, after reading this post, you can start immediately. 

As you know, I have played basketball the majority of my life. The one theme I can take-a-way from that experience is the successful teams I played on carried a culture of winning. We believed if you were having a bad game, it was our job to pick you up. If you had the game of your life, we celebrated your achievement. I remember the 10th, 11th, and 12th man working as hard as our leading scorer.

Ultimately, you determine how you respond to adversity, the content of your parking lot conversations, how you react to challenging students, how you treat one another, the value you place on your practice, your approach with combative parents, your role in our school, and your thoughts-which are the first steps before action. 

When we determine we want to be truly GREAT-and I mean truly great-every minute of everyday, our culture will change forever! As long as we remember and recognize our students are #1 priority-we have started moving in the right direction. 

Now, let’s build on what we have started....

-Rodney S. Lewis, Ed.D.

From Valley to Victory

"One sees great things from the valley: only small things from the peak."

 G. K. Chesterton

Take a moment to visualize a valley in the landscape. You will see a hill that reaches a peak then slopes downward into a ditch. But if there’s another hill, then the land comes back up to a peak, which may be higher than the last, only to go back down again. 

Similarly, think about a roller coaster; it creeps up to its highest point and then all of a sudden, it speeds downward, making you scream in fear before it returns to another high point, only to go back down to the low point again. You can feel the drop in your stomach, as you reach the bottom of the hill. I hate that feeling and at times life can be frightening like that, too.

The way you choose to respond when you are in a valley will shape your character.  Everyone will have to go through difficult times that test your values and force you to use your voice. It is often said that life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it. The response matters and you ALWAYS have a choice regarding how you will respond to any situation. You decide what you will say and what you will do. 

The valley is not the end of your story, simply one piece of it that helps shape who you are. Your approach and response to the valleys ultimately determine your success. Either you move forward through the struggle or dig deeper into the ditch. Those dark valleys will teach you some valuable lessons that you will have the rest of your life.

How do we teach our students to come out of their valleys and deal with their valleys? Too often the only response to the valley our students conceive end up taking them deeper. They may not have been taught that they have the power to take actions that can create different results in their lives. Through brokeness and lack of compassion our students end up perpetuating the hurt in their lives by imposing it on others. 

This cycle then falsely becomes the norm and ironically peace of spirit becomes an anomaly.  Let’s strive to provide our students with opportunities to learn the necessary life skills to deal with conflicts, disappointments, and difficult situations. Considering a new value system, having supportive voices and creating a vision for students to focus on offers varying perspectives that potentially have the power to alter the course of their lives.

KEEP GIVING,
Angela R. Lewis

Find A Voice

Picture from technorati.com

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning."
-Maya Angelou

Everyone needs that person in his or her life who nurtures their hopes and dreams. One student I spoke to recently told me that her mother is extremely negative and always telling her she isn’t good enough. In addition, her mother constantly compares her to her older sister whom her mother considered a failure. This young woman went on to explain that she doesn’t want to be like her mother, bringing everyone down and hurting people. As a result she chooses to be different in spite of the negativity she hears daily. Since her mother is not a positive sustaining voice, she strengthens herself by using her voice to find other voices. The worst thing you could do in a situation like this is to not tell anyone. Consequently, you end up crippling your voice. Do not give other people the power to silence you!

If you do not have one of those positive individuals speaking loudly enough actively seek other outlets. That voice can come in the form of authors, songwriters, coaches, or musicians, etc. You may be in a situation where you feel as if no one in your life understands.  If this is your situation, find an encouraging song that you love. I rely on the voice of a vocalist India Arie, whose song, “Strength, Courage and Wisdom,” is the theme to my life. When I hear those words from her voice, I know that I am able to move forward in pursuit of my dreams without fear.  While listening to the voices of positive people, your voice also gains strength as you internalize their messages.

Keep Giving,

Angela R. Lewis