Tag Change is Good

A Year of Lessons – Filling in the gaps

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A Year of Lessons – Filling in the gaps via Daily Prompt: Unfinished

A year of lessons.jpg

365 days ago I felt like a ship without a sail. Having made the decision to walk away from teaching after 10 years, my focus was solely on our family and farm. I knew this was the right choice, but the hole where teaching had been left a huge crack in what I knew about myself. Life has a funny way of filling in the cracks. I knew there would be no trouble filling my days with work, but I had no idea how full those days could become.

Working for the farm full time provided wonderful opportunities for physical activity and greater time with our cattle and turkeys, and my husband of course.

png 1 Lesson #1: You can’t schedule life on a farm. The farm will schedule life for you.

Our turkeys and cattle always seem to know when we are in a hurry to get somewhere or when we have made plans for something special. If there is a wedding to attend, you can bet there will be a cow or two out or the turkeys will break their feedline, necessitating the repair and clean up of a couple tons of feed. When the holidays approach, we know to expect the delivery of a flock of poults (baby turkeys) or a cow to go missing. If I am scheduled to be somewhere, you can bet that an electric fencer will go out or a water line will bust and my new appointment will be to the farm supply store to pick up parts or deliver a replacement from the farm shop. Baby calves are born or go missing in the worst weather or at the most inconvenient time, but they are our babies and we drop everything to ensure their safety. Turkeys are not the smartest animals and they will create the biggest messes when it seems we need things to go the smoothest.

png 1 Lesson #2: When you do not hold a scheduled job, people don’t think you work and tell you so. Continue reading “A Year of Lessons – Filling in the gaps” →

Hang In There!

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Hang In There!

Hang in There 17

Last week my son, who is in kindergarten, was not wanting to go to school. He sulked the whole way. As we pulled into the school parking lot, I said, “Cheer up, buddy, you only have like 9 more weeks until summer.”

The transformation of his attitude was too great to express in words. The smile that crept onto his face was radiant, and he said with tremendous hope, “And then I will be a 1st grader?”

Who knew the potential of being a 1st grader was the motivation he needed to hang tough that day? I thought the promise of sleeping in, baseball, and summer vacation would get him going. (Silly mama!) The things that motivate are as unique as each individual in any situation.

Spring is a season of excitement and new beginnings but the hints of those new beginning can really challenge us. We feel the effects of spring fever and it makes it hard to stay focused and hang in there.

At a recent get-together with some of my friends (most of whom are teachers), all shared their end-of-school countdowns. Each one knew exactly how many days were left. (Teachers are just as excited as students for summer.) That number, the exact number of days left in school, was something that brought smiles to each of their faces.

I am never motivated by the number of days remaining. I am motivated by the lessons I have

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A storm rolling in

left to teach. I know exactly what I want to teach before the end of the year and I keep those goals in the forefront of my focus. Again, the things that motivate us are as unique as we are.

As we hang tough with spring, we have to keep in mind the different motivations and stressors of those around us. The blooming ambitions of students, co-workers, family, and friends sprout anxieties and issues that storm through relationships. It can be tough to hang with the winds of change and stress, but it can be done.

Hang in there! Keep your focus on productive goals and grace in your words. Patience and understanding will prevail with a sunny disposition. Add positive intent and determined energy and fair days will flourish.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. Follow the rainbow.jpg

 

 

Batter Up! – First (Make change happen)

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Batter Up! – First (Make change happen)

Lead Off Hitter.jpg

So excited to lead off, my son beat everyone onto the field.

 

The first batter of a team is called the lead-off hitter. At a recent game my son was awarded the honor of being the lead-off hitter. He was so excited; he beat EVERYONE onto the field.

This is a key position in the batting line-up because your team is counting on you to hit your way on base and get the game going on a good note.Being the lead-off hitter is a lot of pressure. You don’t want to start the game with an out.

In life we are offered chances to be the first to take on a task or start a movement. Do you embrace those opportunities, do you shy away from the chance, or are you empowered by the ability to start things off with change?

If you are not presented the lead-off spot, do you cheer on your teammates or those who step up to the plate before you? Are you ready to give them support for their efforts and rally them in losing situations?

Today my wish for everyone is that they would feel the same excitement and enthusiasm my son felt.

I hope that each person finds it in their hearts and minds to step up to the plate for a cause or opportunity that leads to positive change in our world. Be the lead-off player who brings it home for the underdogs or who bolsters your team with a hit to the heart of an unkind adversary. Take the lead. Make change.

By: Melanie A. Peters