a third eye I was so lucky enough to experience one of the biggest highlights
experience one of the biggest highlights
experience one of the biggest highlights of my teaching career of my 38th year
of my teaching career of my 38th year
of my teaching career of my 38th year teaching career just a few short months
teaching career just a few short months
teaching career just a few short months ago when I was hired to give a literacy
ago when I was hired to give a literacy
ago when I was hired to give a literacy presentation an all-day literacy
presentation an all-day literacy
presentation an all-day literacy workshop to a group of educators who I
workshop to a group of educators who I
workshop to a group of educators who I had never met before and in a school
had never met before and in a school
had never met before and in a school where I had never been
where I had never been
where I had never been I thought the morning went pretty well
I thought the morning went pretty well
I thought the morning went pretty well and then at lunchtime the principal
and then at lunchtime the principal
and then at lunchtime the principal approached me and said Sharon I don’t
approached me and said Sharon I don’t
approached me and said Sharon I don’t know if you saw the the teacher that was
know if you saw the the teacher that was
know if you saw the the teacher that was crying and had to leave during your
crying and had to leave during your
crying and had to leave during your workshop and I hadn’t really noticed I
workshop and I hadn’t really noticed I
workshop and I hadn’t really noticed I thought boy I hope I didn’t you know do
thought boy I hope I didn’t you know do
thought boy I hope I didn’t you know do something you know say something to
something you know say something to
something you know say something to upset somebody and she said what you
upset somebody and she said what you
upset somebody and she said what you don’t understand is that she lost the
don’t understand is that she lost the
don’t understand is that she lost the love of her life two short weeks ago he
love of her life two short weeks ago he
love of her life two short weeks ago he passed away in his sleep he was only 35
passed away in his sleep he was only 35
passed away in his sleep he was only 35 years old and his name was Jason and I
years old and his name was Jason and I
years old and his name was Jason and I was just taken aback that she was even
was just taken aback that she was even
was just taken aback that she was even there that that the principal went on to
there that that the principal went on to
there that that the principal went on to explain she said Sharon during your talk
explain she said Sharon during your talk
explain she said Sharon during your talk you mentioned that you had started your
you mentioned that you had started your
you mentioned that you had started your career in in another district and the
career in in another district and the
career in in another district and the teacher Christine put two has started
teacher Christine put two has started
teacher Christine put two has started putting two a two together and realized
putting two a two together and realized
putting two a two together and realized that I had been Jason’s kindergarten
that I had been Jason’s kindergarten
that I had been Jason’s kindergarten teacher some thirty years previously I
teacher some thirty years previously I
teacher some thirty years previously I was so I was so taken aback during lunch
was so I was so taken aback during lunch
was so I was so taken aback during lunch I pictured Jason the little boy that I
I pictured Jason the little boy that I
I pictured Jason the little boy that I remembered blonde little blonde boy and
remembered blonde little blonde boy and
remembered blonde little blonde boy and I remember him as a quiet shy little
I remember him as a quiet shy little
I remember him as a quiet shy little little boy really a really sweet little
little boy really a really sweet little
little boy really a really sweet little boy I scrolled Facebook and I was
boy I scrolled Facebook and I was
boy I scrolled Facebook and I was looking for him now as an adult and I
looking for him now as an adult and I
looking for him now as an adult and I found him as I covered up part of his
found him as I covered up part of his
found him as I covered up part of his like facial hair of why I recognized
like facial hair of why I recognized
like facial hair of why I recognized those eyes immediately I couldn’t wait
those eyes immediately I couldn’t wait
those eyes immediately I couldn’t wait for that session to be over because I
for that session to be over because I
for that session to be over because I wanted to talk to Christine Christine
wanted to talk to Christine Christine
wanted to talk to Christine Christine came up afterwards and said to me she
came up afterwards and said to me she
came up afterwards and said to me she said you know don’t you and I said I I
said you know don’t you and I said I I
said you know don’t you and I said I I do I said I’m so sorry I said your your
do I said I’m so sorry I said your your
do I said I’m so sorry I said your your principal told me what had happened and
principal told me what had happened and
principal told me what had happened and then Christine gave me the gift of a
then Christine gave me the gift of a
then Christine gave me the gift of a lifetime she said to me she said you
lifetime she said to me she said you
lifetime she said to me she said you don’t understand he talked about you all
don’t understand he talked about you all
don’t understand he talked about you all the time
the time
the time she said she said that you believed in
she said she said that you believed in
she said she said that you believed in him I mean that’s what every teacher
him I mean that’s what every teacher
him I mean that’s what every teacher waits to hear she said when I would have
waits to hear she said when I would have
waits to hear she said when I would have a difficult day at school or a
a difficult day at school or a
a difficult day at school or a challenging day and we all do
challenging day and we all do
challenging day and we all do she would say Jason would say to her
she would say Jason would say to her
she would say Jason would say to her comfort her and say just do what mrs. s
comfort her and say just do what mrs. s
comfort her and say just do what mrs. s swine did just believe in the children I
swine did just believe in the children I
swine did just believe in the children I was so taken aback by what had happened
was so taken aback by what had happened
was so taken aback by what had happened I thought wow what are the chances I was
I thought wow what are the chances I was
I thought wow what are the chances I was in a totally random school and this was
in a totally random school and this was
in a totally random school and this was 30 years ago you know they say the
30 years ago you know they say the
30 years ago you know they say the coincidence is God’s Way of remaining
coincidence is God’s Way of remaining
coincidence is God’s Way of remaining anonymous I wanted to show you this is
anonymous I wanted to show you this is
anonymous I wanted to show you this is our class the kindergarten class from
our class the kindergarten class from
our class the kindergarten class from 1987 and yep that’s that’s me on the
1987 and yep that’s that’s me on the
1987 and yep that’s that’s me on the right and there is Jason in the second
right and there is Jason in the second
right and there is Jason in the second row as I process this and as I pulled
row as I process this and as I pulled
row as I process this and as I pulled pulled out of the parking lot that day I
pulled out of the parking lot that day I
pulled out of the parking lot that day I just remember thinking I had so so many
just remember thinking I had so so many
just remember thinking I had so so many mixed emotions one of my emotions was I
mixed emotions one of my emotions was I
mixed emotions one of my emotions was I was devastated for Christine I was sad
was devastated for Christine I was sad
was devastated for Christine I was sad that I hadn’t gotten to know Jason as an
that I hadn’t gotten to know Jason as an
that I hadn’t gotten to know Jason as an adult but most of all I was grateful I’m
adult but most of all I was grateful I’m
adult but most of all I was grateful I’m so grateful that whatever I had done you
so grateful that whatever I had done you
so grateful that whatever I had done you know had I had influenced him in a
know had I had influenced him in a
know had I had influenced him in a positive way and then it got really
positive way and then it got really
positive way and then it got really nervous I thought I had some I’m so
nervous I thought I had some I’m so
nervous I thought I had some I’m so unknowingly had an effect on him what if
unknowingly had an effect on him what if
unknowingly had an effect on him what if I had done something you know it had
I had done something you know it had
I had done something you know it had been the other way around what if I did
been the other way around what if I did
been the other way around what if I did something that didn’t ignite his spark
something that didn’t ignite his spark
something that didn’t ignite his spark and I thought what is it that made a
and I thought what is it that made a
and I thought what is it that made a sin’ you know feel that way we can’t
sin’ you know feel that way we can’t
sin’ you know feel that way we can’t assume that people know what we believe
assume that people know what we believe
assume that people know what we believe and how we feel Kelly Gallagher calls
and how we feel Kelly Gallagher calls
and how we feel Kelly Gallagher calls that a suicide and we don’t want to ever
that a suicide and we don’t want to ever
that a suicide and we don’t want to ever assume that so I got to thinking how how
assume that so I got to thinking how how
assume that so I got to thinking how how did he feel how did Jason how did he get
did he feel how did Jason how did he get
did he feel how did Jason how did he get that feeling during that year in school
that feeling during that year in school
that feeling during that year in school what grew that in him and then I got to
what grew that in him and then I got to
what grew that in him and then I got to thinking how do we we all have
thinking how do we we all have
thinking how do we we all have tremendous power to impact others but
tremendous power to impact others but
tremendous power to impact others but then how do we ignite that spark in
then how do we ignite that spark in
then how do we ignite that spark in others but then how do we ignite
others but then how do we ignite
others but then how do we ignite sparking ourselves first so that that we
sparking ourselves first so that that we
sparking ourselves first so that that we can help others and why is it so vital
can help others and why is it so vital
can help others and why is it so vital to living I always believed that we are
to living I always believed that we are
to living I always believed that we are here on earth to give our passions and
here on earth to give our passions and
here on earth to give our passions and our interest and make our contribution
our interest and make our contribution
our interest and make our contribution to the world but how do we empower
to the world but how do we empower
to the world but how do we empower ourselves so that we can make that
ourselves so that we can make that
ourselves so that we can make that contribution to the world empowerment is
contribution to the world empowerment is
contribution to the world empowerment is a daily inside-out process and I mean
a daily inside-out process and I mean
a daily inside-out process and I mean daily because it’s it’s like you don’t
daily because it’s it’s like you don’t
daily because it’s it’s like you don’t eat once and for all so you can’t ignite
eat once and for all so you can’t ignite
eat once and for all so you can’t ignite you can’t just empower your inside once
you can’t just empower your inside once
you can’t just empower your inside once and for all it’s a daily beginning of
and for all it’s a daily beginning of
and for all it’s a daily beginning of the morning practice and where you think
the morning practice and where you think
the morning practice and where you think what am I going to practice today and
what am I going to practice today and
what am I going to practice today and how how am I going to grow a friend of
how how am I going to grow a friend of
how how am I going to grow a friend of mine says it this way she says take a
mine says it this way she says take a
mine says it this way she says take a sip she says be strategic intentional
sip she says be strategic intentional
sip she says be strategic intentional and purposeful about whatever it is that
and purposeful about whatever it is that
and purposeful about whatever it is that you’re going to practice on that
you’re going to practice on that
you’re going to practice on that particular day I see it this way there’s
particular day I see it this way there’s
particular day I see it this way there’s a doing part of you and then there’s a
a doing part of you and then there’s a
a doing part of you and then there’s a being part of you think of that being
being part of you think of that being
being part of you think of that being part of you as being that internal
part of you as being that internal
part of you as being that internal compass that’s going to guide your doing
compass that’s going to guide your doing
compass that’s going to guide your doing that internal compass is your why you
that internal compass is your why you
that internal compass is your why you figure out your why and then your how
figure out your why and then your how
figure out your why and then your how how are you going to practice that today
how are you going to practice that today
how are you going to practice that today we’re here to grow so how are you going
we’re here to grow so how are you going
we’re here to grow so how are you going to grow that day when I thought back
to grow that day when I thought back
to grow that day when I thought back about Jason’s story I was thinking you
about Jason’s story I was thinking you
about Jason’s story I was thinking you know I know that day I was probably so
know I know that day I was probably so
know I know that day I was probably so concerned about whatever lesson I was
concerned about whatever lesson I was
concerned about whatever lesson I was doing I was probably concerned about
doing I was probably concerned about
doing I was probably concerned about trying to get twenty five five-year-olds
trying to get twenty five five-year-olds
trying to get twenty five five-year-olds in a line but it was my it was my beam
in a line but it was my it was my beam
in a line but it was my it was my beam that had the lasting impact on on Jason
that had the lasting impact on on Jason
that had the lasting impact on on Jason how you live out your gifts is an inner
how you live out your gifts is an inner
how you live out your gifts is an inner practice before it’s an outward action I
practice before it’s an outward action I
practice before it’s an outward action I like to think of it this way your
like to think of it this way your
like to think of it this way your external is a reflection of your
external is a reflection of your
external is a reflection of your internal so you’ve got to take your take
internal so you’ve got to take your take
internal so you’ve got to take your take time to route yourself every morning or
time to route yourself every morning or
time to route yourself every morning or else or else you don’t grow and that’s
else or else you don’t grow and that’s
else or else you don’t grow and that’s what we’re here for is to grow sometimes
what we’re here for is to grow sometimes
what we’re here for is to grow sometimes I think it’s an endless practice and
I think it’s an endless practice and
I think it’s an endless practice and sometimes I think why am I talking about
sometimes I think why am I talking about
sometimes I think why am I talking about this because sometimes I’m not very good
this because sometimes I’m not very good
this because sometimes I’m not very good at that why don’t I take my own advice
at that why don’t I take my own advice
at that why don’t I take my own advice and then I realize but my job is growing
and then I realize but my job is growing
and then I realize but my job is growing that’s what I’m here to do so I try to
that’s what I’m here to do so I try to
that’s what I’m here to do so I try to make sure to focus on that every single
make sure to focus on that every single
make sure to focus on that every single day I love this graph by Jessica Hagee
day I love this graph by Jessica Hagee
day I love this graph by Jessica Hagee who wrote how to be interesting and she
who wrote how to be interesting and she
who wrote how to be interesting and she looks at it like this the a is the task
looks at it like this the a is the task
looks at it like this the a is the task at hand your heart you can put your
at hand your heart you can put your
at hand your heart you can put your heart into it put your feeling into it
heart into it put your feeling into it
heart into it put your feeling into it put your practice into it that’s what
put your practice into it that’s what
put your practice into it that’s what ignites your spark and then the task
ignites your spark and then the task
ignites your spark and then the task whatever it is becomes a joy and less of
whatever it is becomes a joy and less of
whatever it is becomes a joy and less of Achor so what do I practice every day
Achor so what do I practice every day
Achor so what do I practice every day sometimes it might be something as
sometimes it might be something as
sometimes it might be something as simple as love just to love bigger this
simple as love just to love bigger this
simple as love just to love bigger this quote hangs on my computer at work it
quote hangs on my computer at work it
quote hangs on my computer at work it says love is your job description no
says love is your job description no
says love is your job description no matter what you do for a living if you
matter what you do for a living if you
matter what you do for a living if you ever feel unsure of what you’re supposed
ever feel unsure of what you’re supposed
ever feel unsure of what you’re supposed to do in a situation here’s a good rule
to do in a situation here’s a good rule
to do in a situation here’s a good rule of thumb always do what leads to greater
of thumb always do what leads to greater
of thumb always do what leads to greater love sometimes it might be something as
love sometimes it might be something as
love sometimes it might be something as simple as being a better listener if
simple as being a better listener if
simple as being a better listener if there’s something I’m not particularly
there’s something I’m not particularly
there’s something I’m not particularly looking forward to that day I try to say
looking forward to that day I try to say
looking forward to that day I try to say I get to instead of I have to if I’ve
I get to instead of I have to if I’ve
I get to instead of I have to if I’ve got a big looming task overwhelming in
got a big looming task overwhelming in
got a big looming task overwhelming in front of me I try to practice all during
front of me I try to practice all during
front of me I try to practice all during the day saying one step at a time or no
the day saying one step at a time or no
the day saying one step at a time or no big deal I tried to talk to myself
big deal I tried to talk to myself
big deal I tried to talk to myself instead of listen to myself so much
instead of listen to myself so much
instead of listen to myself so much that’s what John Gurdon I read in one of
that’s what John Gurdon I read in one of
that’s what John Gurdon I read in one of his books because he says you know be
his books because he says you know be
his books because he says you know be careful what you say to yourself because
careful what you say to yourself because
careful what you say to yourself because you’re listening the next step is to
you’re listening the next step is to
you’re listening the next step is to write it down this only takes a matter
write it down this only takes a matter
write it down this only takes a matter of a few minutes but my my binder my
of a few minutes but my my binder my
of a few minutes but my my binder my three-ring notebook or whatever you want
three-ring notebook or whatever you want
three-ring notebook or whatever you want to use a journal that’s my best my best
to use a journal that’s my best my best
to use a journal that’s my best my best and biggest tool karin-san Wilson says
and biggest tool karin-san Wilson says
and biggest tool karin-san Wilson says we journal because some questions just
we journal because some questions just
we journal because some questions just can’t be answered by Google the actual
can’t be answered by Google the actual
can’t be answered by Google the actual the actual writing down helps embed it
the actual writing down helps embed it
the actual writing down helps embed it in your brain and helps you to think so
in your brain and helps you to think so
in your brain and helps you to think so I would definitely encourage you to get
I would definitely encourage you to get
I would definitely encourage you to get a journal empower yourself first then
a journal empower yourself first then
a journal empower yourself first then help others to ignite their spark be a
help others to ignite their spark be a
help others to ignite their spark be a balcony person for someone else and I
balcony person for someone else and I
balcony person for someone else and I don’t mean somebody just sitting in the
don’t mean somebody just sitting in the
don’t mean somebody just sitting in the balcony I mean be leaning over
balcony I mean be leaning over
balcony I mean be leaning over encouraging them yelling just impacting
encouraging them yelling just impacting
encouraging them yelling just impacting their lives in a positive way when my
their lives in a positive way when my
their lives in a positive way when my granddaughters were preschool age we
granddaughters were preschool age we
granddaughters were preschool age we used to walk around the neighborhood and
used to walk around the neighborhood and
used to walk around the neighborhood and we would take like a grass
we would take like a grass
we would take like a grass to walk and say the things that we were
to walk and say the things that we were
to walk and say the things that we were thankful for so we we called it
thankful for so we we called it
thankful for so we we called it practicing thanks living I’m an yet
practicing thanks living I’m an yet
practicing thanks living I’m an yet another day when they were in preschool
another day when they were in preschool
another day when they were in preschool my youngest granddaughter was taking a
my youngest granddaughter was taking a
my youngest granddaughter was taking a walk and she she fell on the on the path
walk and she she fell on the on the path
walk and she she fell on the on the path and she got up she was placed three or
and she got up she was placed three or
and she got up she was placed three or four and her knees to her bleed she gets
four and her knees to her bleed she gets
four and her knees to her bleed she gets us look on her face and then she said
us look on her face and then she said
us look on her face and then she said she goes I choose joy I I choose joy you
she goes I choose joy I I choose joy you
she goes I choose joy I I choose joy you know and I I think I thank God that joy
know and I I think I thank God that joy
know and I I think I thank God that joy was our practice that day this is
was our practice that day this is
was our practice that day this is actually a journal page out of my oldest
actually a journal page out of my oldest
actually a journal page out of my oldest granddaughters journal and from a long
granddaughters journal and from a long
granddaughters journal and from a long time ago and I loved it because she
time ago and I loved it because she
time ago and I loved it because she titled it people I gave joy to today and
titled it people I gave joy to today and
titled it people I gave joy to today and when I kept thinking when the world be a
when I kept thinking when the world be a
when I kept thinking when the world be a wonderful place you know if we all
wonderful place you know if we all
wonderful place you know if we all started the day like this Who am I going
started the day like this Who am I going
started the day like this Who am I going to give joy to that day we are all human
to give joy to that day we are all human
to give joy to that day we are all human B Cummings
B Cummings
B Cummings think of it that way instead of human
think of it that way instead of human
think of it that way instead of human who human beings I encourage you to
who human beings I encourage you to
who human beings I encourage you to every day pick what you’re going to
every day pick what you’re going to
every day pick what you’re going to practice okay and live in that for that
practice okay and live in that for that
practice okay and live in that for that that day I want you to practice living
that day I want you to practice living
that day I want you to practice living in your power moving in your power and
in your power moving in your power and
in your power moving in your power and living in your power that day and become
living in your power that day and become
living in your power that day and become a better person happiness is the joy we
a better person happiness is the joy we
a better person happiness is the joy we feel growing towards our potential so
feel growing towards our potential so
feel growing towards our potential so michelle gielan says in broadcasting
michelle gielan says in broadcasting
michelle gielan says in broadcasting happiness I might look back at Jason’s
happiness I might look back at Jason’s
happiness I might look back at Jason’s story I think isn’t it amazing that even
story I think isn’t it amazing that even
story I think isn’t it amazing that even though he’s no longer on this earth that
though he’s no longer on this earth that
though he’s no longer on this earth that his spark is still shining and that’s a
his spark is still shining and that’s a
his spark is still shining and that’s a life well-lived that’s the definition of
life well-lived that’s the definition of
life well-lived that’s the definition of legacy I look back at that 30 years ago
legacy I look back at that 30 years ago
legacy I look back at that 30 years ago and I know that what I was thinking
and I know that what I was thinking
and I know that what I was thinking about was the tests to be graded the
about was the tests to be graded the
about was the tests to be graded the books to be read but what had lasting
books to be read but what had lasting
books to be read but what had lasting impact you know was the believing in him
impact you know was the believing in him
impact you know was the believing in him this is another graph by Jessica Hagee
this is another graph by Jessica Hagee
this is another graph by Jessica Hagee and she says if you take a look a what
and she says if you take a look a what
and she says if you take a look a what your job description says be what you
your job description says be what you
your job description says be what you can really do we’re conditioned to
can really do we’re conditioned to
can really do we’re conditioned to believe that we’re just paid for our
believe that we’re just paid for our
believe that we’re just paid for our doing the doing is really important and
doing the doing is really important and
doing the doing is really important and necessary but the biggest impact comes
necessary but the biggest impact comes
necessary but the biggest impact comes in who you’re who you are being so think
in who you’re who you are being so think
in who you’re who you are being so think about it this way you’re Jason maybe on
about it this way you’re Jason maybe on
about it this way you’re Jason maybe on on the way so on behalf of my Jason go
on the way so on behalf of my Jason go
on the way so on behalf of my Jason go forth from within thank you
forth from within thank you
forth from within thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment