4-10-2015

Mary’s Minute

"Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are."                                                          - Author Unknown

I recently heard about a lady from Michigan who was celebrating her 115th birthday and reporters seeking to find the secret to her longevity.  The report noted that she loved fast food and watched a lot of television. (She loved Wheel of Fortune.)  When pressed for the reason for her long life, she revealed it was simply, "being nice."
When we view life from an empathetic stance we want to be nice because we know how it makes others feel, but it is more than that. Being nice is a reflection of who we are, and it it makes us feel better and maybe even live longer. I am proud that at Perry Central we strive to be nice because we truly care about our students, parents, and community. We also are nice because it is who we are. On rare occasions people are not polite to us, but we respond by being nice - not because of them, but because of us. School board member, Glenn Etienne, shared with me a comical take on this notion from a Roadhouse movie clip where Patrick Swayze tells bouncers to, "be nice."  (Warning - the clip is for an adult audience.)
Like the Michigan woman who credits her long life to being nice, I credit much of Perry Central's success to the action of kindness, reflecting who we are and what we believe. I am proud to part of this "nice" tradition.
                            Have a great week!
                                   Mary