12-1-2017

Mary’s Minute

“Always be yourself. At the end of the day, that's all you've really got; when you strip everything down, that's all you've got, so always be yourself.”

                                                                   ~ Al Roker

“Be yourself, but always your better self.”

                                                                   ~ Karl G. Maeser

I have found in life that the people who seem the happiest are people who can be themselves.  Ultimately that is all we really have.  We see it in the world in very public ways, and we all have also probably experienced it for ourselves at some level.  The world is full of messages telling us who we should be, and it is easy to get discouraged and want to be different. 

I like the reminder from Karl Maeser to work to be a “better self.”  There is a big difference between continual improvement and trying to be someone we are not. 

To be happy and find success, we need to be who we are while we work to continually be the best we can be. 

With messages coming at us from many directions in the information age in which we live, it can be easy to lose sight of this simple, but important charge.  BE YOU! 

At Perry Central we strive to stay focused on being who we are and not feeling pressure to be like other schools.  At the same time we are determined to be the best school we can be.  There is a difference between continual improvement and being someone we are not. 

                                                               Have a great week!

                                                                                Mary

11-17-2017

Mary's Minute

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and 
change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

                                                         ~ William Arthur Ward

I have been writing Mary’s Minute for fifteen years, and I am guessing (I did not do the research.) that gratitude is the most common topic about which I have written.  With Thanksgiving upon us, I cannot help but think about the beauty of the gift of feeling and sharing gratitude.  I have read that people in the most horrific situations get through them because they feel gratitude.  Anne Frank is a perfect example.  No matter what our situation, we always can find things for which we are thankful.  

My mom has always taught me that every day can be a holiday, and this quote reminded me that every single day can and should be “Thanksgiving.”  If we can start each day by thinking about the things that are blessings in our lives, we are guaranteed to have a better day.  It sounds simple, but it really is true. 

The other important element of gratitude is expressing it.  All people appreciate being appreciated, so expressing our gratitude is always a good idea! 

This Thanksgiving Week, please know that I am thankful for each of you – for what you mean to Perry Central and to me personally.  I know that you all work very hard for the students of Perry Central.  Please know that you are appreciated!  

                                                       Have a great week!

                                                                       Mary

11-10-2017

Mary’s Minute

“We don't develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.”

                                                              ~ Barbara De Angelis

I believe that to live is to be happy, and there is a difference between living and surviving.  There are times in our lives that we are not able to live, but only to survive.  During difficult times, we survive.  Sometimes we go into survival mode for physical healing, and sometimes it is emotional.  Survival mode can last for hours, days, months or even years.

Even when we have a bad case of the flu for a few days, we are content to survive.  Thinking of what we go through for physical survival helps us understand emotional survival.  In our work or everyday life, we may not even realize when we go into survival mode.  The great thing about surviving is that it builds character and courage, making us stronger for when we are able to begin living again. 

To live is to be happy!  I think it is good to be reflective about our lives and consider if we are living or surviving.  Survival is important, but we need to get past it in order to be happy and to truly live.  Survival is easy to identify when it occurs for physical reasons, but when it happens because we get in a rut, it may be more difficult to spot.  Survival allows us moments of happiness, but not true happiness that comes from living!  Survival is not bad; it builds courage and takes us back to being alive again.  My wish for you is the wisdom to know the difference between living and surviving, so that you can maximize the time you feel alive!

                                                        Have a great week!

                                                                                   Mary

11-3-2017

Mary’s Minute

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

                                                                                     ~ Pele

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”

                                                             ~ Steve Jobs

Career development in our youth has tremendous personal implications, as well as consequences for our country’s economy.  There is a great deal of discussion around career pathways and preparing our students for their future.  We are working to prepare our students for jobs that will contribute to our economy and that fit their personal skill set and aptitude.    We want our students to be successful!  Pele and Steve Jobs point out one of the most important elements to this process is finding fulfilling work. 

As schools and parents we need to help our children find their passions and help develop pathways that turn their passions into careers.  I know it isn’t always this simple, and we learn as we go.

Sparked by teachers, my own children are looking at careers that speak to their passions. My daughter, Zoe, loves writing and is studying creative writing in college.  Some people chuckle wondering how she can turn that into a viable career.  The jury is still out on that.  Bill’s passion is math and science, so he thinks being a theoretical physicist is the job that fulfill him.  I am lucky to have found work that I love my entire life.  I love working with people.  In the beginning of my career, I worked with little people – kindergartners.  Now I work mostly with adults, but the key is that I find joy in forging positive relationships.

 

I hope each of you find joy in your work, and thank you for helping our students consider careers where they find fulfillment.

                                                  Have a great week!

                                                                              Mary