2-28-2020

Mary’s Minute

“It is good people who make good places.”

                                                                        ~ Anna Sewell

As I go through life I am amazed and grateful for all the good people in the world!  There is so much kindness and genuine good in the world.  I see it in small gestures from strangers or new people I meet.  I see it most of all in people with whom I am blessed to work.  I had that experience at Perry Central, and now I have it at Sheridan.  It sounds simple or cliché but it is so true – people are good, and people make a difference!

When I was a young grant writer, I can remember the thrill of writing grant proposals to get “stuff.”  Afterall, stuff is concrete, so in my naïve way, I thought stuff would make a difference.  What I have found is that people make a difference!  Caring adults change the lives of children.  Scientists come up with ground-breaking discoveries.  Artists create masterpieces.  People make a difference!

And Anna Sewell takes the notion a step further reminding us that the collective progress of good people makes good places.  How empowering is that?  By being your natural good self, you have the power to change lives and change places! 

I have been writing Mary’s Minute for over 17 years, but today is the first time I am writing for my new Sheridan Community School audience.  I try not to be too preachy and just write from my heart, and my remarks just take a minute to read! 

I came from Perry County where good people made a good place, and I was drawn to Sheridan for the good I saw in the people and the place! 

I am thankful for good people.  I am thankful for the difference good people make, and I am excited about what we can do together!

                                                 Have a great week!

                                                                 Mary

1-21-2020

Mary’s Minute

“Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.”

                                                                        ~ Albert Einstein

I love problem solving!  Being able to generate ideas with people who share my enthusiasm for ideas is one of the greatest feelings there is.  The process is generative in that one idea leads to another and another.  Admittedly, not all ideas are great, but sometimes even a bad idea can help someone else think of something.  It feels like rapid fire ping pong balls flying as one person suggests an idea, leading another person to think of something different but connected, and then back to the original person for an idea much richer than the first, and so on.

Most of us have been through a formal brainstorming scenario and understand the rules of the process.  We have been in the circle where the center of attention is a magic marker and chart paper taking down every idea without criticism or initial discussion, the words, “There are no ideas in brainstorming,” looming over the fast-paced explosion of ideas.  In reality, not all problem-solving ventures are that formalized.  Most for me are informal, and I don’t even think that I am problem-solving.  It is just part of everyday life.  It is the constant discussion of ideas for situations that arise or consideration of how to make things better.

In life we do not get to play by the rules that are laid out in formal brainstorming.  Instead we navigate discussions with those around us: family, friends, colleagues.  In formal brainstorming, people would not be allowed to sabotage simple discussions with negativity, so we need to surround ourselves with positive people.

I am lucky in life to be surrounded by people who see solutions for every problem and not problems for every solution!  It makes a difference. 

                                                            Have a great week!

                                                                                    Mary

2-14-2020

Mary’s Minute

“Remember what Jesus said… clean room nine.” 

                                                                        ~ Bill Bower

On Valentine’s Day I feel compelled to write about the greatest love of all.  The quote from my dad above has a story behind it.  Growing up as a child, my dad said often, “Love one another.”  Sometimes it was “Remember what Jesus said, love one another.”  And often it was simply, “Remember what Jesus said,” and we knew that meant to love one another/be kind to each other.  It often was basically a soft way to say, “Don’t scream, fight, or hurt your siblings!” 

One day my brother, sister and I found a note my parents had left us on the kitchen table.  I don’t remember the content of the body of the note – likely where they were going, when they would return, etc.  What I remember 45 years later were the postscripts.  The first was the common phrase, “Remember what Jesus said,” but right under it was another postscript that ran into the first, “Clean room nine.” Our family owned a small hotel/boarding house, and we all helped out.  The direction was a simple request to get room nine ready for the next guest, but as it merged with the biblical reference, we laughed then and still laugh about how it sounded.

Years later our family has grown to not just laugh at this quote, but to relish and reflect upon it.  It is the constant message from my dad to put love above all else (love as Jesus loved), but also to take care of the things in front of us (in this case cleaning room nine).  It gives me a sense of grounding that I cherish. 

Love above all, but don’t forget to take care of business along the way because it is in taking care of the business of our lives that we demonstrate genuine love.

           

                                                                        Happy Valentine’s Day!

                                                                                                With love,

                                                                                                            Mary

2-7-2020

Mary’s Minute

“Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.”

                                                                                       ~ Joseph Parry

On Tuesday night I parked my car and headed to a high school gym to support “my” team in a basketball game.  As I walked towards the door it occurred to me that in the gym of hundreds of people I likely would not know a single person.  It shook me for a second.  I didn’t need to worry because by the time I reached the ticket counter, one of my new friends came rushing towards me.  She pointed out places I could sit, showed me where the hospitality room was, and generally did anything to make me feel at ease.  It was a good feeling. 

I have lived in my new home for less than a week now, but I already have “friends” and a sense of belonging.  Of course, I miss my friends from Perry County terribly, but I am thankful that friendship does not need to be finite.  Our hearts are big enough to make new friends, while we keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold. 

Now this might sound a little silly, but I have decided to use the silver/gold analogy.  I used to think I couldn’t mix silver and gold jewelry, but I hear that it is now not a fashion faux pas to do so.  With that thought in mind, whenever I can I am going to purposely wear both silver and gold as a reminder of how lucky I am to have a cache of “old” friends and the prospect of many “new” friends.

                                                                        Have a great week!

                                                                                    Mary