Swim Like a Duck or Soar Like an Eagle

Boy...

It has been a week.  

I always say I know what is happening with the weather since I do elementary lunchroom duty.  Our youngest learners are like little barometers.  Yet there were no big weather warnings this week and there was no full moon.  What was it?  All I know is that it set me up with a negative attitude about the remainder of my day...and my week.

Have you noticed how the simple act of thinking negatively can definitely change how you see everything you encounter in a day?  It is hard not to begin your mindset in this way.  When we turn on the news, read the paper, or check social media, many of the first messages we receive are about things that are impacting the world negatively.  It is hard to begin the day (especially when they begin in the dark), with a smile and thoughts of positivity.  I have learned that if you expect to have a bad day, you will rarely disappoint yourself.  It is important for us to find those positive outlets to help set our minds to have a positive day.

I encountered a reading not too long ago that summed up thinking in the terms of ducks and eagles.  Duck quack and complain.  Eagles soar above the crowd.  If you are always quacking and complaining, where do you go?  If you surround yourself with negativity, those around you become negative, you may start to inhabit a place that is disorganized and dirty...you become someone people want to avoid.  But if you make some changes with your attitude, even the littlest change, those around you respond differently.  They seek you out.  They trust you.  You become an eagle and soar.  You meet goals.  You make advancements.  You make a difference.

I promise you that making a different choice in your attitude will not disappoint.  Stop quacking like a duck and start soaring with the eagles.

You can read more about this midset here:  https://www.jasonwhitman.com/2018/08/13/eagles-and-ducks-hiring/

Elvis Hasn't Left the Building

January is here which means it is time for my annual Elvis Presley blog post.  The King of Rock and Roll would have been 87 on January 8th.

In the past, I have talked about Elvis being in your classroom and Elvis re-inventing himself for the '68 Comeback Special.  The man has been dead for 45 years and people still talk about him...people around the world know who he is.  Why is that?  Elvis did things that no one else had done.  He forged a path in areas that no one had ventured before.  What he did can be applicable to us all, even though we are not music/movie/superstars.

Be yourself.  Elvis was a kid from a town in Tennessee with his musical tastes landing outside of his race.  He was drawn to rockabilly music.  He found he loved gospel, blues, and more.  He didn't look at what the establishment said he should be drawn to.  Instead, he liked what he liked and created something new by being true to himself.  

Have a passion (or two).  Elvis was not only passionate about music, but also his friends and family.  I wrote previously about the "TCB" jewelry and being part of the Memphis Mafia.  His passion was bigger than his music.  He had other things that he found joy in.  By doing so, he perhaps shined a little brighter in all areas of his life.  Being passionate about others and their well-being allows you to create a network of support.  When things get tough, it is the network that you will need.

Take risks.  Everything that Elvis did was new.  Everything was a risk.  From putting out a "new" form of music to embarking on a movie career.  Even the clothing that Elvis wore was risky (Hello?  Velour tops...pink jackets...jumpsuits).  Don't be afraid to try it because you have never done it before.  No one is an expert their first time out.  Do you know that in the first musical contest Elvis entered, he placed 5th?  What if he hadn't taken the risk to keep trying?  

Know that you will not be everyone's cup of tea. You will find as many critics as you do supporters.  Elvis did.  But what you need to look at is what are those things they are critical about.  Are you not following through with expectations?  Well...then change.  Are you trying something new and it isn't perfect yet?  Explain what you are doing and back your words up with action.  

Being yourself and having passion will in turn cause people to take a risk on you.  When people can see you "got it", they will invest in you and support you.  Can you imagine what Sam Phillips thought when Elvis walked into Sun Records?  Sam knew that not everyone would welcome Elvis with open arms, but seeing this kid's passion and talent convinced him to take a risk on a Crown Electric truck driver.  Look at the payout there.  Don't be afraid to convince people to take a chance on you and don't be afraid to take chance on others.

Enjoy a little "Aloha from Hawaii".  Talk about risk-taking, passion, and being yourself.  This concert was televised to raise money for Kui Lee Cancer Fund, was the first live via satellite performance by a solo artist, and produced one of the most iconic pieces of clothing in music history.  Don't be afraid to do something that hasn't been done before for the good of all you touch...all while wearing a kick-a$$ white jumpsuit.