The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens

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Post Seven of series  “It is not enough to be compassionate, you must act.”14th Dalai Lama

This 2 minute video introduces the book: For Eric compassion is not a stop along the journey, it is a way of life. For him being compassionate is integrating his emotional and physical strength in order to connect and serve those in need. Through this very moving memoir Eric travels the world to serve, working with homeless boys in Bolivia, to refugee children in Bosnia, to serving our country in Afghanistan as a navy seal.  He then develops his own organization dedicated to mentoring wounded veterans by encouraging them to redirect their energy and service to organizations that help those in need. This brief overview does not do justice to this profound, emotional memoir full of stories, courage, and important messages. I strongly encourage all to read it. What surfaced for me?

• If you are going to achieve anything you must first develop personal relationships with those you plan to work with.
• It is important to learn about your surroundings; don’t hide behind the ivy gate; real learning may take place outside of it.
• Follow your passion, but question it along the way.
•  Serving others and learning about oneself go hand and hand.
•  Everywhere you go in the world, whatever position or role you play, you will achieve so much more if you respect, honor, and learn about the people and community that surround you.
• I have never experienced first hand accounts of those who serve in the military. Not having a family member who has served in the military has limited my understanding. This account has given me a much clearer view on what it means to serve; through this memoir I see both the human and emotional side of serving our country.

My Connected Educator Vanilla Cake

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#LeadershipDay12, was a day (8/15/12) for bloggers to engage educational leaders in conversations to help them embrace the vast possibilities that technology now offers, as well as to encourage leaders to become connected educators. What is the recipe for a connected leader?  I am not a leader of technology, but I am a leader who embraces technology, and I have only been a connected leader for a total of 62 days! I must say, I have enjoyed the summer, tasting this new smorgasbord of possibilities, and I am well aware I have only nibbled and tried a few things, but I am excited to taste the varied flavors of this vast spread of possibilities.  For now, my recipe has simply yielded a plain vanilla cake, but I think with time I will be able to bake a delicious German chocolate layer cake.  Maybe by leadership day 13, as I add a few ingredients as a connected leader I will have perfected my chocolate cake! For now this is where I am:

CONNECTED EDUCATOR PLAIN VANILLA CAKE

1  cup  patience

1  cup determination

5 tablespoons advice

3 drops positive reinforcement

a handful of blogs to start

a few #hashtags

140 drops of wisdom

First, find a technologist willing to mentor you

Organize your blogs through reader

Read everyday

Blend in your own blog; mix it up once a week

Create a @handle to add flavor to your experience

Sift, and resift and sift some more -as you find people to follow

Add your own 140 drops of wisdom, and you will soon have a few followers

If your oven is too hot from overload, just call your mentor, most likely s/he will find a way to save the cake!

My advice as a novice connected leader is to be patient with yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help, list all of the tools you would like to try, and then explore one by one, little by little…..

Many thanks to my mentor – who supports me online and off

The Quilt Maker's Journey

Post Six of series  “It is not enough to be compassionate, you must act.”14th Dalai Lama

Although told as a fantasy, the Quilt Maker's Journey by Jeff Brumbeau and  Gail de Marken is a story of harsh realities. The Quilt Makers family creates for her a “safe bubble,” protected from any influences beyond their immediate community. If the needs of the community are met within this “bubble” then why venture out? The Quilt Maker resented this protected life, her curiosity, sense of emptiness and lack of emotional stimulation gave her the courage to venture out and discover life beyond her privileged background. Leaving the community on her own and encountering a simpler and what she first noted as “helplessness” to her surroundings, she naturally came to the realization that people outside of the “bubble” had a lot to offer her, and she too found a unique way to give a bit of herself to others.

Many would identify the message of this story to be of a young girl realizing that all people, no matter their background can learn from one another, support one another, build relationships and live a fulfilled life. The Quilt Makers courage and compassion to serve those in need is certainly commendable.

But let’s reflect a bit upon these boundaries we create in society. Is a safe environment one that isolates children from a world beyond their own privilege?  Is it the fear of differences among adults that leads to creating borders and boundaries or “safe bubbles” for children? What can we do as colleagues, parents, teachers, to provide opportunities for students to learn from the many perspectives that surround our school and home communities?  Just recently I was told of a graduate from the school where I work who ventured off to college and was astonished by the poverty surroundings her college campus; this person was never exposed to poverty prior to freshman year of college: what does this tell us about the conversations and experiences this student lacked prior to entering adulthood and independence?

My quest as we enter into conversations around compassion is that we look beyond the “feel good” simple messages that are addressed in our book selections, toward deeper conversations that explore issues of social justice.

Compassion, Courage, Independence

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Post Five of series  “It is not enough to be compassionate, you must act.”14th Dalai Lama

Tenzin’s Deer by Barbara Soros

Pre-view: Tenzin, a young Tibetan boy, finds and cares for a wounded deer until the deer he names, Jampa, (Loving Kindness) is strong enough to return to life on his own. This tender story introduces us to the values of kindness, internal strength, and compassion as held by the Tibetan people. It demonstrates the importance of respecting and caring for nature as well as the ability to “let go” in order to move forward in life.

PERSONAL TAKE AWAYS

1)   Service Learning – Effective service learning focuses both on relationship building and preparing those who you serve with the lessons, tools, and confidence to move forward independently, grow as an individual, and be a supportive member of a group.  Tenzin was willing to care for and help Jampa in his time of need. Tenzin also realized that part of caring included letting Jampa be self-sufficient when he became strong enough to care for himself.  As we embark on new service projects let’s remember that the goal is to help, support and to provide others with the knowledge and skills to improve their lives.

2)   Letting go – If we provide love and care, and model responsibility and courage, those who we care for will be ready for independence and a new chapter in life.  It was hard for Tenzin to let Jampa return to life on his own, but he knew it was the right thing to do and that Jampa was prepared. As a mother of a rising high school senior, this story was very timely. It takes courage to let go, but if I have instilled responsibility and independence in my son, all will be fine… the care and love will always be present.

Reflection that facilitates action

-->Espoused theory -  theory-in-use -  reflection - action - change 

I was introduced to Argyris and Schön’s theories of action early on in my doctoral studies, and I must say it has stayed with me. It greatly influenced the approach I used to analyze the data of my research, and it continues to orient my professional practice. In simplified terms this theory distinguishes between what one espouses to do (espoused theory) and what one actually does (theory-in-use).  Educators as individuals or as members of an organization or team, rely on a set of values, ideas, beliefs, in essence, a “mental map,” to plan an approach to make decisions, problem solve, or implement program.  Frequently however, there is a disconnect between what they espouse to do and what they actually do. Moreover, educators can be unaware of this disconnect which can lead to confusion, inefficiency or an inability to direct or stimulate organizational change. The larger the gap between what educators think they do and actually do the harder it is for an organization to grow and change or even maintain a strong culture.

How has this concept influenced me as an educator? I am committed to action-oriented leadership and rely on personal and professional reflection to orient my practice. This enables me to deliberately monitor the gap between my values and beliefs and the actions that support those values and beliefs.

It seems like a simple concept. However, when educators are not intentional and reflective they may be fooled or lost in the moment, and what they think they are accomplishing may not be the reality that others or the community experience. Ideas and values are strong forces of ones being; so strong that if not careful one can express them but fail to support them.  

How do you know if your espoused theories match your theories-in-use?  Can you clearly articulate your values and beliefs? Can you match them up with specific actions? When goal setting, do you outline actions that may help you to achieve those goals? Do you reflect often on your practice? Do you seek feedback from diverse points of view? 

By keeping these questions front and center, I move forward with stops along the way to re-fuel, make adjustments, consider alternative routes, or simply to enjoy the journey.