Anyone who grew up watching High School Musical will instantly recognize the phrase "Status Quo." There's no getting around it -- I am different from everyone I interact with on a daily basis. I don't just mean in age either. There are little nuances in my personality, quirky ways I execute tasks, and nerdy tendencies I display in conversations that make me who I am (just to name 3 of about a million or so).
As humans, we so often chase after being like everyone else. But, why? Believe me, I'm preaching to myself here too. Why do we want to be like "such and such," who is/was great at "such and such?" "Well that's an easy question," you might respond. "It is because he or she is/was great at whatever he or she does/did!" My rebuttal to that rebuttal is...if people just copy the greats who came before them, the world would never progress or get marginally better at anything AND history would repeat itself.
As a teacher, I will admit, when I began teaching roughly 6.5 years ago (on band staff) I used the "fake it 'til you make it" strategy. I had NO CLUE if what I was saying made sense, or if I was teaching items in a logical order. I simply copied what I observed working for successful people before me. That being said, over the years I've concluded that learning to teach and learning to read and play music are almost EXACTLY like learning a language.
When we begin to speak our native tongue, we first begin by making noises or babbling as we attempt to copy what we have heard in terms of pitch from humans around us. Next we start saying singular words. "Mama," "Dada," or "No" are often the first words many of "apprentice humans" speak, because we copy what we hear the most around us. Eventually we start to string words together into short sentences, and then longer ones, based off of what we've heard. Shortly after, we are writing, forming sentences on paper, and then paragraphs. Before you know it, we've almost stopped copying entirely and have begun writing EXACTLY what comes to mind.
My point is this: why do we get so caught up in doing things one way because "such and such" did it? I'm sure it was successful for them and their situation, and is probably a GREAT starting point to look at, but remember how different we all are. Our mannerisms are different, our strengths are different, our weaknesses are different, our lives are different (and this list could go on and on). It's a great idea to examine successful individuals and their tactics, but we CANNOT simply copy -- a computer can do that.
I refuse to conform to norms. "You shouldn't worry about being good at that yet, you're a first-year teacher." "No. I will be exceptional at it now." No excuses. I try to be a better me each and every day. I will continue to refine every process at home, at work, and at leisure (I might even try to eat lunch 2% better).
This directly correlates the phrase that I've centered my life around: Here We Grow. I've only recently deciphered what its true meaning represents in my life: Joy.
I attempt to find joy in EVERYTHING I do.
Gotta clean up? Let's listen to music.
Gotta get up early? Let's watch Good Mythical Morning at breakfast.
Gotta fold laundry? Let's watch The Office for the third time while I fold.
Gotta do something super difficult? Anything worth doing is never easy.
Here We Grow = Finding Joy
Break the status quo, find joy in all things, and keep growing. Don't be afraid to try a new approach to an age-old problem. If that new approach fails, try again. It's never too early to be great at something!
As humans, we so often chase after being like everyone else. But, why? Believe me, I'm preaching to myself here too. Why do we want to be like "such and such," who is/was great at "such and such?" "Well that's an easy question," you might respond. "It is because he or she is/was great at whatever he or she does/did!" My rebuttal to that rebuttal is...if people just copy the greats who came before them, the world would never progress or get marginally better at anything AND history would repeat itself.
As a teacher, I will admit, when I began teaching roughly 6.5 years ago (on band staff) I used the "fake it 'til you make it" strategy. I had NO CLUE if what I was saying made sense, or if I was teaching items in a logical order. I simply copied what I observed working for successful people before me. That being said, over the years I've concluded that learning to teach and learning to read and play music are almost EXACTLY like learning a language.
When we begin to speak our native tongue, we first begin by making noises or babbling as we attempt to copy what we have heard in terms of pitch from humans around us. Next we start saying singular words. "Mama," "Dada," or "No" are often the first words many of "apprentice humans" speak, because we copy what we hear the most around us. Eventually we start to string words together into short sentences, and then longer ones, based off of what we've heard. Shortly after, we are writing, forming sentences on paper, and then paragraphs. Before you know it, we've almost stopped copying entirely and have begun writing EXACTLY what comes to mind.
My point is this: why do we get so caught up in doing things one way because "such and such" did it? I'm sure it was successful for them and their situation, and is probably a GREAT starting point to look at, but remember how different we all are. Our mannerisms are different, our strengths are different, our weaknesses are different, our lives are different (and this list could go on and on). It's a great idea to examine successful individuals and their tactics, but we CANNOT simply copy -- a computer can do that.
I refuse to conform to norms. "You shouldn't worry about being good at that yet, you're a first-year teacher." "No. I will be exceptional at it now." No excuses. I try to be a better me each and every day. I will continue to refine every process at home, at work, and at leisure (I might even try to eat lunch 2% better).
This directly correlates the phrase that I've centered my life around: Here We Grow. I've only recently deciphered what its true meaning represents in my life: Joy.
I attempt to find joy in EVERYTHING I do.
Gotta clean up? Let's listen to music.
Gotta get up early? Let's watch Good Mythical Morning at breakfast.
Gotta fold laundry? Let's watch The Office for the third time while I fold.
Gotta do something super difficult? Anything worth doing is never easy.
Here We Grow = Finding Joy
Break the status quo, find joy in all things, and keep growing. Don't be afraid to try a new approach to an age-old problem. If that new approach fails, try again. It's never too early to be great at something!
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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