On with the Show..

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we might have expected..a flat tire on the way home down a rural road at sundown..a cheesecake slides off the roof of the car on the way to your friends house for dinner..you wear silly teacher pajamas to school only to find out Spirit Week is NEXT week..Your budding teenage singing career is cut to a rug-pulling halt when the doctor discovers severe vocal nodules…All of these things have actually happened to me..yep! Yet, I’m always quick to remind others that providentially-speaking, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it’s to make us more empathetic towards others, sometimes it’s to reroute our journey and sometimes it’s just to humble us..in any case..it can be a win-win. We don’t always see it at the time, so sometimes we need annoying friends to remind us that better days are ahead and some things make more sense in a rear view mirror as we move forward and get smarter.

So, I didn’t get to be Miss America. That was my first dream as I sat in front of our black and white TV with my toy crown, red robe with fake fur collar, and scepter. However, there have been a whole lifetime of incredible blessings, opportunities and little kisses from heaven that have come my way since then. I have a beautiful family, I’ve had a lovely career teaching art (best job in the world), I’ve been in a movie, I’ve been published and I’ve gotten to meet some pretty incredible people and celebrities along the way. No regrets.

So here I am having just rolled off the board as President of the Tennessee Art Education Association, having served for 8 years and I’ve got a little time on my hands. What seemed like a retirement within a retirement also gave me pause to consider what’s next. My thoughts about things I’ve set aside in order to serve made me think of unfinished paintings I’ve set aside. One thought led to another and so I decided there’s no time like the present to get back to the literal drawing board. I blew the dust off of local and regional arts organizations that I’ve set aside for years and rejoined. I have already signed up to head up the education chair position on the local level, because I’m still an arts advocate. I even entered a juried art show and got accepted, so I entered more. I’m painting or drawing every day. My friends are saying that I work fast, but I just work a lot. I have to make myself do things other than art, because I’m obsessed again with making. And all of this is happening because something else didn’t turn out the way I expected. I am convinced that God delights in surprising us sometimes. I’ve always loved to remind others of this verse in Isaiah 55:

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

He really does have a plan. I’m along for the journey. On with the show…

Giving the Best

I know that most teachers give their best and then some every day. These are the teachers that arrive early and stay late. These are the teachers that volunteer for extra duties when no one else steps up. These are the teachers that take their work and their worries home. They think about how to solve problems at school while they are out with friends or they stay home on Saturday night to work on a new lesson. They use their own money to cover the cost of “extra” supplies for students. Sometimes these teachers miss acknowledgments at faculty meetings. Sometimes the only time they hear from administrators is when they get complaints from parents. So these teachers are scrutinized more, asked to do more, to give more. Sometimes these teachers..the ones who give their best..the ones who sacrificially light the way for students every day can just get burned out.

Do you know a teacher like this? It only takes a moment to write them a message of encouragement. Let them know that they are not invisible. Remind them to take a personal day for their mental health. Send them an unexpected gift card. Better yet, offer to listen. Perhaps we are losing our best teachers, because we haven’t yet learned how important it is to give the “best” our support.

Moving Forward

BLOG 2-Moving Forward RSS

“Moving Forward,” illustrated by Melody Weintraub. March, 2022. Please do not reuse without permission.

I recently saw a video of acrobat dancer, Yoann Bourgeois performing in the middle of a large theatre in London. The piece consisted of his climbing a set of steps, falling onto a trampoline below and bouncing back to the steps from which he had fallen. As I watched I noticed the gracefulness in the way he fell and perched back to the steps and I also noticed his persistence as he made his way--a few steps and a few graceful falls at a time--to the top. See the link below.

I also noticed the faces of those surrounding the stage watching and wondered how they were applying what they were seeing. Some might have only noticed his impeccable skill, while others were more impacted by his message. Those who identified with his message would do so from different perspectives. Some might interpret the set of steps as a career, a relationship, a marriage, or parenthood, while still others might relate it to illness, recovery or any number of obstacles and all would be correct.

“My Art Journey..To Be Continued” by Melody Weintraub. Please do not use without permission.

I identified with it as well. I thought about this climb I currently find myself taking and reflected on the ups and downs of my own teaching career. The many wonderful moments have overshadowed the pitfalls. But I can say, there have been many slippery slopes along the way. Hopefully, I learned from them, dusted my feet and bounced forward. Like when I retired in 2020 while still loving teaching every day. I made that decision with my head and not with my heart as I turned my class keys over to a former student. And even though that scenario could not have been more picturesque, I can honestly say I still had days feeling a sense of loss. It was okay to not be okay on those dreary days, however, I tried not to stay in that mindset.  Instead, I made a decision to turn my gaze outward and seek out ways I could encourage others. Sometimes this would mean a phone call, a quick text or a hand-written note to those I knew. Sometimes I would leave a positive comment on a Facebook post of an art teacher I hadn’t ever met who seemed exceptionally discouraged.

“Teacher Encourage-Mint Cards” by Debi West and Melody Weintraub. Please do not use photo without permission.

I even contacted a few friends who eat discouragement for breakfast and collaborated on ways we could give a lift to others who weren’t bouncing back so easily. (Ever see the “Teacher’s Encourage-Mint Cards” (link below) that Debi West and I cooked up)? As I began filling up my time and my days with projects and writing, out of the blue I got a call from a university to supervise art education candidates. My heart soared as I found myself back on the steps in a new position. Still, I found, that the most effective thing that brought me back up time and time again, was not necessarily depending on positive circumstances but in surrounding myself with positive people and seeking ways to positively help others by sharing things that helped me. You might even say, it made me bounce for joy!

Links:
Yoann Bourgeois: https://youtu.be/8a0Oyg22dlk

Teacher’s Encourage-Mints Available Online at “More Than Words” in Germantown, TN: https://morethanwords.com/search?q=Teacher%27s+Encourage-Mints

One of Those Days

Looking at the melting snowman this morning in comparison to how chipper this miniature iced creation looked yesterday made me think of teaching.

Most days were full of wonder, excitement and pure joy, I posted a lot about those days on social media. Other days were extremely difficult. I didn’t post much about those. Some of the challenges came because I had difficulty engaging my students, some because of misunderstandings with colleagues and some because while all of this was going on, I had personal or physical issues that no one knew I was dealing with. I was the melted snowman directing car line..in the rain. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job. My students not only talented, but compassionate humans. I felt valued by my administration. I had every material needed to create a successful learning environment for my students, but still..there were those days. What did I do to survive and not stay “frozen” in a state of despair?

I made it a practice of each day that I drove into the parking lot of the school where I spent the majority of my career, to give thanks for my job and the place where I worked. It was a beautiful campus, so that was easy. Being in a state of gratefulness, I parked my car that I had paid off with the salary I earned at my school. I was thankful for that provision. I entered the building with a passkey. I was grateful for the trust given me. As I walked into my classroom, the cleaning crew had dusted the art tables, mopped the floors and cleaned my whiteboard. It was fresh for a new day. Grateful. As I began getting supplies ready for a day of teaching a subject that I had been passionate about since I was a child, I smiled. Grateful. Outside in the hall I could hear to noise of students chatting and laughing and slamming lockers as classes began to change. It was music to my ears. Grateful. I also made it a practice at least once a year to pause class, get my students attention, look around the room at each one of them and then sincerely say, “I have the best job in the world.” Many of my students made a habit of not leaving class before thanking me. Being grateful can be contagious.

Notice the heart of the melting snowman below. Long after the snow has melted, the heart will remain.

Whatever kind of snowman you are today, remember that a heart of gratefulness will help to carry you through these challenging times. Show up, keep the passion, dwell on the good, and never lose heart.

““Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things .. [and] practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” ”

— Philippians 4:8-9 NASB

Resilient as an Herb

I had heard about the resilience of certain herbs, but I witnessed this first-hand when we had a winter storm recently in West Tennessee followed by sleet, freezing rain, and frigid temperatures for several days. The potted herb garden on our deck became covered in snow and ice. I assumed that the garden would have to be replanted in the spring, but to my surprise when the warmer temperatures returned a few days later, the herbs returned as well--even stronger.

Resilient Herb Garden

I noticed their robust aroma as I snipped a few springs for the white bean soup on the stove. It didn’t seem to matter how delicate some of the herbs were, like the thyme, the herbs also collectively added an intense and pleasing piquancy to the soup. 

Resilient Italian Parsley, Rosemary and Thyme

Some people are like herbs. No matter what winter darkness besets them, even when others facing similar circumstances would become bitter, these individuals seem to not only survive, but thrive. This type of resiliency encourages and inspires others. They become not only a beacon, but a sweet aroma, giving courage, hope and sustenance to those around them facing the days ahead. Dr. Donalyn Heise and Dr. Laurie MacGillvray in their article, "Fostering resilience in an intergenerational art and literacy program for homeless families: An analysis of curriculum." Noted that resilience when practiced has a cumulative effect. In other words, once again like the herbs, it can grow. 

 Resilience is a dynamic construct, not a fixed trait (Heise, 2013; Ibeagha, Balogun, & Adejuwon, 2004; Rutter, 2012). It is not something one is born with, but something that can be developed over time. It involves repeated thoughts and actions that deepen the ability to adapt to life-threatening events. Resilience is cumulative; repeated successful adaptation despite exposure to risks contributes to positive outcomes in the future.
Heise, D., & MacGillivray, L. (2013). Fostering Resilience in an Intergenerational Art and Literacy Program for Homeless Families: An Analysis of Curriculum. 2013 VSA Intersections: Arts and Special Education, 103.

Let us continue to practice kindness and gratefulness in the unpredictable days ahead and perhaps in “thyme” we too will grow more resilient and peace will multiply. Soup, anyone?

Finally.. whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8 ESV

The Fossil

Alicia walked into my middle school art classroom 20 years ago and gifted me with this tiny stone. “I found it outside, Mrs. Weintraub, and I’m fairly certain that it’s a fossil. I knew you’d like to have it.” After gushing over it (not exaggerating) I told her how much I loved it and that I would keep it always. I then asked her to write her name on it. Her name is still there. I told her I would keep it always and whenever I looked at it, I would pray for her.

Fossils are interesting. By definition, they are the remains or impression of something preserved in petrified form. By implication, fossilized humans are resistant to change. I retired from the art classroom last year. Since then, one of my goals has been to avoid becoming a petrified fossil. I want to keep moving, keep creating, keep thinking, and remain open to new ideas and new ways I can leave a positive imprint. If I stop and start considering that what I have done for others is enough, or worse, stop moving because I’m petrified of change, the viability of everything I touch will become fossilized too. Fossils are evidence of a past life. Alicia is now a research scientist and a mommy. I hope she knows I still have the fossil and that I still pray for her when I look at it. But now it also reminds me to keep moving forward.

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