There’s so much talk out there about self-care. So many of us see it and hear about it, but do we really practice it? Do you really focus on taking care of yourself each and every day? I have lost sight of this on my journey recently, through the ups and downs, especially during the…
Every once in a while someone, something, or some experience changes the way we look at things. I believe in the power of a single experience that can change the course of where you are and where you were going. I love when this happens. I look for those and constantly ask myself is this…
A few months ago our school district’s phone system had an upgrade. Soon afterward, I started to hear a beep and a message would pop up saying: That’s a bit loud! Consider lowering your voice. It kept popping up again and again until I physically had to turn it off. It did get me thinking…
My oldest daughter is turning 16 this summer. I love watching her grow into the young lady she is becoming. As many of you who have teenagers know, watching their choices of self expression is also very beautiful. It can be challenging at times, but watching their creative spirits blossom on the journey of teenagehood…
I had a very unique experience at work the other day as a middle school Principal. Two days later as I write this, I’m still in awe over the entire experience. I make many phone calls to students’ homes each day. Some good, some bad, some short, some long. You’d never know it, but I…
The best part about doing the #ELB Podcast is that I get to meet amazing people every week, from all over the world. Literally! A few weeks back I had a chance to talk with the great Michael Carter, (Lake County, Superintendent, Oregon). Michael is a veteran educator, extremely well-read, has traveled the globe and…
Distraction,Defiance, or Coping? By Melissa Garner Attending a conference session where the leader is open about personal struggles and strengths is a liberating experience. ADHD and ConcentrationAndrew recently keynoted a conference I attended. In his talk, he openly acknowledged having the superpower of ADHD. Hearing that, I felt free to unhide the crochet project I…
How does a boat enter the world’s smallest harbor? We were fortunate enough to watch it firsthand. What an experience! My wife and I had a beautiful visit to the Pacific Northwest in the spring. We had a wonderful time seeing all the sights and sounds along the Oregon coast. We stopped in the small…
After my 200th podcast, I had some great reflection. I went back and looked at many of the guests I’ve met, their leadership stories, and just the collaborative nature of the whole program. Everyone has a story to tell and I was blessed to be around to hear their stories, and share them as well…
If we didn’t see it live, we all saw it on social media, the news, or via a message from a friend. We all saw Will Smith slap Chris Rock. In this blog post, I’m not here to debate whether it was deserved or totally out of line. Or whether Chris Rock’s joke was off-color,…