Some Days You’re The Hammer, Some Days You’re The Nail

One thing about life is that some days are better than others. It’s a common part of the human experience. The more variables in your life, the greater the chance of things not going your way. In spite of it all, we must push through and make the most of each day that we’re given.

Life is filled with the unexpected. One day everything is flowing smoothly, next thing you know, the unexpected is slapping you across the face. It’s not an easy place to be, but we have to keep the proper perspective. If we’re honest about it, we have far more good days than perceived bad ones.

How do you keep your head held high and perform at your job when things are not going your way? Take a moment to put things into perspective. Is this something I can solve right now? Have I ever been through a similar situation? Separating personal problems from professional responsibilities is not an easy task.

Our nature causes us to think of the worst possible scenarios when things do not go our way. If you work in a service oriented field, such as education, you typically don’t have time to dwell on your personal issues during the day. You’re expected to push personal matters aside and devote your time and attention to those that you serve. This can be a very daunting challenge.

Something that helps me push personal things aside is to remind myself that the people I serve are not aware of what is going on. Not to say that they don’t care, but I have a professional responsibility to serve others the best that I can. This may involve me spending a few minutes alone in my office to get myself together. Another thing I try to do is get out of the building. When dealing with life’s issues, I take a short walk around the outside of the campus. This often helps me refocus to make it through the next task.

Getting into the classrooms of teachers that exemplify what an educator should be is also helpful. Do not underestimate how seeing young people enjoying learning can lift your spirits. Our students love to talk about what they are learning when they are actively engaged. Seeing students and teachers engaging with the content and each other is good for the soul.

Trials of life are inevitable, but sometimes we have no choice but to push through. Most things, short of the death of someone close to you, can be managed while still fulfilling your professional obligations. Remember, as long as you are alive there are no bad days, just rough moments.