Please consider this book as a conversation between us. I challenge you to invest in the conversation by leaving the periphery as the reader and interacting as a participant. Throughout the journey, you’ll recognize the valuable qualities that already reside in your mind and heart; the messages found within the pages of this book are not unfamiliar to you. Rather, each word of encouragement, challenge, and guidance is meant to awaken and inspire your soul. There will be opportunities for you to write in this book: to reflect on your life, your experiences, and your instructional practices; to brainstorm with others; and to put specific ideas into practice. As I share anecdotes, experiences, philosophies, and strategies, I do not claim to have all of the answers. What I do claim is to be a person with a heart full of love and a desire to inspire all people within the school community to create connections with each other while exploring and embedding social, emotional, and academic learning principles into daily actions and behaviors. When we do this, we have an opportunity to make today a better day for ourselves and for our students. When we do this, we invest in each other so that the learning and living that takes place in our schools is inspired, engaging, and contagious. And, finally, when we do this, when we start with the heart, we honor humanity and value relationships, so that no human being feels as if he or she must sleep on a park bench, alone in the cold.
Chapter 1 It’s About the People A “Meeting Them Where They Are” Mentality
When it comes to what matters in life, we all know it is about the people, not the things. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a life-changing event, such as a serious illness or the death of a loved one, for us to appreciate that fact. We often get so caught up in the responsibilities of our everyday lives that we begin to focus on the “things” in our lives without even realizing it. We become preoccupied with checking off the tasks on our to-do lists, playing catch-up with household chores, or completing school-related work that spills over into the afternoons or weekends, and we neglect what is right there in front of us: people. More often than not, it is the people we are closest to whom we neglect the most. I speak from experience. There were times in my professional life as an administrator when I was so focused on completing evaluations or gathering data for accreditation that I unintentionally, and sometimes even subconsciously, neglected my husband and children. There were times when I was physically present but emotionally removed. As much as I would be disappointed in myself when I realized what I was doing, I also understood that I am human and sometimes needed a reminder to keep my priorities in order. Fortunately, my husband, who often knows me better than I know myself, was there to remind me.
It’s About the People
Consider this chapter the reminder you may need. It is always and should always be about the people. Let’s not wait for those extreme moments of illness, loss, or grief to trigger a wake-up call. As we set out on a journey to start with the heart, let’s begin with our personal lives and consider those who are important to us. As I suggested in the introduction, throughout this book I will provide opportunities for reflection. Take time right now to reflect on and acknowledge the people in your personal life who are important and why they matter to you:
The People in Your Personal Life
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Copyright © 2019 by Corwin. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Start With the Heart: Igniting Hope in Schools Through Social and Emotional Learning by Michelle L. Trujillo. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, www.corwin.com. Reproduction authorized for educational use by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities that have purchased the book.
I asked you to reflect on people in your personal life who matter to you because you must always keep them at the forefront of your mind and in your heart. Early in my teaching career, someone taught me the “five years from now” rule. For example, when in a dilemma between taking a sick day to stay home with my children or coming to work to teach a specific lesson, I would ask myself, “Five years from now, who will remember?” The answer, inevitably, was my children. My students wouldn’t remember on which day I taught which lesson, but my son and daughter would definitely remember if I stayed home to cuddle them when they were little and not feeling well. We are better as educators and professionals when we keep what’s first, first.
At the same time, we do spend a great deal of our time at school. There are people in our professional lives, too, who are important to us. This is interesting, because much like our families, we don’t necessarily get to choose the people with whom we work. As a result, we tend to be drawn to those with whom we have things in common, be it interests, philosophies, or personality traits. Can you create the same type of list for those in your professional life that you created for those in your personal life?
The People in Your Professional Life
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