THANK YOU: Two words that have changed my life and helped me find my better self when I most needed to.
About a decade ago, I made saying “Thank you” a genuine habit a of mind. While I had certainly used Thank you, please and you’re welcome often enough in the past, what changed was when I found myself able to say it when it felt most difficult to do so: When I was hearing criticism, when I felt defensive, when I was otherwise at a loss for words. Saying “Thank you” in those situations allowed me to pause, recognize some of what was going on inside me and be open for the other’s full message. As a habit of mind, Thank you becomes my ever present reminder that I did not get here on my own. I have had much help, support and encouragement along the way.
With respect to this blog, I have some initial Thank Yous to share: for encouragement and attention, for inspiration and material, for providing impetus to keep going. First to my friend and colleague, Jalene, who kindly and simply invited me to join twitter this summer. A simple invitation in my inbox: all I had to do was click on it and start my journey. So it began.
To one of the premier gateway voices on twitter who has sparked my interest and learning again and again: Tom Whitby. It didn’t take many links to find Tom’s outspoken blog on matters educational and once I began following him on twitter, my field of vision was widened immesurably. For that I am extremely grateful. It was also on Tom’s blog that I found material which necessitated a response: I replied and used one of those responses to relaunch this blog.
Through Edutopia Edutopia and Tom, I have been introduced to another host of educator voices whose contributions have inspired and fascinated me: Joe Bower , Bill Ferriter and Elena Aguilar , to name but a few.
To my cohort colleagues and the leadership team of The Klingenstein Center, I owe many thanks for the ongoing encouragement and willingness to take and share my enthusiastic suggestions for great reads and worthwhile initiatives. In many ways, they formed my first online audience and their influence runs deep.
cburke2012 was the first follower of this blog since its relaunch and I want to say thanks for opening my eyes to this avenue of connection and reciprocity.
Thank YOU for taking the time to read this. To whom would you say “Thank you?”
edifiedlistener 