The Greatest Reset
At this very moment, changes are happening. There are murmurings of expected worldwide shifts that will bring an end to many current ways of living. Have you read about these impending changes? Predictions about what tomorrow will bring can be both exciting and unsettling. The future will inevitably bring change. Are you experiencing conflicting feelings about what tomorrow will bring? The unknown can be overwhelming.
I do not know what changes lie ahead, but I do know I want to evolve and be living with the best version of me possible. Much like my phone, I need updates that fix my flaws on a regular basis. The last 12 months have given me time to reflect. With my normal distractions unavailable, I have spent a tremendous amount of time with myself and have learned I can do better. Have you felt this way?
I do not know if the world is resetting, but I do know the greatest reset ever will happen in me and with me because I choose it.
Loving People, Do You Remember It?
Do you remember loving people? It feels like something that happened in another lifetime. I have seen it in the Hallmark movies I am addicted to — there is an abundance of kindness dripping from the TV screen into my home when watching these shows. Sometimes I roll my eyes a bit because of the nonsensical endings that wrap everything up in a beautiful, loving bow. Too much, right? Or is it? Should not we try for nonsensical love?
It is so easy to live in a bubbleworld where everyone is like you. Of course, you love the amazing people in your life; to not love them means you do not love yourself. They are a replication of you after all.
Can we try harder? Can we love when it is a challenge? I know we can.
Change happens in me and with me.
I will love.
Going Deeper with Kindness
Growing up, when I would argue with my brothers or sister, my mom would say, “Be nice.” When I had kids, and they would fight over toys, I offered the same advice. Being nice as a child meant we pretended to like each other when my mom was in the room, but it did not last once she left. Is this what we want as a community? Is nice enough?
Do you know people who are nice but are not kind? I think there is a huge difference between knowing how to act in public and being a person full of kindness.
Kindness is something people keep saying we need, but what is it? Kindness comes from your heart. It is continual actions of forbearance and consideration. When I think of forbearance, I immediately think of my student loan debt, so I did a little digging to understand better. Forbearance means even though you have every right to be unkind, you behave calmly, have patience, and are forgiving.
Kindness acknowledges you might have a right to be upset, mean, and rude, but you choose graciousness. Kindness is deeper than social niceness, it is something you do deep within yourself; it is an act of compassion.
I am not saying you overlook abuse or welcome evil people into your life, but I am saying we need to start going deeper than acting nice and work on actively being kind. The biggest benefactor of this change will be you. When we are kind we must come from a place of inner peace and self-love. Why would we want to live any other way?
Being nice has not gotten us very far. Let us dig deeper. Let us be kind.
I will be kind.
Kindness is something people keep saying we need, but what is it? Kindness comes from your heart. It is continual actions of forbearance and consideration.
Today is the Day
Have you completed a quick run on your treadmill right before a meeting and then realized you cannot find your “Zoom blazer,” or that you have lost the link to the meeting altogether? Maybe you started looking at keto recipes to help lose some of your COVID weight and then realized you were late in starting your first period online class. Is your “at-home” spouse making you rethink your decision to marry? Maybe you have wondered why you thought having kids was such a great idea, as they are with you 24/7 making time for everything but homework.
Life has changed. Do not let the alterations of life deter you from changing for the better. With all the changes we are experiencing right now, why not take the time to work on yourself? What area(s) of your life might need an update?
What can you do today to show love and kindness? How can you explain your experience to your children, family, and friends, so others can benefit from your growth?
As an educator, you have a captive audience that listens to what you say and pays attention to what you do. Are you kind? Or are you nice? Are you making a difference? Or are you making a salary?
Let us dig deep and do better.
I hope we choose kindness and love. I hope every student will see our passion and zest for life and learn how to live abundantly from us. We make a difference, so let us make it a positive one.
It is undeniably time for a reset.
Change happens in us and with us.
We can love.
We can be kind.
We can reset.
Let us do this together.
About the author
Janis Effner is the professional services director at Achieve3000. She was a classroom teacher and reading specialist for over 10 years and is an international author. Janis is a powerful media and communication professional with a Principal Certification focused on Secondary School Administration/Principalship from Schreiner University. She lives in the beautiful state of Alaska.
