When TEACHERS Witness the Harvest…

                  The best teachers teach for the harvest. From their first day on the job, teachers are seed planters. They hone their seed planting skills through the years gaining wisdom on what works best given the unique circumstances that each new class provides. From the first day of class through that school year’s last they take advantage of the time they’re given utilizing the appropriate fertilizer and nutrients best suited for each of their students making sure there’s sufficient hydration for the seeds they’re planting to grow into their eventual destiny.

                  Teachers do their very best throughout the school year until a very abrupt ending occurs on the last day of classes where they’re left to wonder about each child and how their efforts to grow that child will eventually turn out. This is probably toughest on the ones teaching the grade that completes a child’s time at a particular building as kids transition to middle school, high school, trade school, or college. Left wondering, they begin to prepare for the following year’s crop of students and the seeds they’ll soon be planting in those formative year minds.

                  Pausing on this thought process for just a second, I’d like to inject my opinion that becoming a teacher offers a great advantage to those that eventually become a parent. Teachers are exposed to such a wide variety of parenting techniques and can quickly ascertain what works best, and what doesn’t work, in raising children to be the best version of themselves given the uniqueness that all humans possess. It’s a gift given to teachers that non-teacher parents who want to give their best effort in raising their children must work harder for. While teaching can provide excellent parenting skills, typically parents get to be present from seed planting through the harvesting of adulthood. But, once in a while….

                  We can endlessly debate the value of social media, but those of you who regularly read my articles know that I’m always going to focus on the good. Social media has opened a gate that allows teachers access to many of their former student’s current lot in life. Think of the joy it brings a teacher when they learn about the good things happening in a person’s life and can remember the seeds they planted that have now produced a bountiful harvest. Before social media, this only occurred through a chance meeting in public which rarely occurred due to so many people living in a different community from the one they grew up in. I’m grateful to be social media friends with several of my former teachers and I still utilize the lessons they taught me to guide my journey in life.

                  One of the life tools that I’ve worked hard to master is never wanting to disappoint anyone. Some might see it as a weakness yet, I view it as one of my greatest strengths. While far from being a perfect human being, I’m adverse to the way I feel when I disappoint someone I love, care about, admire, or especially, a person who believes in me. It’s why I work so hard each day attempting to be a person of consistent character providing evidence of compassion, care, and selflessness. Like I said, I’m not perfect, but every day I try and most days I succeed. It might help if I share an example of some teachers I had that I’m currently friends with on social media.

                  Mrs. Hornsby was my 7th grade math teacher. These days I’m comfortable calling her “Dot” and I’m ever so grateful for the “passion seed” she planted and nurtured in me, teaching me to approach life with passion in all that I do. She continues to be one of my biggest cheerleaders in life and I’m passionate about being one of hers. Though many years retired, she continues to teach others through direct interaction and by the way she lives her life.

                  Mr. Ribble was my middle school tennis coach, and I knew even back then that I wanted to grow up to be just like him. “Ribs,” as I call him now, played a huge role in my character development at a critical time in my life. It would crush both of us if I ever did anything he’d be disappointed in me for. So, I don’t. Instead, I use Ribs as tool, asking myself if the decision I’m about to make would make him proud of the investment he made in my life. This has been a genius strategy on my part and continues to be extremely effective.

                  Mr. MacDonald was my teacher for both typing class and economics in high school. He wisely nurtured my competitive nature and was able to increase my typing speed to over 80 wpm. Today, keyboarding skills are critical for my book and article writings, which means the typing seeds he planted and nurtured play an important role in my life. Strangely enough, for the last 23 years, “Dave” as I call him now lives directly across the street and has witnessed my wife and I raising our four boys. Our boys were positively influenced by having Dave and his wife as neighbors. Glancing at his house every time I leave our driveway is a reminder that my actions each day affect more people than just myself. Again, a useful tool to keep me pointed in a positive direction in life. Thanks Dave!

                  So, do YOU ever think about the role teachers have played in your life? Can you look back and identify specific seeds that they planted and nurtured in you that continue to play a role in who you are? Would you be willing to utilize the positive power of social media to seek them out and let them see the harvest that is YOU?

                  Know that every teacher considers it a great gift to witness the harvest of seeds they planted. They’ve invested a lot of HOPE through all the years that have passed since the opportunity they had with you came to an end with them wishing you well. Reaching out to them and letting them witness the harvest that is you creates a win/win and a whole lot of joy. Don’t delay. Reach out to a teacher that impacted your life today. Right now. Just do it. C’mon, they’re worth it and so are you. Remember, I Believe In YOU! GiddyUp!