Luck can come in all shapes, sizes, and can happen at any time and anywhere. But what if you were luckier than you thought? What if luck was around you right now? What if…those unlucky circumstances were actually lucky?
We’ve all been through moments that have changed our lives; some for the better and some unfortunately for worse. It’s easy to be happy and satisfied in the great moments and sad in other moments. Maybe our perception needs a slight change in its prescription. Odds are you’re luckier than you think!
If you’ve been an avid reader of this blog I might’ve told you the story about my 8th grade reading teacher who threatened to keep me from graduating 8th grade and going to the graduation if I didn’t achieve 25 AR points soon. At the time, it was terrifying. I wasn’t a reader (yet). For one weekend I read many chapter books and tested at school the following Monday and earned my 25 AR points. I was lucky.
I wasn’t lucky because I earned my AR goal. Moreso, I learned a lot about myself that weekend. I became a (temporary) reader and it felt good! After I became a teacher, I bring up this exact story to all my students as a reminder to them and myself that I will never force them to read for AR points and use it as a punishment or a grade. I strive to be the exact opposite of that 8th grade teacher. I like to think that I am.
Do you remember the time I had surgery on left foot? As a reminder, I hurt my foot and ankle late January during recess trying to dunk a basketball in front of my newest student. Spoiler: I missed and when I landed I knew immediately my foot was in trouble. As Covid started spreading across the world, so did the pain in my foot. My hope for running a marathon was dashed by the pandemic and my foot as doctors sidelined me month after month. I was crushed. The one exercise I could do during Covid and I hadn’t been able to do it since January. In September I’d have my first surgery. I was lucky.
Those months of pause gave me a rebirth and refocus into my future. They taught me to appreciate my running, friends, family, and students. The surgery was successful and that’s something I’m grateful too. It’s taken me years to get back to how fast I was running and I don’t take a single run for granted. I can happily say I’m just over two away from running in my first marathon. With the loss of life that occurred during that time, I stopped taking my life for granted and feel blessed everyday God grants me on Earth. Be thankful everyday.
“You’re different and don’t fit in.” A phrase that has been a rallying cry my entire teacher career. For those that don’t know, after school during a private meeting with my principal she spoke those infamous words in a demeaning way that left me shocked and in tears. I was lucky.
She was absolutely right. I was (am) different and don’t fit in. Why would I want to? I don’t want to be like someone else. I want to be the one and only Jordan Potrzeba. Afterward, I kept teaching how I used to (which was different, fun, and more effective than other teachers.) My innovativeness kept growing as my teaching grew. Because I was so different, I took a leap of faith that summer and moved to Florida alone to teach with my friends at their school. I still reside happily in Florida. Better yet, I still connect with those students and their families from that incredible first year of teaching. Don’t fit in. Be the best YOU!
High school was tough y’all. I struggled with my grades, had very few friends, was bullied constantly, and being on the cross country and track teams all ensued my popularity was next to nothing. I didn’t go out and drink. Oftentimes, I was home with my mom on weekend nights while my classmates were having the time of their lives. It got to the point where I considered suicide multiple times. I was lucky.
I was lucky to have parents who loved and guided me during of the toughest years teenagers often face. They helped me hold true to my faith and God’s plan. I didn’t always appreciate it, but I wouldn’t be alive typing this without them and instilling a catholic faith in me. College was much better. Balancing collegiate running, my faith, and my friends was easy. Today, I still go to church on weekends, daily devotions, and pray throughout the day.
It's well documented I wasn’t a reader until I started teaching. So much, that I drove to a Scholastic conference in North Carolina to surround myself by those book loving freaks. My life was changed, but one book changed my life two years ago. The book is titled Atomic Habits. I was lucky to read it.
Atomic Habits has continued to shape who I am today. I’m so much happier than I was two years ago. I just celebrated 740 days of positive journaling. For the mathematicians in the audience, that’s two years and a few days of happy thoughts and big/small successes. That book taught me to prioritize me and balance my work life. I’ve taken so many big risks because of that book. I see more positives in situations than I ever have. I’m having more fun than I ever have. Without that book this blog wouldn’t be at three years strong. You already know I’ll be adding it in my journal tonight all thanks to one lifechanging book.
Those circumstances were unlucky at the time. Through time, healing, and Skittles, all those events made me lucky. I no longer dwell and pout over what happened to me in the past. Instead, I know the past will truly benefit make me lucky in the future. Never forget, you too are lucky!
