Piecing the Puzzle

When I dumped out the Legos, I saw nothing but 1,432 orange, blue, and black pieces in a big pile of nothingness. It was a daunting task at first sight. I questioned why I got myself into this project this late in the afternoon. But hour by hour, piece by piece, I assembled the pieces into a F1 McLaren racecar!

 

            To build that Lego racecar it took me nine hours. At times it seemed like forever! In reality nine hours isn’t that long; one good night of sleep, a day at work, a visit to the DMV, Sunday church, etc. Okay… the last one was a joke (church gives me so much calmness). Nine hours actually isn’t that long to put a Lego Technic set together and I’m glad I did!

 

            Today I finished setting up my newest classroom! It took me six full days to complete it. Without the help of Amazon deliveries, volunteers, and how-to videos, I still wouldn’t be done. What started as endless furniture and boxes in the thirties, slowly became a classroom that is truly out of this world and it might be my favorite classroom of all time! I’m so excited it to share it with students, parents, and teachers soon!

 

Piecing together Legos and classrooms are more than physical tasks; they’re mental ones. But so are fitness challenges, diets, reading books, puzzles, friendships, artwork, and life. They take real effort, patience, and fortitude. At times it’s so routine that you take for granted just how good things are. When things aren’t going so good you question why you started in the first place. 

 

Read that last sentence again. “…you question WHY you started in the first place.” Your why has to be bigger than your doubt. Our why comes up all the time in the education and it’s always simple. We do it for the kids, educate tomorrow’s leaders, a better future, and so much more! I bet other careers have a strong why like educators do! Teachers wear our why on our hearts. Students and parents can read us from a mile away. It’s so important to be all in.

 

This next year for the first time in eight years I’m going to in a new grade level. I had a great first year at my new school on a team I admired and didn’t want to leave. I was comfortable in fourth grade. It’s all I’ve ever known since I moved to Florida. Meeting new teammates, learning and teaching new standards, and building a new classroom is no easy task. 

            

Running a marathon is hard.

Moving away from family is hard.

Writing a book is hard.

Eating healthy is hard.

Getting help is hard.

Leaving a relationship is hard.

Saying no is hard.

Going to the doctor is hard.

Building a puzzle is hard.

 

            I did all those things and more; just as I’m sure you have! Hour by hour, day by day, year by year, we got through the new challenges, new goals, and persevered! Sometimes you’re going to question your why. But with consistency, determination, help, and faith you can do more than you believe! 

Every day I try to piece together this crazy thing called life. Somedays the pieces fit perfectly and life is smooth sailing! Other days it’s as if I’m trying to catch crabs in the middle of a hurricane. (The Deadliest Catch airs tomorrow. I’m excited!) We are made for this. Maybe you’re about to start a new job. Maybe you’re about to train for a marathon. Or maybe you’re trying a new diet. Whatever it is, keep piecing the puzzle together!