Monday, June 23, 2014

First Impressions


I am so blessed to have Sloane ride to and from school with me each day.  I get to hear about her life, and I always learn something new.  Recently, Sloane was telling me a story about an adult, new to the school, who reprimanded a student for doing something that had previously been perfectly acceptable.  This adult said, "You need to remember that first impressions are very difficult to undo and you just made a very poor first impression."  Sloane said to me, "Doesn't she realize that she's making first impressions, too?  I wonder if she cares what we all think of her now?" 

Wow.  Talk about a punch to the solar plexus! 

How often do I as a teacher, forget about the impression I am making?  The feeling my words leave behind?  And, as a parent?  Do I forget then too?  How often do we, as parents, teachers, the ones with authority, think of the impression we are making? 

I find it all too easy to go on autopilot.  My to do list, like yours, is long and getting longer.  I find it too easy to let "getting things done" distract me from "giving love away."  It's too easy to reply to a long story with, "Uh hunh.  Yeah.  Oh cool." instead of "Wow!  Tell me more about that."  It's far too easy to focus on being productive instead of being present. 

One of the things I constantly have to remind myself is this:

People before productivity.

I wish I didn't need the reminder quite so often.  But, until it becomes a habit, I will say it again, and again, and again.  I will remind myself of these few things:

Be present.  Be attentive.  Give love away. 
Remember, people before productivity. 

What about you, friends?  What lessons do you find yourself repeating in your head?

The picture above is my Sloane, my best teacher.

11 comments:

cristie said...

your lovely Sloane...where does the time go?

Unknown said...

She is becoming a stunning young woman.

Suz said...

Now that is one wonderful woman in the making. Good job mom

Mrs. E said...

I needed that reminder, too!

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Shadow said...

So important, putting those who are right here with us before tasks...

Mac n' Janet said...

Your daughter is not only beautiful, she's very perceptive.
Love what you said about giving love away.
We all need to slow down, even if you're retired like me.

Anonymous said...

Excellent motto! Lessons I repeat to myself include: Don't trouble trouble til trouble troubles you; don't wish your life away; take life by the smooth handle.

Elizabeth Halt said...

She is beautifully perceptive. I want to remember that myself.

Come to think of it, I was just reminded of something someone I know read in a book, which is that people show you who they are in your first meeting with them. Whenever I think about it, I wonder what I show people in my first meeting. (Pretty sure one thing is that I have a dog and I am besotted with him. :)

Lisa Gordon said...

What a beautiful young lady she is, Relyn, and obviously a very intuitive one too!

S. Etole said...

What a beautiful soul in your lovely daughter.

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