The Power of One

One person can make a difference in the workplace as well as the classroom. I have had several years of my teaching career where the absence of one child could change a class dramatically. You always wished for a day when he (it seems it's always a he in elementary school) would be absent. And then when it happened your dreams come true. You can actually teach the rest of the class. You remember why you went into teaching. You're on cloud 9. Well, evidently that is true of the adults at school as well. We have a very negative person who has been "absent." What a difference it has made in the faculty room. It is a reminder to me of the power that each person has on our environment. We can choose to be a positive or negative influence. The consequences then reflect that choice. Our voice, positive or negative then echoes back through those we communicate with. How can we counterbalance that negativity? I'm extremely aware of it when it happens but it seems to take so much energy to resond in a positive tone or to contradict what's being said. It's just so much easier to walk away and go back to my room where I can create my own oasis. Each of us is being called to "be the change you want to see." That takes energy. It takes courage. It also takes a healthy self concept in order to remember that my opinions and thoughts are just as important as anyone elses no matter how loud or negative they may be. I am a part of my community and each voice must be heard in order for our us to be as strong as it is meant to be.