What if we are part of sparking each other’s growth by inspiring and encouraging one another?
 
Take a moment to ask yourself: Who inspired me today? Who or what moved or impressed me… opened my mind… touched my heart? What did I experience or learn from them?
 
What if we learned from everyone – those who gave us a smile or an encouraging word, and those who may have rubbed us the wrong way. If we choose to be students of life, our teachers miraculously appear everywhere in the people and situations we encounter. They appear even through those challenges that seem unfair and stifling. What if we used everything that comes our way for our development and growth: the great, the not so good, and the “awful”? As a wise teacher of mine often said, “What if everything is for you?”
 
In early March, I had the good fortune to fly up to Sacramento with eight of our high school students and five of our EduCare staff, to be part of the CalSAC Summer and Afterschool Challenge. We spent two days with students, educators, and parents from across California, meeting and talking with congressional leaders to advocate for increased resources for afterschool and summer learning programs for more of California’s young people.
 
I watched our students outperform all expectations, stepping out in front to speak with senators and legislators, presenting themselves on media outlets, talking in front of the cameras. They were outspoken in sharing the value they have received from these essential programs, and passionate in advocating for funding, so that more students might be afforded the same opportunities and benefits.
 
Our students came in shy the first day, and they left on fire – on cloud nine – as they realized what strong voices they had, and how impactful their words were. As we encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zones and to be bold in expressing who they were and the importance of their message, our young “ambassadors” further sparked my own enthusiasm for EduCare’s work.
 
We can choose to support, encourage, and learn from each other. When I feel bothered by or upset with someone, I often step back and ask myself: What if this is my chance to understand, rather than to prove my point of view is right and theirs is wrong? I’ve learned that this is my opportunity to practice slowing down, to ask questions of them that might help me understand their point of view, and to build a greater opening for mutual appreciation.
 
My invitation this spring is: Let’s aim to inspire, encourage, and lift one another as we consider the choice to use everything that comes our way for our learning and growth!