Learning From Colleagues

I once learned that whenever we are planning a "date" with a friend or colleague to think of something that we can share--a joke, a story, a book, a poem, a new acquaintance, a new idea, etc.--while we are with them.


Afer having lunch yesterday with a former colleague from Salt Lake City School District, Dale Rees, I was reminded of that advice. He brought something new to me. He shared three pieces of advice from a book that his wife had given to him which were:

1. Remember: It doesn't matter. My mother used to tell me this all the time when I would go on and on about how someone or something had been unfair to me. There are so many things in life that can ruffle our feathers if we let them, and in the big scheme of things, they just don't matter that much. So why waste our energy on them?


2. Remember: It isn't about me. If we can stay focused on the cause that is more important and bigger than we are, we can keep on going when the things get tough--and be like the Ever Ready battery bunny.
3. Remember: You don't always have to be funny.

Thinking about these three bits of advice reminded me of a 4th bit of advice that a colleague, Maurya Fox, lived by: Pick your battles. If we don't get caught up in all the things that don't matter that much, we'll have the energy we need to be serious about those that do matter a lot--those causes that are much more important and bigger than we are.

Thank you, Dale and Maurya, for teaching and enriching even when you didn't know it.