Joan Moser
September 28, 2012
A few weeks ago a friend and I were talking about a seminar she recently attended for her non-teaching job. It was an inspirational day that left her with new learning, fresh musings and renewed energy. When I asked what her biggest takeaway from the day was, I was surprised to hear, "We cannot move forward when we are looking back."
Her biggest learning of the day caused me to take pause. You see, I am definitely a look back kind of gal. Looking back for reflection, allowing for learning from my mistakes, and pondering how I might be able to do things better is a daily activity for me. So her most important takeaway created an uncomfortable sense of disequilibrium which has continued to haunt me.
While I still believe there are positive benefits to looking back, I am in agreement that there are some things behind us that it is best not to focus and gaze upon. As a teacher, what if I weren't to look back and bemoan that budgets used to be better, teachers used to be respected, and students used to be easier? It's this kind of looking back that has the potential to shackle me. What if I just focused on the students I have the privilege of working with right now, embracing their individuality and uniqueness, accepting the challenge to help each one reach their absolute potential? What if I met budget restrictions and teacher perception with equal fierceness? Instead of lamenting, what if I used my energy to clearly look ahead, aligning my current thoughts, words, and behavior with my goals?
I still believe in the power of reflection, but for the next month, I am going to try not looking back, so I can not only move forward, but truly embrace the present. What do you think? Will you join me? Let's move forward together!