“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” – GoetheK

Hmmm…I think I will share that quote with one of my son’s teachers. She really is a gem among people. About a week ago, I wanted her to know how much I appreciate the work that she does – in particular, the attention she has shown B.. – so I bought her this book. It’s just a blank book of pages – like a blog – only landlocked . There was one page of words on the inside cover was a work done by Max Ehrmann in 1927 called, “Desiderata”. I have always loved that piece of work, and wanted to share it with her because I think she is a pretty special person.

She called a few days later and told me that the gift of the book was one of the most treasured things she has ever received in her life. I told her, “Good ~ you deserve a treasure like that,- because you make such a positive difference in the lives of others”. She said she cried. I did too – but for other reasons I won’t go into here and now…..but I had spent the previous 3 weeks crying my eyes out over B. and his troubles….she just seemed to make it easier.

Those are my thoughts for the morning – - Hi ho hi ho – it’s off to work I go!