Popeye was Plant Powered - 5/29/19

Popeye was a Plant Powered 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 29, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

This morning I participated in my first #RunandRant. During my 6 miler I pondered this week’s question, “What is strength?” I finished my run, bathed in sweat, and punched “Record” on my phone. I filmed myself ranting for 40 seconds on what strength means to me. The question is still lingering in my brain and I figured why not go into a little more detail, a written rant.  

Strength to me has nothing to do about being physically strong. I’ve met many people who can run faster and farther than me, squat, deadlift, and bench more, but they are some of the weakest people I've come across. True strength is found in the mind and heart. How we hold ourselves, how we present ourselves, and how we treat others show how truly strong we are.  

I’ve been working on a multi-blog post about the differences between dreams vs. goals. Everyone has dreams, but not everyone takes the next step and transforms those dreams into goals. The strongest individuals are those that set goals. They see what they want for their lives, what is going to better themselves, and create a plan of action to get there. Not every goal is reached with the first attempt, or second for that matter. Those with strength learn from their failures, stand back up, pick up their chin, and go after it again and again and again. Once their goal is finally met, they evaluate and set another.  

True strength is also found by how we treat others. In society today, so many are self-absorbed in their own world and will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want. Just scroll through any social media site and you will be inundated with many individuals looking out for only themselves and how others perceive this lavish, luxurious life they lead. This portrayal just shows their true weakness and insecurities. I want to follow those that not only are goal setters, but also know that once they take care of themselves they are here to serve others. We all have differences of opinions and beliefs. That does not make anyone better than the next. The strongest live to serve others, to help them in need, to encourage and motivate them, to have their back and pick them up when they fall. The strongest individuals see the good in others and display appreciation, kindness, and empathy.  

Lastly, strength comes when challenging the status quo and never accepting mediocrity. It is so easy to follow the herd and not follow through on what you know is right when nobody is standing by your side. Speak your voice, stand up for the less fortunate, and fight for what you know is the right thing to do even if you’re alone. I’d rather live my life knowing I stood for what I believed in my heart, what was for the good of others and this world, than following lemmings off a cliff.  

There you have it, my extended version of this morning’s #RunandRant. True strength comes from first taking care of yourself mentally, physically, & spiritually. It’s then followed by how we help others find their true strength. Finally, listening to your heart and following through on what you know will benefit our world. Take care of yourself, others, and this world and experience the beauty available.  

WWSD? (What Would Spiderman Do?) 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 15, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

Over the weekend we were able to celebrate my nephew’s 6th birthday. It took place at a bowling alley and the kids got to partake in Cosmic Bowling. If you’ve never experienced Cosmic Bowling, imagine your eardrums being loaded with the thunderous cracking of the ball crashing into the pins combined with music escaping through the establishment’s speakers at a ferocious volume. Add to that the overload of your visual senses. Black lights, strobe lights, and flashing lights giving your eyeballs a WOD from Hell! There is so much stimuli going on it’s very difficult to focus on any one task or conversation. 

During this thunderstorm of a dance party, I sat down next to my mom for a while. She asked me how school was going and if there was anything new going on. I told her about the year and then about many of the projects I have going on, both inside and outside of my role as lead learner and principal. Throughout the controlled chaos of the party, with 100% of her attention on me, my mom said with sincerity, “Mike, I’m so proud of you!” 

After hearing these words, I can’t explain to you the feelings of accomplishment, success, and pride that began flowing throughout my body.  It meant the world to me, it gave me drive, it pushed the gas pedal to the floor to keep going!  

I’ve been hearing that phrase from my mom, “Mike, I’m so proud of you!” replaying in my mind over and over these past few days. It has me thinking of how powerful a phrase it is. If at 39 years young it has had that much of an impact on me, what can it do to a child struggling to find themselves? How can it change the trajectory of their path? How can it help you serve the role you set out to accomplish when you first got into education?  

I can already hear the rebuttal to my claim, “Yeah, but that was your mom, it’s different, teachers are viewed differently.” My response, it depends on what kind of teacher you are. If you look at this as a “job”, clock in for your contractual hours, stick to lesson plans and curriculum, then yes, I agree. By you stating that phrase it will have a very minimal effect, if any. Kids see through fakeness. But if you are the educator that builds relationships with your students, pushes them out of their comfort zones to take control of their own learning, helps them learn from their failures, and believes and supports them daily, then when you state that phrase to a child with full attention on them and only them, it is powerful!  

If you’re the latter of the types of educators just described and haven’t yet pulled this powerful tool from your chest, I urge you to do so. Pull that one kid aside and truly let them know how proud you are of them and see what magic unfolds.  

Don't Let your Passions Swim with Concrete Boots - April 11, 2019

Don’t Let your Passion Swim with Concrete Boots 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 11, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining down our students and staff as they exited our den for dismissal. Some hopped in daycare vans, others skipped towards the community with their comrades, while others ran to their parents with open arms and mile wide smiles. I was strolling through our school parking lot, passing all the busses and burning my nasal cavity by inhaling their exhaust fumes. I didn’t mind, this day was perfect and the blessing from Mother Nature was icing on the gluten free, vegan cake. As I was strolling to the end of the bus line a student stopped me. They looked at me, shot their chin in the air, and said, “Mr. E., what happened to your passion?” I replied with a confused look at responded, “What are you talking about? I’m bringing my passion to school every day!” “Nah, I feel your passion is all spent!”  

I jumped up, confused and not knowing where I was or what was going on. I checked my watch, 1:43. It was a dream, a nightmare more like it. I didn’t even get to catch the end of the movie playing in my mind. What was my response going to be? What would I have said to explain? Honestly, I feel that’s why I awoke. I have been given the opportunity to reflect and see where my passion stands. Is it as strong as the beginning of the year? Has it fizzled down? Am I still getting out of my comfort zone, pushing boundaries, doing what’s best for kids, all while challenging the status quo of education?  

After thinking this over on my morning run, I can confidently say, “Yes.” Is there room for improvement? Of course, there always is. None of us are perfect. We still have 38 days left of this school year (I don’t do countdowns and had to go to a calendar to count) to make a difference, to change students’ lives. I still have many tricks up my sleeve, opportunities for self- growth and the success of those I lead. I’m far from done and this dream has awoken my understanding for keeping the fire of passion burning each day.  

This is an extremely tiring time of the school year for educators and students. State testing, limited breaks, routines thrown off due to end of the year activities. We cannot let our passion simmer. We cannot get dulled down and just go through the motions of the job. Our kids don’t deserve that. Every day is game day. Our students are always watching and know when our hearts aren’t in it. It’s not fair to them. Get some logs on your fire and finish this year strong until that last student steps out of view at dismissal on the final day of school. After that, after knowing you gave your all every day for students, sleep like a baby.  

Running Into the Storm - April 2, 2019

Running Into the Storm 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 2, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

  

Running has always been an outlet for me. Ever since I was young, I’ve always enjoyed lacing up, throwing my headphones on, and pounding the pavement. It was always a release, an escape, from everything in my life. It was me, my music, and my thoughts, I was in complete control. Poor choices were gone. Hurt placed on others was behind me. The chains from addictions and vices were broken free. Running let me be who I was.   

I’ve had my ups and downs, my rolling meadows, throughout my running career. Last night I got out for a quick run before putting my kids down for bed. I chose an old playlist from when I was training for my first marathon, back in 2013. This brought back a flood of memories from that time. I really dialed in my training and was focused with my diet. By the end of the 20 weeks I was in the best shape of my life, physically. Mentally was a completely different story.  

As the old tunes danced through my ears into my memory bank, I began to realize my entire life I’ve been looking at running in the wrong light. Running to me has always been an escape route from the prison I locked myself into. I remember in 2013 the days after my long runs I was always left feeling depressed and down. At the time I thought it was from the stress I put on my body. Last night I understood it’s because I was using running, especially my long runs, to escape from my problems in the moment.  

I need to shift my thinking, my mindset, when it comes to running. Instead of running away from problems, from running away from myself, I need to look at it as running towards a goal, running towards solutions. The miles that I spend with the streets are precious. I now know I must acknowledge what I need to address in my life during my runs and problem solve. This practice is going to have a much more positive influence on the school I lead, the relationships I’ve built, and the family I love.  

Instead of running away from the storm with my head down, I’ve turned around and my head is held high as I enter.