Let Positivity Lead the Way

For educators, the last few weeks of summer break can hold a whole collection of emotions.
In my own career, I have had summers that seemed to last forever, and summers that I wished
would never end. Summers in which I couldn’t wait to return, and summers in which I wasn’t
quite ready.
Regardless of the emotions you are experiencing right now, every new school year can be a
fresh start. We all have the opportunity to reframe our expectations, relationships, and
attitudes.
Trust me. I know.
I’ve begun a new school year 27 times. That was 27 opportunities to get things right, and 27
opportunities to get some things wrong. A few of those 27 years, I’ve desperately needed a
fresh perspective.
Today I want to focus on one thing: our attitudes.
I try to be a positive person, but sometimes I find myself in a season of negativity. In fact, a few
years ago, I was invited to my principal’s office regarding my attitude. My initial feeling in that
moment was, “This is not who God created me to be!”
Needless to say, I then spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to replace that
negativity with something healthier. So, today, let me encourage you while also reminding
myself!
First, let’s get this out of the way: Positivity does not mean you are pretending there are no
problems.
Perhaps you have heard someone referred to as a “Pollyanna”. Today, the term is meant to
suggest that someone just pretends everything is perfectly fine…ignoring the problems that are
clearly present.
But, have you actually read the book, Pollyanna?
In the story, Pollyanna is an 11-year-old orphaned girl who is sent to live with her extremely
strict and harsh aunt. As you can imagine, everything was definitely not perfectly fine!
Pollyanna remembered a practice that her late father had taught her, called “The Glad Game”.
She knew that this practice could change her life…her very broken life. So, she began to look

for something to be thankful for in any situation, no matter how painful and disappointing.
And, trust me, she went through terrible things.
People in town begin to notice her odd optimism. Even though some of them were irritated by
it at first, after an accident that threatened to leave Pollyanna unable to walk, the townspeople
came together to build her up with their own Glad Game! In a moment in which she was
struggling to find hope, the community that she had inspired did it for her.
Pollyanna single-handedly changed the culture of her little town. I’m talking about all the
townspeople, including that (formerly) terrible aunt!
What can we learn from Pollyanna?
Listen to me when I say this: YOU have the power to change your school! You might be
thinking: I am just a teacher.
Pollyanna was just a child.
One courageous and consistent person has more power than you think. Positivity has a way of
spreading. It can change our conversations, relationships, and eventually our culture.
On a sidenote, negativity can do the same.
And we all know this is true: The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to be
negative.
Maybe you hate your new schedule.
Maybe the curriculum you loved was replaced (again!) by something new (and in your opinion,
less effective.)
Maybe your beloved classroom has been ripped away from you, and in place you were moved
to the smallest, no-closet, old-carpeted classroom of doom.
Do we have real reasons to complain? Yes!
But, should we look for reasons to be glad anyway?
I believe we should want to. Because, choosing gratitude does not erase our problems. But, it
sure changes the way we feel about them.
Positivity helps a school culture in ways negativity never will. Are we trying to be a part of the
solution?
Please know, I am talking to myself here, too!

To be clear, please go to your administrators when legitimate problems arise. Share your ideas
and offer solutions. I have found that most administrators want to solve the problems, and
they appreciate my ideas.
But, friends, the ‘Teachers’ Lounge Talk’ is not helpful. If you’ve been in a school for more than
five minutes, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Let’s reclaim the Teachers’ Lounge as a place of positivity. Make it a place where teachers can
come together to share ideas, help each other, choose solutions over complaints, and build
amazing relationships with each other.
Make this your year!
Challenge yourself to see the bright side of imperfect things.
Be the example for your coworkers, because positivity is contagious.
The more people who embrace it, the easier it will be to change the culture from the inside out.
Make work a place you love instead of dread. When that happens, the last few weeks of
summer will feel very different.
You can return with a sense of purpose, confidence, and energy! You will have the ability to
recognize the problems without spiraling into gloom and doom.
The Glad Game won’t erase your problems, but it will save you from becoming your own
biggest problem!
And who knows? It might even transform your school.