Remembering

I have always loved words. I love exploring their origin, the nuances of their meaning, and the journey they took in getting to where we now find them. Because a major task of leadership is creating meaning, I would argue that leaders do well when they understand and use their words with precision.

Take, for example, the word "decide." Leaders do a lot of that, don't they? As our 43rd president famously said, "I am the decider." Does anyone understand when George W. Bush said that, he was claiming to kill off rivals. No, not people, competing ideas.

The word, "decide," as it turns out, has the same root as the words "homicide," "patricide," and "suicide." When leaders decide, they are figuratively "killing" other options. 

This afternoon, I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself, a bit down about the state of our national economy and the havoc it has wreaked on our state education budget, and from there, to every Triangle district's budget. Until TLA figures out how to make money beyond collecting member district fees, it's living on borrowed time. After a three million dollar investment in a regional leadership academy, it is looking more and more like it may be another casualty of the recession. That thought depressed me.

My pity party was crashed, however, by one of Wake County Schools' special assistants to the area superintendents. We were getting on the elevator at the same time and he asked about me. With what was probably a hint of weariness  in my voice, I said "I'm fine. And you?" I was not prepared for his answer.

"I am fantastic!" he beamed. "Since the first day students' returned from summer break, I have been visiting schools and classrooms. Kids are great. I love their enthusiasm. I love what I see their teachers doing to get them ready for the new year. It's all good."

I got off on my floor grateful for my brief exchange and feeling a little ashamed of my earlier mood. Larry's cheerfulness and the reason for it made me remember.

We all know what it means to remember, don't we? Generally, we understand the word to mean "return to memory." But it is more than that. When we re-member, we collect all the separated parts and pieces that reassembled make us whole.

When my colleague shared with me his joy at being among the children, he made me re-member that without their being, we educators have no reason for being. Arguably, without children the world itself is living on borrowed time. It's good to be alive. It's good to be challenged. It's good to serve. The next time I forget it, I will remember why I do what I do by visiting my nearest public school.