The Ripple Effect...

I have recently realized that I am drawn to water.  It is near the water that I am calmed and introspective, with a quieted mind.  Some common words used when talking about the symbolism or water are: Life, Motion, Renewal, Blessing, Intuition, Reflection and Transformation. When I review that list, it makes sense that this is where I often find refuge and  recharge.

One thing I love about the water is when something is put into the it, there is a ripple effect.  If you skip a stone, jump in, swim or just simply put your foot in, it causes a change.  This change has a radiating affect.  This effect is where I am reflecting today.  This idea has been in my mind quite awhile, and I will do my best to put it into words and context.

I truly believe that "small moments have huge gains",  but we are often unaware of those small moments, and miss the effects.  I think it is important to realize that we DO have an effect, whether it is positive or negative, we do.  That is important.

Words: I have said many times, "Words have power". They do!  They have the power to lift someone up or tear someone down.  It is also important to realize that they have a lasting effect.  So many times, I personally have let others' words, affect me.  Sometimes in a good way, often times not.  Words stick to us and are worse then physical bruises, because many times, they do not fade.  That is why I really try hard to use that power for good.

In my life, it has been words from others, that have kept me moving forward.  To the speaker, they may not even have thought twice about it, nor the effect.  People do not realize the reach that words can have. Someone believing in me, when I did not have belief in myself, has helped me to then pay that forward.  It is because of this that I am very cognizant of my words and work hard to choose them wisely.  My words will affect others and so on.  Words change us, which in turn changes how we react, interact, speak, do. THAT is the ripple effect.  

Think about our students.  Often times, we do not know what they are dealing with.  Our words to them, may just be THE ONLY words directed to them, that day, week, month.  Because of that, our words have a tremendous ripple effect.  WOW,  just think of the magnitude of that.  What were your last words to a student, how might that affect their trajectory?  Now let's take it further...this is not only true for students, but for everyone!  

One of our principals put up students pictures in the staff lounge.  The idea was that teachers would add post-its to the picture, if they had spoken WITH that student.  What a powerful experience!  It was shared that there were days when some students had 0 post its.  ZERO! I broke down in tears when I heard that. BUT, think of the tremendous learning.  Think about the affect that had on those teachers and the hope that moving forward, they thought about their interactions with more intention.

I have a bad habit of "getting mushy" with people by letting them know how much their words had an effect on me.  I do this because I want them to know the power of words.  My hopes are that they will realize and understand, that they have that power and I appreciate them using that power for good.

As I am processing to write this...so many other ideas of this ripple effect come to mind: our choices, our actions, our relationships, our movements.  The breath of this idea is overwhelming and I think I will need to explore each of these in depth...at a future time.

For now...my call to action is to really reflect on our words...choose them well...they have power, remember that.

Below is a video of a man that skips a rock.  Each time it hits the water, it creates a ripple.  As you watch, think of each of those skips as our words.