S.S.S.S. (not to be confused with S.S.D.D.)

I am always a big, dorky nerd during our Back to School week full of meetings. I get caught up in the Fall semester energy at the college. We have plenty of professional development opportunities, for which I am very grateful. I love working at an institution that gives me so many options for growing as a teacher.

Having said that, I do have this contrary streak. Commonly, there are "Best Practices" presentations where honored teachers are featured. I understand the spirit of the session - sharing successes. I get it, and I applaud it. However, the global declaration of "best" makes me want to argue. Who decided these practices were best? For whom were they best? When were they best? Why?

I pretty much complain about this title every time I hear it. I suggested an alternate title, but my friends told me that Some Things that Work for Some People Some of the Time and Some Reasons Why (S.S.S.S) would not be a big "faculty draw."

But the more I think about it, the more I like that title. It is one of my theories of Life. Every piece of advice really comes down to S.S.S.S. In my opinion, every baby book should come with a Some Things that Work for Some Babies Some of the Time and Some Reasons Why sticker. Every relationship advice book would sport the S.S.S.S. sticker as would EVERY weight loss program. Teaching, parenting, marriage and fitness require creativity and individual tailoring to be successful.

I comes down to my belief that no one else has my answers. I have to figure it out for myself. I love getting (and giving) advice. I benefit so much from sharing ideas. In the end, though it is me...

me, standing in front of the classroom
me, mothering my children
me, communicating with my husband
me, rolling out my yoga mat
me, drooling looking at a tray of cookies

Someone else's reasons...methods...words never feel quite right. I have to find my own.

And, eventually, I do find my own reasons to be healthy, my own authentic teaching methods, my own words to speak my joy and sorrow.

And, of course, they are always S.S.S.S.