In turn my relationships, health, fitness routine and mental health have been suffering. I drown my stress in sarcasm and Pinot Noir.
Through the interwebs of facebook I stumbled upon this article. The whole thing is spectacular but this portion hit me like a ton of bricks.
#3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.Several times a week, the instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection. It was exceptionally thorough.
Your hat had to be perfectly starched, your uniform immaculately pressed and your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges.
But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat, or pressing your uniform or polishing your belt buckle—- it just wasn’t good enough.
The instructors would find “something” wrong.
For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surfzone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand.
The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day—cold, wet and sandy.
There were many a student who just couldn’t accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right—it was unappreciated.
Those students didn’t make it through training.
Those students didn’t understand the purpose of the drill. You were never going to succeed. You were never going to have a perfect uniform.
Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie.
"No matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie."
You know what...he's right. There is not much I can do about my current situation (other than quit my job). I need to stop and think about the things that I have absolute control over and which opinions truly matter to me.
Things I have control over:
- finances
- food
- exercise
- lesson plans
- hobbies
Opinions I actually care about:
- John
- Family
- Friends
- 48 amazing students
- Their parents
No where in that list are my observations, my ppg, my slo or CCSS. (if you don't know what those acronyms mean....save yourself the trouble and just ignore them)
So my friends this was my turning point. The moment in which I said, " I am going to be a sugar cookie and I am going to make sure I am the best damn sugar cookie I can be."
Now it is time for me to get to work. No more blaming those things I can't control for my poor food choices, piss poor attitude and pity parties. I am taking control.
