It's just so Canadian

The ultimate tool is just so easy...and so Canadian

This thing that I speak of, the tool that I speak of is Canadian, for sure (are we Canadians not known the world over for our niceness). 

This thing I speak of is definitely something we prairie kids have in spades; common sense (was Medicare not our common sense brainchild?).

And the thing I speak of is not a strategy, not something that can be taught. 

It is acting as we should act. It is being kind. It is being "nice".

Most don't think of kindness as something we could and should be sharing on a monthly, weekly or even on a daily basis. But it is. 

I can hardly believe it took me so long to realize the power that lay in simple acts of kindness and then to finally practice these in my everyday work; recognizing and celebrating the gifts and strengths in all people. 

Whether or not our individual gifts or contributions are recognized and celebrated, they do exist. 

Everyone has a gift...something that could and should be celebrated from our childhood until our death.

Whether you are a teacher, a TA, a school administrator or...think on this. 

As a school principal, I decided to write a letter, every day, recognizing and celebrating the gifts of those in my sphere of influence. We recorded the names of those to whom I wrote. We also recorded the names of any who responded (and there were many), though it was not by any means my objective to receive feedback. 

Everyday over the course of a year, I wrote a letter to staff members, students and parents. (In retrospect, the only thing I failed to do was to cc these letters to people who cared. I could have cc'ed letters I wrote to staff to senior office supervisors. I could have cc'ed letters I had sent to parents to their children and vice-versa) 

The results were uncanny. I can't even start to tell you how often I heard something to the effect of, "I have never received this kind of recognition. And I am so grateful - and humbled." 

Can you think of a better way to bring out the best in children and in adults than recognize and celebrate their gifts? 

This is how we should teach our children, by focussing on each child's gift. And this is how we should treat those with whom we work and live. 

And yet, as I look back on my life...as a student or as a teacher or... I can't think of many occasions where this type of feedback was afforded to me. 

And yet, I know I had amazing teachers and colleagues. I guess no one told them to be nice.