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This week I'm celebrating Ruth Ayres!
*throws confetti*
Over the past few years, through blogging and writing and conversations with so many friends, I've come to be a little bit easier on myself. I've still go some work to do but in general, I've learned how to give myself some slack. I know I do my best and put my all in to everything I do but at the same time, sometimes my all might not be what I expected it to be...and that's okay.
I've been a fan of Ruth Ayres for a long time now and I'm glad she continues to share her story and her words of wisdom with others. It was a blog post that Ruth wrote about being enough that really started to change how I see myself.
I printed out this image, it filled the paper, and I carried it around with me, looking at it from time to time to remind myself. Isn't is sad that we live in a world where we have to remind ourselves that we are enough?
And then I read The Art of Possibility this year and they talk about accepting who we are and knowing we are perfect in all that we are because we are as good as we can be. We are enough. And in being enough, we are perfect.
I've carried this message over to teachers. One colleague this year came to me and said she wasn't doing enough. She felt like there was so much more to do to integrate technology and to support students. I stopped her and reminded her that I've known her for thirteen years (since my first year of teaching) and that I've always known her to do as much as she can for students. And then when she learned what more she could do or how she could be different, then she did that. When you do the best you can until you know different...and then you pivot and shift to do better, that counts. Reflecting and refining, continuing to learn and grow is what's important. It's perfect.
But I don't believe I would have been able to share this with her if not for being on my own growth mindset journey. I love the growth mindset and strive to live and model it in everything I do. But that doesn't mean it's easy. I'm good at grumbling through the growth mindset. Just because I believe in it, doesn't make it easy. Changing and growing and facing challenges can get sticky. But knowing it's worth it makes me keep going and I'm so proud that I have.
At Nerdcamp, Ruth was one of an amazing group of women who presented Nerd Talks on day one. Lisa Graff, Donayn Miller, Pernille Ripp, Sue Haney, and Ruth all shared wonderful, motivational, heartfelt words. And I got to listen in and be inspired. All of Nerdcamp was super inspiration and exactly what I needed this summer. Time to soak up all the goodness and re-energize my heart.
Ruth shared a story about staying focused and knowing it's possible to bounce back. That perseverance is what's important. Here are some of her words:
"The heart of staying focused is to know our core beliefs."
"It's too easy to give up when you're only looking to get it right.
Giving up is worse than failing."
In my heart, I believe in the growth mindset - for myself and for others. Doing whatever it takes to keep going is the key. Eventually it will all be worth it. Whether I achieve what I hope to achieve or not, the learning is going to be the lesson. Knowing that I'm trying is enough. Baby steps, getting tripped up, standing up and brushing myself off, trying again - is perfect.
This week I'm celebrating Ruth and this awesome message she has helped me see and accept and live. I didn't even get started on her blog and her words. Reading her honest writing has helped me be more honest and accepting of myself and if you haven't read her blog or her books, I invite you to do so now. She rocks.
What are you celebrating this week?
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