The power of teachers

I have had several conversations and interactions lately that have reminded me of the power of teachers - for both good and not so good.  Teachers have the power to shape, inspire, lift, and enrich us as well as the power to wound, limit, and cut us.

"With great power comes great responsibility" - Spiderman

Recently there have been a few situations that have caused me to revisit my own experiences with teachers - on both ends of the spectrum.  I'm not going to share the those stories (for they belong to others and they are their story to tell) but I will share some of my own.....

From the ones who try to break us -
The middle school social studies teacher who tried to shame me by taking a letter I was writing in class (yeah I was in the wrong in some ways), shredding it, and then taping it back together after class to take me to the principal the next day for calling her a b*tch (btw - thanks mom for standing by me and saying you were sure I had said worse about her and maybe the teacher needed to consider all the circumstances - like coming back 3/4 of the way through the year and being uber negative about the long term sub we all loved)

The kindergarten and first grade teacher who left my reading level below abysmal and had no interest in trying to instill a love of learning.

Athletics and dance teachers who kept such an aggressive pattern with instruction and demanded more than 100% or I wasn't good enough.....

To those who inspire growth, love, ongoing learning and enthusiasm for life....

My high school forensics coach and literature teacher who passed along his passion, shared books and classic films that I now know many people don't experience until college or later, who encouraged me to challenge myself and become state ranked in public speaking.  He was passionate about supporting and encouraging all of his students and created a classroom where so many thrived.  It is because of him that I discovered a love of stories like "The Lottery" and classics like Casablanca (please don't ever say Play it again Sam.... that's not the line....) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the original)

My summer camp counselor who helped me see that smiling made more friends than being scared and that every change was a chance for something new and wonderful to happen.  She helped me embrace transitioning to a new school and to continue to thrive during a period of major upheaval in my life.

My elementary school teacher who changed my reading level from below kindergarten to 2nd grade or higher all in a year.... and who continued throughout my life to inspire my love of reading.  Her daily reading opportunities, reading to the class challenges, and her gentle manner will forever be with me.  "Flattery will get you everywhere"

My college professor who pushed me, encouraged me, and is largely responsible for me taking the leaps and risks I did over the years to always continue to seek out the path that is right for me - no matter how unorthodox.  There will always be a pink flamingo in my yard now in honor of her.....

To my mentors and parents who helped me learn and see that life is what I make it and that continually learning and challenging the norms can lead me to create the life that I really want for myself....

To my more recent tango teachers and life teachers - who challenge me, who gently encourage, who can read when I need to be yelled at and when I need to be encouraged, who help me peel back the layers that are blocking me, and who have helped to enrich life.... To those who told me "Walk Like A Queen"  and to "Be Seen!  Show UP"....

There are many others who have played a role.... THANK YOU  to all of them, all of you.... you have enriched my life and my journey.... never underestimate the power that a teacher can have on someone.....

When you are the teacher what do you want people to take away from interactions with you?

Who were your memorable teachers?  What lessons do you carry with you?

Expand your horizons.... travel.....

Last month I headed out on an adventure - I challenged myself to do something I had never done before - I traveled alone to a foreign country, where I barely speak any of the language, for 10 days.  And it was..... MAGICAL!!!

 "Don't be afraid to travel the journey alone - You might find yourself."

Since I've returned home, I've had several conversations with people, particularly young women, about my trip and how they wished they could travel more but they don't know anyone who would travel with them.  I challenge them to consider what it would be like to travel alone - to be completely free to experience and form their own adventure and experience.

I routinely travel around the United States alone, but this was the first time I had gone out of the country by myself.  The experience was one of the most enriching experiences of my life...






1 - Traveling alone expands your horizons even more.  Rather than limiting your view of any culture or experience, you open your mind and your spirit to see and feel what other places, people, cultures and experiences are like.  Because I was completely on my own, I was free to take my time to wander through the city, talk to people when I had the opportunity, observe daily life, and to just soak up the experience.  My views and experience of the city were only filtered through my own lens, no one else.  I had the opportunity to take my time and absorb the aspects that spoke most directly to me.

2 - We grow from a little discomfort.  Because I didn't speak the language fluently and had to learn to communicate with people, I was forced to find ways to communicate and to practice my own Spanish skills but also just my communication skills.  However, it also meant that I learned to navigate a new city and explore new experiences.  I got out of my comfort zone with a minimal safety net.  Before I left I knew there were places I wanted to go, in particular some significant tango locations (El Beso - more on this in a later blog), but was very anxious to go alone.  And yet I did go - not just once but many times over the course of my trip.  And wonder of wonders, I not only became more comfortable but I began to meet people and make new friends!  I learned to let myself be seen again and to begin to connect with new people in new ways!

3 - Traveling alone forces us to build our understanding and connection to ourselves!  Because I was completely on my own, I had the opportunity to really explore what it was I wanted - each day I was the only one responsible for what I wanted to explore.  I was able to spend time just sitting and writing and re-discovering what was important to me and valuable to me.  Because there was no one else to balance time with or consider while I was exploring, the experience allowed me to truly connect to myself, examine what was important to me and where I want the future to go.  During this trip, I learned parts of the city that I really loved exploring (and can't wait to revisit) were the areas where old history co-existed with current life - the neighborhoods where two hundred year old buildings existed side by side with new building and signs for current movies; the neighborhoods were sidewalks were wide and may have had five different types of surfaces along the block; the blocks where there were fruit and vegetable stands side by side with bookstores, ice cream shops and food to go shops.  :)  I didn't enjoy as much the parts of the city where the buildings were all new and similar in style.  I learned that I am not only comfortable but enjoy wandering the city at night.  I learned that I can feel embraced by a city (this was big for a country girl).  And I learned there is little more enjoyable than a quiet cup of cafe con leche while reading a favorite book and writing in my journal.  Food tastes better when you aren't anxious about someone elses reaction to your restaurant of choice. 

4 - You find yourself exploring more and quite possibly even making new friends in unexpected places.  I came away from this trip with more new friends than I ever anticipated.  Without a travel partner, I reached out more and was more receptive when approached by others while I was out exploring.  There is something enriching and encouraging about making new connections and exploring new friendships with people from different cultures - we share stories and experiences, areas where we both are similar as well as different.  In addition, we share our interest in each others' languages and some of the friends I've made I continue to talk with and to learn to improve my Spanish for my next visit.  I don't know if I would have made as many new connections on my own if I had been traveling with someone else.  But also, because I was traveling alone, I didn't feel the need to be social when I wanted to just be quiet and absorb.  The ability to flow between social and quiet solitude was freeing and uplifting. 

5 - Traveling alone strengthens you - it reminds of you of all that you are capable of and can do on your own.  It increases your confidence in your own abilities and interests.  You don't have to worry about someone elses reactions and it forces you to accomplish things (finding directions, communicating with people, making new connections) that you may feel intimidated about.  There was a moment where I had trouble locating the shop to change money during my trip.  While I had gotten the address and good directions from a friend of mine, I was still on my own to actually find the location and exchange my dollars for pesos.  When I had accomplished the task, I felt much more confident and stronger - from something that simple and what felt extremely easy by the time I left to head home. 






6 - You see things you may miss otherwise.  Because I didn't have someone else with me - I was able to fully take every bit of time I may want in certain areas.  I found myself very drawn to a cemetery in a particular area of town and to the street art throughout the city.  I was free to wander and explore each of these as much as I wanted.  I didn't worry about a friend or travel partner criticizing my desire to walk barefoot in the cemetery (in the winter even); or complaining that a one mile section of walking was taking me 30 minutes because I kept stopping to take pictures of the artwork.  I ended each day feeling enriched by all I had seen and at peace with the time I had taken to wander and explore it.

Since my return home, I continue to encourage everyone (men and women) I know to travel - travel with friends and loved ones but also, take a trip on your own - learn about yourself and sink into a new culture.... If you could go anywhere - where would you go?  what holds you back?  what excites you about the travel?