I motioned to the gentleman who had just congratulated Lincoln Public Schools for receiving recognition from NAMM for being one of the best Communities for Music Education.   I just wanted to introduce myself because I had “met” him through email and wanted to put a face with his name.  As we were talking, he gestured towards the seats filled with teachers coming back to prepare for school beginning on Monday and said, “you know, not every place is like this”, to which I replied, yes I know. But he looked at me again and said, “seriously, not every place is like this.” 

As I looked around the room full of people excited to be back at school, I was reminded that where I work is a special place.  Look, teaching can be ridiculously stressful, exhausting, and thankless.  And yet, here they were, laughing and talking with each other, enjoying the learning and looking forward to beginning the new year with students.  I love that I get to work with these people and that when things get really crazy during the year we can vent and laugh and cry together.

Have you ever looked back at your life and realized, that in that moment, not every place is like this?  Those are the times when you think about how lucky you were, or how special it was or how amazing the people were.  The stars that aligned at just the right time to allow you to experience something really extraordinary.  Sometimes we allow the everyday mundane or busyness to overshadow what may end up becoming some of the most memorable times of our lives. 

I’m not talking about those milestones in our lives – graduations, marriages, births – but those situations or activities with those special groups of people that can change who we are or even the trajectory of our lives.  My high school and college band experiences, the boards and committees I’ve been fortunate to serve on, the school district I’ve been lucky to work for.  Meeting and working for and with amazing people who change the way you think about life and about yourself.  The people who teach you those core character traits and those life skills that you carry with you the rest of your life.  The people who see you in ways you never see yourself and encourage you to step out to do things you never thought you could.

So much of it depends on great leadership and yesterday was the perfect example.  The reason where I work is different than other places, I believe, is because of its leadership.  The kind of leadership that walks beside people, that challenges and encourages, and provides what people need in order to learn and grow.

Does this happen intentionally or is it truly just the stars aligning with the right people at the right time?  Perhaps it’s a little of both, when you get a visionary leader who builds intentional relationships with people.  Whatever it is, I’m grateful for those people and experiences and so glad to be in a place that’s different in a very good way.