Do What You Love. Share It.

June 9, 2023

Issue:

#774

Todd Gordon

I am a firm believer that lessons are all around us and that we just have to be looking for and learning from them. My wife and I just returned from a 16-day trip to London, Paris, and Normandy. We learned many lessons on this trip. Here is one:

We were in Paris visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, waiting for a walking tour to begin, when we came across a young man playing his violin with background music and a loop machine. (I’ll let you research loop machines if you don’t know what they are.)

He was super talented, so we sat and listened to him for a few minutes and enjoyed his talent. I even bought him a cup of coffee.

Here’s the lesson.

If you have something that you love to do, you need to share it. Share it happily, humbly, and anywhere you can. It may be only for a few people, and for a cup of coffee, but share it.

Have you read a new book that gave you insight into a teaching practice or devoured fiction books that you didn’t want to end? Share them with colleagues and friends. Attended a conference that inspired you? Apply new learning to impact your students and school environment. Enjoy singing or playing an instrument? Incorporate your talent into transition time. Have an artistic ability? Use it when creating I-charts to grab student attention or give students pointers on how they can refine their drawings. Speak in a rich vocabulary? Share new words and meanings with students so they, too, can grow their vocabulary.

Your talents and gifts are meant to be used as a blessing to others. If you don’t use them, they will idle and waste away. And if you do what you love and share it with others, chances are others will do the same. What a great way to spread joy.