By Melissa Griffin
Do you ever think about all the little moments that have led you to where you are right now? There's a song by singer/songwriter Mason Jennings that says "Where would I be right now if all my dreams had come true?" I'd be an Olympic gymnast with lots of gold medals! I’m happy to say that I truly love my life, even if my gold medals come in the form of sticky toddler kisses.
What you thought you'd "be when you grow up" may not be what you are today, and that's probably a good thing. You're exactly where you should be right now, and there are so many little moments that got you here with your unique skill set and your one-of-a-kind qualities. Can you remember which childhood teachers or mentors had the most profound impact on your adult life? Think about your favorite teachers and their little "one-liners" of inspiration that you'll never forget. Who in your life said, "you know, you're really good at..."?
We often miss opportunities to inspire people, because we assume that inspiration can only come from Dr. Seuss or Albert Einstein quotes. In reality, the sentence “you know, you’re really good at…” goes further than we can imagine, and it only takes a moment. At the Hammond Regional Arts Center, we recognize the value of those little moments—they can change the course of a life forever—and that's why we continue to foster support for arts educators in our area.
What have we learned today?
1. Let’s appreciate those teachers, parents, grandparents and mentors who took a moment to say something encouraging to us.
2. Let’s take a moment to say something encouraging to someone else, especially a child.
This morning I watched a TED Talk by Jarrett Krosoczka, and I hope you'll check it out. Krosoczka’s story is inspirational in many ways, and it may help convince you to say “you’re really good at…” to someone soon. (Find the talk here.)
Here's the description: When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was a kid, he didn’t play sports, but he loved art. He paints the funny and touching story of a little boy who pursued a simple passion: to draw and write stories. With the help of a supporting cast of family and teachers, our protagonist grew up to become the successful creator of beloved children’s book characters, and a vocal advocate for arts education. (Filmed at TEDxHampshireCollege.) Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author/illustrator of countless children's books and graphic novels, including Good Night, Monkey Boy, Baghead and the Lunch Lady series.