Ready, Set.....STOP!

It has come to my attention lately - there is a definite increase in the number of automobiles running red lights. I have witnessed accidents in front of me at intersections as my lane has moved into the intersection on green - and the oncoming traffic had also passed through on red. As I left my ice tea beverage dispensary (not to be named - but a definite confession of a certain Mango Iced tea - large - with two splenda's please- addiction); I saw three cars in a row speed up to a very large intersection as the traffic lights turned orange (yes - my South African heritage here). I cringed as the last two cars raced through clearly on red - waiting for that sickening sound of metal against metal.

Thankfully, this time .... it didn't happen!

SLOW DOWN!
I want to yell, and yes may have yelled, because my goodness - what is the rush all about?
What is so important that you risk your life and others to get through an intersection that would probably keep you waiting a mere 5 more minutes. 

I have started including some practices of "Ready, Set....STOP" - the true definition of red lights, and I'd like to share why and how these may have a trans-formative effect on you both professionally and personally.


Ready, Set, STOP Tips
#1. Don't google the term "red light" or "red lighting" from work. Trust me on this one!

#2. Red flags: we all have triggers that set us off. It might even be the presence of someone in the same room. For me, it could be as simple as getting home and seeing a dirty kitchen (pet peeve). BEFORE you allow your emotions to get the better of you, close the lid. Allow the red flag to become a red stop sign to calm yourself. Breathe - walk away - or affirm in the positive

#3. Leave your work, confident that you have worked to your best capacity and unless you have to, shut down the laptop/phone and focus on you and your family when you get home.

#4. Take heed of RED as a literal sign to stop and look around. I have an extremely bad habit of picking up my cell phone at red lights. I have been jarred to reality by honking horns as the lights have turned green while I have been engaged in social media and disengaged in real life around me. Truly, it could wait! It distracts me from being aware and present. Look around - smile at the driver in the car next to you - admire the nature/new construction. Or just sit and enjoy the music on the radio for the next two minutes.

#5. Understand what things, tasks, relationships or habits transition you from a state of good (green), to orange (warning) to stop (red). Knowledge is power and in the world of education, if you don't understand yourself, you are going to have a difficult time truly understanding or showing empathy to others.

EDIT- UPDATE:
I just watched Dr. Brad Gustafson's #30secondtake with my good friend Doc Sheilah. I swear I wrote this before I watched - but what a great tie in to the Ed world:

https://adjustingcourse.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/stop-the-madness/


Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 23, 2015 at 3:32 AM

    Geniene-nice work. This is good reminder for us all to self-assess our own habits and take time to pause to enjoy what is around us. Your traffic light visual is great and has stuck in my brain.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"How do you measure a year in the life?"

Image
How about love..........? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvyHuse6buY https://40.media.tumblr.com/15076e176eefe1a2a7138caee69fa67f/tumblr_mlfd1gBlnw1qad707o1_500.jpg One of my ALL TIME favorite musicals - RENT! As this year draws to an end I have to reflect back on HOW I chose to measure this year: it's successes - it's failures, it's moments that have brought me to tears or to uncontrollable laughter. I know for sure that the number of cups of coffee have kept a certain (cough cough K cup company in business). For the first time as an ELL specialist I have had the privilege to work with High School students - which have been my highlight of my day (most days). They have inquired about language, life and have invited me into their homes. The family dynamic has never been so important to me as an educator, after meeting these students - and their families. Isn't that ironic - as we usually see 'hands off' attitudes on either side of the partnership at...
Read more

2016 One Word: Intentional

I returned this past Saturday after spending one week in Taiwan and experienced two of the most emotionally difficult days of my adult life, as well as spending Christmas on a 14.5 hour flight and New Years in a hotel room with my son sleeping beside me. #1: Meeting my new son (Edward- aged 12), sitting in court and committing to be his legal guardian and then having to say goodbye for two or so more months before he joins our family. #2: Then visiting a women's prison a mere 15 minutes away from our hotel with my middle son to see his birth mother. Watching tears stream down first her face, and then his - and having to leave that tiny bleak room, knowing that he may never see her again. It wasn't until Sunday morning when we were taking down our Christmas tree, when my eldest adopted son (James-now aged 18) responded to my almost rhetorical question with a nugget of wisdom I needed to hear again. I nonchalantly asked: "how come it takes so much longer to put this ...
Read more

Finding your way - when the path is covered.

Image
I've been meaning to take a picture of a creek near my house - for well, way before the snow even fell. It's a perfectly meandering creek that seems to take the longest winding way to get to it's destination. I remember learning all about this in geography class in high school (yea, a few decades ago). It fascinated me then and still does today. I love this short animated video to explain why this happens:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a3r-cG8Wic "...the meandering rivers may seem tame and lazy.... but out on the open plains those stony walls give way to soft soil allowing rivers to shift their banks and set their own ever changing courses to the sea. Courses that almost never run straight " What poetic language to describe the flow of water! And boy does it resonate! I feel like that meandering river out on the open plain this year. Not that I'm on soft soil, in fact my foundation has never been more set. It's just that as roadblocks/obstruct...
Read more