As an educator, one goal was to keep students' focused on the primary learning goals in order to help them achieve as expected and hoped for. Inevitably, multiple distractions would get in the way, and with every distraction came a series of considerations:
- What is that distraction telling me about the child?
- Is this a distraction worth dealing with or will it go away on its own?
- Does the distraction trump the lesson--is it more important than the learning goal?
- How will I deal with this distraction?
Children are not the only ones who get distracted during the learning process. All of us face distractions as we work to achieve goals that we've prioritized. I have a couple of focus goals I'm working on, and in the past few days, I've been greatly distracted from those goals--why?
First, it's not all about me. Some of the distractions included needed care and attention to others--their needs were more important than my goals. Another distraction was simply exhaustion--tasks tired me out so I didn't have the good energy needed to focus on my goals, and a lack of reflection also served as a distraction. If I don't make good time to reflect, it's easy to lose focus and be swept along with time rather than manage that time effectively
So this morning with renewed energy and a sense of mission, I'll return to my primary goals--actions and events I've thought long and hard about, and goals that I know are worthy for my life and the lives of those I love and care about. Hopefully, distraction won't thwart my direction today. Onward.