Cornucopia – an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind.

The human brain fascinates me!  No two are alike; each is wired differently; it’s the most underutilized muscle in the body; what it is capable of at the beginning of life is vastly different than its ultimate potential in adulthood.  On top of all of that, our brains process information through our eyes, ears, taste, nose, touch AND then through a complex emotional/experiential filter that often leaves two people with very different versions of a single event or experience.

There is fact and opinion. 

Today I observed a lesson where students were categorizing statements accordingly.  In discerning between the two, students were encouraged to examine which words signaled an opinion.  In the definition above the words in blue (abundant, good) are those very indicators.

While my thoughts may seem random, my brain connects various experiences throughout each day that lead to insights and reflections.  It’s Thanksgiving, and a common symbol of this holiday is the cornucopia - the overflowing of food blessings. 

This is a time when we pause and reflect on what we appreciate.  A strategy that I often employ in this effort is reminding myself of what is fact and what is opinion.  Is my glass half full or half empty?  Or is it filled to the halfway mark?  The latter allows me to extract judgment and opinion and gives me the ability to simply see the glass as it is.

I have much to be thankful for from a professional standpoint and extend my gratitude for what is:

• Students at Almond come to school daily focused on their learning and growth
• Staff work together in the interest of serving children
• Parent volunteers lend countless hours of their time in various capacities
• District staff support the sites through leadership and vital resources

While it is virtually impossible to make gratitude statements without including indicators of opinion, the fact is (in my opinion) that I am an incredibly fortunate principal of Almond Elementary.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.  May you be blessed with seeing the abundant supply of good things around you!