Appreciate the Little Things…

James Caan (actor: Elf, Las Vegas, Hawaii Five-O, etc.) said, “It is that, but really, it’s about how we don’t recognize the little things in life, or appreciate the little things in life like belonging. A sense of belonging is a big thing today.”

I am so appreciative tonight that I belong to the SOLSC group of writers, teachers, and bloggers who have supported and encouraged me this month! What a fabulous group of people! I just read on my dashboard that I have over 30 followers of my blog, http://www.readingteacherwrites.com. That’s just amazing to me because these followers are people I don’t know personally. I feel honored that they have read my posts and felt inclined to “follow” my future . A sense of belonging is truly needed in our current world situation. If you cannot belong to someone or something, you cannot “be.”

Students look to school for belonging: kids want to belong to a sport, or a club, or even a classroom community, to help them on life’s journey through childhood and adolescence. Teachers and coaches work really hard to show the students, “We want you here!” I always make sure I tell my students, “Welcome back!” when they return from an absence. We need them there, and they need us.

I appreciate belonging to a family (immediate and extended), a school, and a group of friends I’ve known forever. I appreciate my colleagues from different venues: Homestead High School, Ball State University, Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Indiana Partnership for Young Writers, the SBCSC “curriculum gals,” NEA, IRA, ASCD, and NCTE…Wow! If I list all the groups I belong to, I won’t meet my deadline tonight! I am grateful to belong to so much! I appreciate every one of you, every day. Even if I don’t say it.

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault