Many of us live good lives. We surround ourselves with good people. We work hard to do a good job. We try our best to raise a good family. Whether its five cats and a little dog or two children with the nicknames mischief and mayhem, we find our niche and work to make it our own. In the process of slowly building this cocoon of success, brick by brick, we rarely stare out the window and ask what could be. Even rarer we stick our head out the window and say can we make this happen.
Nearly three year ago, our kindergarten team came forth and asked why can't we find an opportunity to extend the day to support children. For generations they have led a terrific program. It would have been easy to complain to each other that we need more time. It would have been easy to dream about new opportunities. It's hard to gather together and ask your district leaders, "can we explore this?" It would have been easy for the leaders to exclaim that we don't have the money, the facilities, and the time. As one of our temple's rabbis once said to the other rabbi, "I hear all the reasons why not. What are the reasons why to?" So instead of not asking, the team asked. So instead of saying no, we said why not. In that moment, both groups had the courage to trust and dared to believe what could be.
Nearly three years later, we have 5 schools piloting our Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and
Enhancement Program. In those schools we have nearly doubled our number of kindergarten teachers and rooms. We have found cost neutral ways to do it. We left the cocoon of predictability and dared to make something greater. It has not been without challenges, change, problems, and struggle. However, to walk in and watch those teachers and children engage in the learning process, social interaction, and creative journey, we wonder what would happen if we didn't cultivate this opportunity. It is our hope that we can work through the challenges and create this same experience in all six buildings.
The creation of something new requires a courage to trust, a willingness to ask why should we, and daring to believe that we can be something even greater. Whether its a new program, a new teaching partner, a new job, or a new career, developing the energy to aspire for something more is hard. It's an act of faith, an act of trust, and a hope for the future. Like all leaps forward, there are times we stumble, times we hear rejection, moments in which we discover that there are no points for second place. However we must hear those rejections, face those failures, and accept those losses while still moving forward to a greater future.
I am a baseball fan. Specifically a White Sox fan. I enjoyed the teams of the early nineties and the World Series in 2005. I look at the team on the north side of town. I see the century of failure. I followed the five years of losses in this decade as the leadership team openly developed an organization and vision: 2010 (75-87), 2011 (71-91), 2012 (61-101), 2013 (66-96), 2014 (73-89). Five year of failure while maintaining the courage to trust. The Cubs, an organization that dares to believe. The fruits of their willingness to break the cocoon of safety are beginning to ripen. A team with a pipeline of talent that is starting to blossom. I don't know if they will win the World Series in the next few years, but they certainly are a contender. Instead of asking why not, they found reasons why to. A moment for each of us to look within ourselves, a moment to consider the risks, have the courage to trust, and dare to believe in what could be.
This is by far one of my favorite posts you have written! Thanks for the encouragement!
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