Monday Mush -- Creating Magic

Thank you Ms. Krahn for sharing this.  Sooooo perfect! 

I am a comfort zone guy.  I like all “known quantities” in life.  I am not big on surprises or risks that aren’t extremely calculated.  But, that isn’t always a good thing.  I miss out on a lot of “magic” in life. 

Do you ever see “dreamers” and “risk takers” and wonder how they do it?  I do.  I might scoff or look for reasons why they are “crazy,” but that is just to make myself feel better.  It is such a great quality to have some free spirit.  I need to write that on my mirror every morning, so I remind myself that I need that too.

We have a habit in education to do what we have always done.  We don’t even always know why.  We don’t know the research on why or if there is some better way.  We just do what we have done.  Sometimes that is because it is easy…not that we are lazy, but time is a factor for sure.  New stuff takes time…   But sometimes we do what we have always done just because we have never thought about it.  We trust that if we did it that way before, it must be right.  Education seems stuck in this concept a lot.  We teach the way we were taught as kids.  We teach how we are comfortable.  So, that would we mean that if we do that, we teach without “magic.” 

When I think of “magic” – 2 things come to mind.  David Copperfield and Disney.  I remember growing up and always watching the next David Copperfield TV special.  What will he do next?  He can walk through the Great Wall, move the statue of liberty, and escape from Alcatraz (yes, I did those from memory!)  It is probably offensive to call it “magic” because he is an illusionist…and I mean no disrespect to him.  But the magic of watching him is something that is truly unique.  It could only have been done because he thought out of the box…he tried what others wouldn’t try…he tries to make the impossible, possible.  That is how illusion works…you mind says “It can’t happen” but your eyes see it happening.  You have to move out of the realm of things can only happen that I understand completely. 

Disney creates magic.  Whether you remember how Mary Poppins changed the face of movies or whether you have seen a child’s face (and adults too) light up at a theme park.  There is magic created.  Walt Disney had to step out of what was comfortable…he had to take risk…many were seen as ludicrous at the time. 

If you want to be different, than you have to be different.  It is so simple and so wise.  I want to be known for doing something meaningful and real….I want to be known for making a difference and creating something that helps others in a way someone else couldn’t.  To do that, we need magic…and if we need magic, we have to step out of the comfort zone we like to stay in. 

Thank you for what you do every day.  Thank you for creating magic.

Happy Monday!