Thanks to Dr. Justin Tarte for a great quote that I might write differently…”You weren’t hired to maintain the status quo, but rather, to make a difference…an impact.” Regardless, we are so often dragged into maintaining the status quo rather than trying to change how we interact with others. Often, we can make a difference  by making simple steps that result in powerful personal changes.

This quote resonates because each of us wants to believe that if others listen to us, we will make change. Perhaps, we can bring about changes by listening to others, providing a friendly ear to colleagues so beset by trial and tribulation. One close friend in education is often looking just for someone to listen to them. Our time together is often spent in that way…them talking, me listening.

John Spencer (Education Rethink) points outs the following in Good Things are happening:

For all the teacher bashing and public school bashing that goes on in our culture, the reality is that there are thousands upon thousands of amazing, dedicated teachers doing great things. There are small stories that never make the news and never make it into the Twittersphere, but these are the stories that give me hope as a teacher and as a dad.

The experience of listening to these small stories from colleagues and friends makes me set aside my own desires and complaints, to be other-centered. While these stories never make it into the twittersphere, listening to them gives me hope, and unburdens the storyteller. Listening and witnessing the status quo can have a powerful impact. Someone knows…someone is listening…someone cares.

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