Day 259

1/30/23

Gus and Sam INSIST on playing under our dining room table. This massive piece was once owned by Colonel Giddings, our resident ghost, and it weighs a ton! (An extra bonus on the picture is a small button by the chair where The Colonel could press it and call the maids from the kitchen without a fuss.}

Today, the boys were rough-housing in their usual haunt (I thought Colonel Giddings would like that phrase!) when there was a pitiful yelp! Sam came running over to me with a very small gash on his head. After a few kisses to the wound and a determination that it would heal on its own, they were off to play in their "fort" once again. I have tried to keep them from cavorting under that table, but they head back every time the door is open.

I have banged my head against an immovable "object" a few times in my life. By object, I am referring to relationships, projects and students. Just like my pups, I had to hit my head against futility a few times before I realizedI wasn't going to win.

When you come to that conclusion, there are only two options:

1. Give up and go another direction.
2. Approach the "object" from a different direction.

Not being one to give up easily, I learned, early on, that there is more than one way to approach a challenging "object"."

With relationships, I learned to listen to the other side with an open heart and mind. Being ready to learn and attempt to move together in a positive direction is often the result.

With projects, it didn't take me long to discover that you can adjust expectations and still reach the final goal. It might look a bit different than planned, but the end result might just be better!

With students (and small children), the real win/win comes from offering two choices that are perfectly acceptable. The student feels empowered and the end result is achieved.

Listen, adjust expectations and offer choices...

It ends well and your head doesn't take a beating from banging it against the wall! Now, if I could just convince the pups!