Commit To Excellence

As a teacher, it's always important to have a list of rules and expectations for the children to follow in order to have a productive and successful classroom. Expectations are posted on the board under the heading 'Commit to Excellence.'

These expectations don't just apply to students in the classroom. If you commit to following these, you will be guaranteed success in any endeavour you choose to pursue. Not only that, but you will create in yourself an honest, responsible, and passionate person of high integrity.

Be Accountable and Responsible

Step up to the plate and take ownership of your life and actions. Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done,without complaints. Be accountable for your actions and give up the blame game. Develop the ability to choose and respond to situations, don't react.

Be Prepared

Turn up with what you need to be successful. Do your homework, know what you need to get the task done. Be ready for whatever life might throw at you, anticipate the challenges that lie ahead and have a plan of action at the ready. You'll rarely be taken by surprise.

Honesty is the BEST Policy

It doesn't matter what has happened, if you are honest about it, we can work through it and deal with the matter. A lack of honesty always makes things so much worse. Nothing can be fixed nor changed without first being honest about the situation. You want people to have faith in you and to trust your word. You want to have faith in you also and if you lie, the man in the mirror is just not going to like who he sees staring back.

Always Do Your Best

Mediocre effort produces mediocre results. It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. And if you lose sometimes, but you've given it 110%, then you have won! Success is always yours when you give it your all.

Live with Passion

This is my favorite of the bunch, as it means to just let loose and enjoy life to the fullest in all of its delightful aspects. You will be rewarded with so much joy when you just live with excitement, even about the smallest things. Bound out of bed everyday; greet people with love, enthusiasm and excitement; feel your emotions with intensity; put your whole soul into all you do and try new things without restraint. Your energy will be contagious, people and success will just be drawn to you. Life rewards those who live it!

Are you ready to commit to excellence? It's very easy once you post these simple expectations on your wall. Follow them diligently and there is no outcome other than success and happiness.

Greeting the day with Awe and Gratitude

The greatest gift I have ever received is my daughter Kalyra. She is my greatest spiritual teacher and every day I feel so blessed to have been chosen to be her mother. It is an absolute joy and honor to be in her presence.

My favorite daily moment with her is picking her up when she awakens from her sleep. It is that moment every day when I fully appreciate the depth of her soul and come to an acute awareness that that depth lies within each of us. I believe children have a much better ability to allow it to surface naturally and freely which is why they are so enjoyable to be around. A baby has not yet been conditioned by the people around them or the conditions of their life. They are so loving, so appreciative, so excited by life and in awe of it.

Her first words on waking is a soft gentle calling of 'Mummy, Mummy'. When I walk into her room she greeets me with a huge smile and a wave 'Hi Mummy!' She welcomes me as the best thing she has ever seen and she's so glad that I'm there.

My most delightful daily experience occurs when she then proceeds to tell me every word she knows. She points to everything in her room: the lights, the butterfly mobile and sunflower she made, the pictures of her feet and hands, her bears and toys and she exclaims a 'Wow!' and then names it.

Her awe at life shines through and the joy at her own cleverness to already know so much. And in my heart I say 'Wow!' Another profound lesson from a not yet 2 year old. Imagine what our day would be like if we started it in the same manner as Kalyra. If you awoke with a wide smile and an exuberant wave; so happy to be awake and greeting the day, making those around you feel special and welcome. You then begin the day in wonder and gratitude for the amazing things big and small that surround you and then you admire and smile at the greatness that exists inside yourself.

Too often as adults we think we know everything. Being a mother is the most humbling experience as I realize as an adult I have become so out of touch with the reality of our essence and the true meaning of a life spent in awe of the miracle that it is......