Henry David Thoreau said, “Do what you love to do. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it more.”

February is the LOVE month and it offers a reminder to show and tell the people we love that we do. Typically we think of loved ones – sweethearts, kids, grandkids, family members, etc. I’m thinking I want to send a Valentine to all the people with whom I have had the joy to work – my partners, my clients, the wonderful participants who attend and respond so appreciatively to our seminars and webinars.

I think I’d also like to send a Valentine to all my former students, many I have heard from through the years and many whose paths were lost to me. I loved teaching not because of the content, I just loved the variety of students who passed through my classroom and whose lives I know I directly or indirectly influenced. While very young kids offered the most challenge to me, they, without exception, touched my heart. When you felt low, you just had to stand outside a kindergarten class or first grade and watch and listen. Before you knew it, something was making you cry or laugh out loud. The innocence, the naiveté, the unique point of view of the 5 or 6 year old is a grounding gift. Middle school kids, now those were my people. A little bit grown up and a little bit childlike. Conversations with them made me feel like I had been sent on a mission to change the world and here is where I could start. High school kids, now they gave you hope. Every conversation with a high schooler made me feel so proud of our profession, so honored to have been instrumental to their learning along the way; they were trying so hard to be “grown up.” Working with kids was a lifelong practicum in child and adolescent psychology and I just loved watching, learning, and influencing the potential and future of each one.

So often in the work of education today our educators feel only the heavy weight of all the responsibilities and expectations. That weight can mask the very privilege and joy of working with lives who will grow up and do something that will influence, bring wonder, imagine more, explore beyond, create new, and most importantly contribute to our nation and world.

In this LOVE month, what if we paused for a few moments, spent some time in reflection and mentally listed the 25 things we LOVE about teaching and/or education. Thoreau said, “know your bone and gnaw at it” – so what do you love the most and want to just keep strengthening and polishing? How will you make sure it stays in focus? Wow, already thinking about another plan for…oh, yes, and where are those chocolates with my Valentine?  Oh, there they are! Love the nuts.