This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
– George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950), Irish playwright

As we continue to show extra appreciation for teachers this week, we invite you to join Luis Hernandez in “Finding Joy in Our Work.” In this Exchange Reflections which includes his article, Hernandez writes: 

“Creating workplace happiness has led management organizations and eager consultants (myself included) to showcase ‘happiness’ workshops, fun team-building exercises, and cool ideas for making workers happy… But do pizza parties and balloons on birthdays truly create joy in the work we do every day?”

Hernandez explains his belief that true joy at work “requires enthusiasm, motivation, energy, and positive attitudes. And these elements cultivate a genuine ‘passion’ for the work we do. That passion is what propels us day in, day out — very often with a smile on our face even if our teeth hurt.”

This Reflections provides a wealth of discussion topics and potential action steps for finding (or cultivating) those things that bring true joy to our work with children and families. For example, Hernandez asks, “As a person who loves the ECE profession, are there some sensible steps to ignite or reignite my sense of joy about work?” How might you respond?

PS—Don’t forget to share your thoughts in our quick survey about a teacher you appreciate! Respond today!

#teacherappreciationweek #thankateacher