Lolly Daskal reminds us what to focus on, to lead a better life.

"Learn how to shift your focus
from being successful
to being significant."

~ Lolly Daskal

Lolly is an inspirational speaker, motivational coach, and author whose emphasis is on leading from within. She writes about how personal values are more important than management strategies or fads. I'll bet if you're in the education profession, you're not obsessed with success or getting ahead; sometimes mere survival is the order of the day! But Lolly reminds us to remember our focus: as educators we are significant in the development of future men and women. In the year to come, recall that you really matter in children's or young adults' lives as you help them grow.

This is Malala's awesome answer to the Taliban (and some cool thoughts on education too).

Hear Malala's amazing answer to herself when she thinks about hitting a Taliban with a shoe at about 4:30. But the whole clip is really worth hearing, especially her thoughts on the importance of your profession.

Students are discovering new things . . . thanks to you!

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."

- Mark van Doren

Find out who made TIME's Top 10 Movie Teachers list.

Yes, TIME magazine has a fun slideshow of Top 10 teachers in film. Do you agree with their list? Anyone missing or deserve to be there who's not?

View it here.

Whoopi Goldberg think this is your reason for existence. I do too. (And I bet you're fulfilling it.)

"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark."

~ Whoopi Goldberg

Kylene Beers is taking some things on, for Lent.

Here's a really cool post by the thoughtful literacy blogger, Kylene Beers. I think you'll be inspired.
An excerpt:

"This Lent — and it doesn’t matter if you call this time Lent or simply the quiet days before spring blooms in all its brilliance — this Lent, I plan to do more taking on than giving up. I plan to take on the naysayers of education, reminding them of all the good that our nation’s teachers do each day. Dear teachers, don’t you lose sight of the opportunity you have each day to make a difference in each child’s life."

John Steinbeck thinks highly of you.

"Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts 
since the medium 
is the human mind and spirit."

~ John Steinbeck 

Here's a thought from a cool poem that might bring you comfort.

I came across a wonderful poem in Garrison Keillor's very nice anthology, Good Poems. It's "To be of use," by Marge Piercy. Great first lines: "The people I love the best/jump into work head first."

She concludes, "The pitcher cries for water to carry/and a person for work that is real."

Remember and take comfort in the fact that you and I have work that is real and important! Read and enjoy the whole poem here.

When you serve with love . . .

When you serve with love,
The Universe finds ingenious ways to pay you.

 ~ Alan Cohen

Five Tips From Zig Ziglar to Help You Get and Stay Motivated

The Positivity Blog has a nice post distilling motivation giant Zig Ziglar's wisdom into a few tips. Though not written especially for teachers, these pointers will definitely help us educators keep motivated as we head into the long winter of the school year!

Find it here. May it help you help others.