chemicalrejectboys:

As I’m finishing up my first year of my Masters in Music Education, we were asked to write and present a “This I Believe” speech.  I wanted to share mine with you because I think some people may feel the same way, and because as hard as this was (there were tears), I’m actually proud of this.

• This assignment is probably one of the most difficult things I’ve ever written. Even now I feel like I’m doing everything wrong.
• I’m not sure I really know how to explain my philosophy of music education with words…
• I don’t like talking about beliefs.  I like facts, logic, and reason.  I like things that can be explained and supported.  Beliefs imply trust, often in things that can’t be explained or are unsupported, which is something I have difficulty doing, and in some cases I am still not convinced.  It also implies Emotions, which are difficult, messy things that cloud judgement, but we have them all the same. All that being said, and against my better judgement, I do have some core beliefs.
• So first and foremost, I believe in people.  I believe in humanity, even though the world right now seems to enjoy testing me on that.  I believe that people have value and that everyone can learn and grow towards a common goal of wellbeing in society.
• I believe that humans are fluid.  I’m a different person now than I was 5 years ago, 10 years ago…
• I believe everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexuality, religion, etc. has the right to be treated equitably under the law and in our schools.  No one should be denied access to opportunities based on the things they cannot control.
• I believe some things will never change.  History repeats itself.  Power structures are in place whether we acknowledge them or not, and keeping the status quo is way more comfortable than the unknown.
• However, that doesn’t mean I believe we can’t make things better.
• My mom had a mantra she would say to us growing up. “Better than it was”.  She liked to tell us that her mantra used to be “Practically Perfect in Every Way”, but then she had kids.  So it had to change.  I remember once she was upstairs cleaning her bathroom and we could hear her chanting to herself, “Better than it was. Better than it was”.  She usually used it as a backhanded compliment about how we cleaned our rooms, but the sentiment remained; if you do something, it will get better. Just because something isn’t going to work out entirely in your favor doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.  On the contrary, it means we need to do more.  
• I believe change is hard. It’s frustrating. It’s beating your head against the wall. It’s not knowing how to explain to someone that they should care about other people.  It’s a million times easier to do nothing than it is to do something.
• I believe in self-preservation.  It’s a hard line to toe, being a teacher and valuing self-preservation.  Vulnerability is at the forefront of our profession, and it’s important to model to our students.  However, self-care is also important.  I can’t be vulnerable all the time.  It hurts too much.  I need to take a step back and acknowledge that it’s okay to take a break.  Teacher burnout is a real thing, and I can’t advocate for students if I’m not in the classroom.
• I believe in celebrating small victories.  Something I’ve come to acknowledge in the past few years (though I’m still working to accept and embrace it) is that I will never be perfect.   We are our own worst critics, and things will never be fixed overnight.  Every step we take in the right direction is a small victory, and it is enough.  My personal mantra switch from “Practically Perfect” to “Better than it was” is a work in progress.
• I believe in education. As cliche as it sounds, I believe that children are our future.  Education allows us to challenge our ways of thinking and be critical with our perceptions and beliefs.  It gives us the tools to grow and allows us to walk before we run.
• I believe in music. A language that connects all generations, cultures, and people, whether they understand what is being said or not.
• And I believe in music education. Music is the vehicle I use on my road of life, and many students feel that way too.  It is where they can be themselves, where they can truly express who they are and what they feel.  Where they can make mistakes and learn and grow and be a part of a family that accepts them for them.  I believe in music education because I believe in people and the way that music brings them together towards a common goal.  I believe in music education.

growinglikeweeds:

itsladykit:

theangriestlittleunicorn:

the-real-seebs:

the-rain-monster:

shrineart:

vampireapologist:

Honestly something that bothers me more than most things is having my compassion mistaken for naivety.

I know that another fish might eat this bullfrog right after I spend months rehabilitating it.

I know that turning a beetle back onto its legs won’t save it from falling over again when I walk away.

I know that there is no cosmic reward waiting for my soul based on how many worms I pick off a hot sidewalk to put into the mud, or how many times I’ve helped a a raccoon climb out of a too-deep trashcan. 

I know things suffer, and things struggle, and things die uselessly all day long. I’m young and idealistic, but I’m not literally a child. I would never judge another person for walking by an injured bird, for ignoring a worm, or for not really caring about the fate of a frog in a pond full of, y’know, plenty of other frogs.

There is nothing wrong with that.

But I cannot cannot cannot look at something struggling and ignore it if I may have the power to help.

There is so much bad stuff in this world so far beyond my control, that I take comfort in the smallest, most thankless tasks. It’s a relief to say “I can help you in this moment,” even though they don’t understand.

I don’t need a devil’s advocate to tell me another fish probably ate that frog when I let it go, or that the raccoon probably ended up trapped in another dumpster the next night.

I know!!!! I know!!!!!!! But today I had the power to help! So I did! And it made me happy!

So just leave me alone alright thank u!!!!

THIS.

I heard a story about this, a parable I guess.

There was a big storm and a ton of starfish were washed onto the beach, stranded much further up than they could get back and beginning to bake in the post-storm sunshine. A little girl was walking down the beach, picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. Some guy comes up and asks her what she’s doing. “Saving the starfish,” she says.

He looks around at the huge beach and the hundreds of starfish, and says “You can’t possibly save them all. I’m afraid you’re not gonna make much of a difference.”

She throws another starfish back into the ocean, and replies “It made a difference to that one.”

Yeah, I mean, we know we can’t change all the things. But have you ever noticed how much better life is when you’re around people who change things when they can?

Kindness is a choice. Even if it’s small, it’s worth it.

This is what I’m talking about, when I say that kindness and compassion do not equate with ignorance, stupidity, or naivety. Being cynical does not make someone more intelligent or more worldly. 

Kindness is not weakness.

Kindness is brave. Especially when you also know that your kindness might not be returned, may even be met with anger or cruelty. It’s reaching out with an open hand, knowing that it’s just as likely to be bitten as it is to be held. 

Kindness is hard. If you can’t find it in yourself to be kind, then fine. But don’t make it more difficult for those that can.

This is something I have been thinking about A LOT lately and I love that someone put it into words