Before You Need the Soup

I wrote the following about a Jalen Rose quote (NBA player) in “Innovate Inside the Box“:

There is never harm in positively and authentically acknowledging the contributions the adults in our schools make. Don’t wait for someone to leave your building to appreciate them! Say good things about them now, right in front of them! As former NBA player Jalen Rose has said in the past, “People will bring flowers to your funeral but won’t bring you soup when you’re sick.” Don’t wait for it to be too late to share a kind message. You will be amazed at how simple, heartfelt words can improve relationships with your peers and change the culture and environment for the entire school.

For many schools right now, they are going into summer break. Some are already done.

Why I share this with you all is that many people can spend decades with a school or an organization, and they will look back at their time there and base it on the last few weeks.

We sometimes hold back our positive comments for colleagues because we assume they have heard it from others. What if everyone assumed that at the end of someone’s career or tenure with an organization? Those last few weeks would not be looked back on fondly.

I am going to share one experience that I remember as a student. When I was in grade four, my teacher (Miss Butler) wrote a personal card to EVERY student in the class, sharing what she appreciated about them and reminding them of personal moments that resonated with her. Almost forty years later, I still remember that card, and honestly, nothing else about that class. That small act of kindness from my teacher inspired me to do the same every year with my students.

Gratitude received is often gratitude shared.

These small acts often matter as much to the adults in your school, if not more so.

And here’s why:

Education is a career that many feel they give so much to, but strangely, at the same time, also takes so much away. 

Time away from our family and friends to be with our jobs. It is a lot.  And honestly, there is not much that will change that in the near future, at least not at the organizational level.

So, at the individual level, I just wanted to write this as a reminder that it is better to share gratitude too early rather than too late.

Don’t wait for the need for soup.