This morning my 9yo son asked me, "Mom, why is Russia trying to take over Ukraine? Russia is huge." (Part 1)

This morning my 9yo son asked, "Mom, why would Putin want a bombed-out desert? Why is he bombing a place that he wants to take over?" (Part 2)

This morning my 9yo son asked, "Mom, if Putin bombs and kills all of these people and takes over their land, who will he share the land with once he gets it?" (Part 3)

Cynicism: We have a problem, but they don't want to solve it Pessimism: We have a problem, but we can't solve it Optimism: We have a problem, and we can solve it Responsibility: We have a problem. Can I help solve it? Initiative: We have a problem. Here's how I'm solving it

Something every nerdy kid needs to know: As people mature, they'll be drawn to you more for how you think than how you look. In adulthood, there's no higher compliment than being someone's braincrush. They're attracted to your vibrant mind, not the container it comes in.

Professionalism is not defined by the hairstyle you choose or the clothes you wear. It's the standard of conduct you uphold. Being professional is about maintaining personal reliability and social respect. You strive for excellence in your actions and grace in your interactions.

The only "perfect parents" I've met are people who don't yet have children.

Optimism has little bearing on health. Avoiding pessimism matters more. 61 studies, 221k people: health is predicted more by the absence of pessimism than the presence of optimism. Well-being isn't about expecting the best. It's about making sure you don't assume the worst.

The last two years have been a struggle but we will always have this experience. Never underestimate a #principal who survived a #pandemic

When a friend or colleague is grieving, a powerful way to show you care is to ask about the person they lost. Is there a memory you'd like to share? It gives them a chance to express their love, honor their loved one's legacy, and reconnect with the joy they felt together.

Progress rarely happens in a straight line. It typically unfolds in loops. Day by day, it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels. If you look back on your trajectory over months or years, you can see forward movement. Major growth is the result of many seemingly minor turns.

I believe in both bodily autonomy and the sanctity of life. In some situations, abortion is necessary. Being pro-life requires being pro-choice. Overturning Roe v Wade was one small vote for a group of mostly men—and one giant setback for human rights. adamgrant.bulletin.com/how-to-argue-a…

Something I like to remind the teens: their generation mobilizes on social media better than any other generation. They might not be old enough to vote, but they are old enough to make some noise. Teens can raise their voices together. Pass it on. 📢

Don't mistake assertiveness for aggression. Being assertive is advocating for your interests. Being aggressive is attacking other people's interests. Standing up for your ideals doesn't make you pushy—it stops you from being a pushover. It's not selfish—it's self-preservation.

It’s hard to change people’s values. It’s easier to appeal to the values they already hold. When you push your principles, people shut down. If you speak to their principles, they open up. Motivating others requires knowledge of what matters to them. tedtalks.social/WLAdam

In toxic cultures, time off is a reward earned by working to exhaustion. Burnout is proof of commitment, and vacations are required to recover. In healthy cultures, time off is a right granted to everyone. Well-being is a top priority, and vacations are encouraged to rejuvenate.

Blame triggers shame. Don’t blame. Meet in the middle and connect to heal. (Also not a poet, but we do need to talk about shame spirals.)

ChatGPT is going to be the new App Store. This is it's iPhone moment. Look at these MASSIVE list of ChatGPT Plugins for almost every use.

Even expert teachers need support. @mmcdowell13 points to three ways administrators can help star educators continue to thrive and grow. edutopia.org/article/helpin…