Because I Care

One of my favorite Stamp Sets from Stampin Up is the one that has the phrase Because I Care...useful for so many cards and so many circumstances. Just these three little words next to I Love You and I'm Sorry are probably the most meaningful, inspirational and motivational words that somebody may need to hear...Imagine getting a thoughtful, homemade card from somebody on one of your deepest, darkest days that says...Because I Care. I know my day has just then become a whole lot brighter knowing that somebody cares...I am not alone in my struggles...whate'er they be.

Charlotte Mason, whom I think of as the mother of homeschooling, who started a parent institute to teach parents how to teach and train their children, (imagine how well that would go over today), once said, and I am paraphrasing,

                The question is not how much does the student know...but how much does the student care?

How much does the student care about their education? How much does the student care about learning to read? How much does the student care about graduating from high school, going on to college? How much will the student care about being responsible in order to become the best person, parent, provider, proclaimer, etc. that he or she can be? How much does the person care about giving their very best?

Teaching the student to care should be the priority of every instructor and every coach (even fitness trainers)

I think back to just before Christmas when I was in TEAM weight loss class at the gym and there were only three of us on the Octane machines. My fitness trainer (extraordinaire) was skimming through my journal again and noticed that I had been eating out a lot....12 times in one week... I could see the look  of disappointment in his eyes.

I remember him sitting across from us... and asking us students what he could do to help us...to really help us in this weight loss journey. I don't remember the words he said but I remember the look on his face. And for the first time since I had started exercising and taking this class, I realized that this is someone who cares, who really cares, and from that moment my outlook on fitness and nutrition changed.

If you show the student that you care...you teach the student to care

 Its not so much the words Because I Care but the actions behind it...the taking time out to go the extra mile, to make the card, to ask what can I do to help that really matters. The work is still mine to do - but knowing that someone cares - how can I not do my best? My best may fluctuate with health and circumstances and the excuses I can think of... but because someone cares my work seems easier...

I like the saying....Sure life may give you lemons. but if somebody doesn't give you water and sugar your lemonade is going to suck (pucker up...who likes sour lemonade?)

I care about my fitness training a lot more now... I don't take it lightly...and its because of fitness trainers and nutritionists that show they care that I am able to do my best... I can do no other.

I can also teach and show my SPED students that they can do no other also...

Thanks for the life lesson Alex...