Who I Want To Be When I Grow Up

I stood there staring angrily at my computer. Nothing was working. The moving dust was whirling around my room and my lungs were on fire, despite (or maybe because) of three steroids and the 6 back-to-back puffs of Ventolin I had to inhale to keep my asthma at bay. Needless to say, I was in a bad mood. In walks, J one of my favorite and most underrated colleagues. J is the kind of person who will leave a note on your desk just because. He trekked all the way from his classroom to my room to see how “the move” was going and if I needed any help setting up my space. His positive energy and joyful disposition caught me off guard and we ended up across the hallway helping another teacher rearrange her desks to maximize movement, collaborative groupings, and figure out where to hang the white boards. This whole encounter probably took 25 minutes of my life but I left that afternoon reminded that there are some people who are just good people. 

The next morning during my devotionals (aka the time I drink coffee and pray that maybe one day I'll become the morning person I’ve always wanted to be), I reflected on the people in my life who are walking sunshine. I ended up with a list of 20ish qualities they all have in common. But here are a few dominating characteristics–kind, solutions-oriented, creative, full of hope and joy, and unflappable. 

These folks are emotionally intelligent in a way that they know their own strengths and limits, have healthy boundaries, and somehow wake up each morning with a “how can I make the world a better place” vibe. I doubt they explicitly  think about it, but they exude both confidence and purpose in their day-to-day. 

These folks are problem solvers. They genuinely approach life’s chaos as if it is a wave to ride or a puzzle to solve. They don’t seem to be ruffled by stank faces, grumpiness, or crisis because they are unflappable. 

They are creative thinkers finding a way when there seems to be no way. They know what they can and can’t control and try to solve for X. They could walk into a room full of legos, see a cityscape, and talk you into building it the next four hours. They would shake their heads at that giant pile of lemons, scan the area for a pitcher and a knife, then make some lemonade. 

They have high expectations for themselves and others, working to bring others alongside them. Even when at their limits, they always treat others with dignity. 

What I appreciate most is that they bring peace into a situation because they somehow manage to remain hopeful even in dark times. Again, I think it’s because they know who they are and what they believe. They can be salty without being bitter. 

In the end, folks like this remind me of what and who I want to be when I grow up. Now it’s up to me to grow up.