Weekly Message
November 19, 2018
Gratitude, Doritos and Mountain Dew
"Gratitude is like a flashlight. It lights up what is already there. You don't necessarily have anything more or different, but suddenly you can actually see what it is. And because you can see, you no longer take it for granted.”
M.J. Ryan in Attitudes of Gratitude
For many years, we hosted Thanksgiving at my house until one year, like a thief in the night, a relative decided to steal it! Thanksgiving would now be at her house, like it or not. I was not happy. On top of that, I was asked to bring an appetizer, dessert and drinks. No joke! So now, not only did she steal the holiday, but I still had to basically carry the party on my back like a pack mule. Out of spite, I recall telling my wife we would “loosely comply.” We would bring an appetizer (a bag of Doritos), a dessert (a frozen pie – still frozen!) and drinks (a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew Code Red [for the children, of course!]). I’m still the only one in my family who thinks that’s funny.
This week, we will spend a lot of time cooking, eating, watching football and eating some more, but the week is supposed to be about family and gratitude. I must admit, it seems as though gratitude is lacking a bit in our world lately. It seems that many people would rather blame others for the relatively few bad things rather than being thankful for the many good things. And we ourselves are not immune.
Like many of you, despite challenges, I try hard to think on the bright side and remember how fortunate I am; for family, health, opportunities, etc. What I really want to say today, however, is that what I’m thankful for has changed a bit in the past three years. In that time, I have been to nearly twenty funerals. A few of those funerals have lingered in my mind and changed some of my thoughts. Now, I am most thankful simply for another day; another chance to do better than the day before. I’m thankful to have a chance to do something today that might be important to someone else. Of course, I feel tremendous gratitude for family, health and the opportunity to have a good life. But I realize that every day is another chance to do better – and that tomorrow is not guaranteed.
So, this week, I hope you will join me in being grateful for each day. I hope you will come to your job each day with the intent of doing a little better than yesterday – as a person and an educator. And, because we know that tomorrow is not guaranteed, I hope that you will consider freeing yourself from any grudges, conflicts or negative thoughts toward family, colleagues, students and, of course, yourself. If you do that, I promise this time I will at least thaw the pie I bring to Thanksgiving dinner…and maybe I’ll make it Diet Dew for the kids.
Have a great 2 ½ days with your students and a truly epic Thanksgiving with those you love the most.
Gregg
Yum!
How Gratitude Makes You a More Successful Person (Excerpt)
The Week Ahead
All Day - Wellness Fair (Please see Mr. Carlson's message for schedule and locations)
7:00 p.m. - Band Concert at AHS
Tuesday
8:15 a.m. - Chamber of Commerce Mini Grant Awards
2:30 p.m. - Department Heads Meeting - Office Conference Room
2:30 p.m. - LLT Meeting (Location TBA)
* All other staff meet in teams
7:00 p.m. - Chorus Concert at AHS
Wednesday
8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. - Camfel Productions (Please see Mr. Carlson's message for schedule)
Early Dismissal
Mona Kahale Memorial Mass
I have been informed that there will be a memorial mass for former AMS colleague Mona Kahale at the time and place below. We are in the beginning stages of determining how to memorialize Mona in a special way at AMS.
St. George's Cathedral
Anna Street Worcester
Stay in Touch
Principal
Email: gdesto@auburn.k12.ma.us
Website: auburn.k12.ma.us
Location: Auburn Middle School
Phone: 508-832-7722
Facebook: facebook.com/AuburnMiddleSchool
Twitter: @GreggDesto