On Monday I was in a meeting at school, where we were being challenged about how we would ‘sell’ our department should we have any visitors who may be making judgement on the school. It was pointed out that it is very easy for us to be self-depracating when talking about ourselves, as my boss was saying this he looked directly at me. The problem is, he knows me, and he knows me quite well, and he has been telling me for years that I need to be able to sell myself, but this is not something that comes naturally to me. I’m trying but I find it very difficult.

Why is it that we are so good at seeing the negative in ourselves. After a lesson observation last year I was given feedback, there was loads of good stuff said (apparently) but I only remembered the ONE sentence which was negative!

I don’t think I am the only one who does this, so if this is the case we need to provide SOS for each other – Spoonfuls Of Sugar! (Suddenly the picture makes sense)! Little bits of encouragement, To show that we appreciate those around us.

This week I have received lots of Spoonfuls of sugar! On Wednesday morning I was still feeling like I was in the middle of a tug of war – this is basically how I feel every Wednesday morning at the moment, and I probably will until the course I’m on finishes! Anywho, I was talking to E on the phone. I was running late, but needed to talk. I was getting all weepy on the phone when suddenly I spot that she is coming round the roundabout. She pulled over I jumped in, and I had a hug – she spoke words of wisdom as well – but it was that physical hug that got me through the day. Today a pupil in my form asked me if I was ok, or if I was just tired. This meant so much to me, that she knew me well enough to know that I wasn’t necessarily firing on all cylinders. I was teaching my non specialist subject today, and I was told they were great. Possibly the best words I heard today were from a sixth former who said, “but miss I’ve already made you a cup of tea”! Then this evening as I was out for a run I passed a number of other runners who greeted me, and a whole family who stepped aside on a footpath to let me keep going.

Small things, but those small things help the day to go smoothly, and offer that added something that is often needed to ‘get you through’. That Spoonful Of Sugar that helps the medicine go down.

At school we often encourage the children to do “random acts of kindness” but as I was thinking about this, I’m not sure if I agree with that anymore. Why do they need to be random acts of kindness? Why can’t we just show kindness?

Taking the time to talk to someone, even though you’ve got a lot to get on with. Taking the time to listen to someone, even though you’ve got a lot to get on with. Smiling, encouraging the runners, telling someone they look nice, making a cup of tea, holding a door open. There are so many things, and believe me this is more of a challenge for me than it is me giving advice!

It is so easy for us to focus on the negative, in fact my most read blog post was on the 3rd September when I posted about my anxiety attack! I am going to try to be more positive and celebrate myself, and I hope to encourage others to celebrate themselves as well by providing some SOS! It’s worth a try surely – by the way have I told you, you are amazing, beautiful and unique?