Giving Thanks for All I See

It must be the spirit of the season – coming out of Thanksgiving into Christmas and a personally celebratory event in between – that has me in reflective mood. I must also admit to making an individual decision about doing my best to live life my professional life as I want it to be. This post might be helpful to some, but certainly will not be useful to everyone. It is about being thankful for the good I see, and as my friend Erich Lascek and I discuss being “relentlessly positive”.

I am thankful for directors who are diligent in their responsibilities. Their sense of stewardship to what they have been given is admirable. Their dependability to their program and students is inspiring and appreciated. They understand that what is entrusted to them and who they teach. These directors take their responsibility to make every experience as rewarding as possible to heart.

I am thankful for directors are fair in all their dealings. Their sense of justice and equity for all their students makes their rehearsal rooms and concert venues an inviting and safe space. They understand and practice fairness as key component of building trust with their students.

I am thankful for directors who are forthright in all they do. These directors do not take a short-cut at the expense of others. Their honesty frames their critiques in a manner that is sincere and keeps the students’ best interest at heart. Their integrity sets a standard for their students that contributes to positive program culture.

I am thankful for directors who are first class. Their efforts are for the benefit of others. All of their students are nurtured to become the best version of themselves – as people and as musicians. They work diligently to put their students in the best possible position for success. For these directors, the most important people in the concert program are the ones listed in each section.

I am thankful for directors who earn the respect of their students. Their fairness and honesty let their students see a daily example of light in life. This example becomes a beacon at a distant to their colleagues in the profession. Their interactions and perspective leave others better than when they met.

I am thankful for directors who rise above their circumstances. They understand some circumstances are out of their control, so they instead focus on how to use those circumstances to their advantage. These directors aspire to grow into Kings and Queens, and not resign themselves to being pawns that are pushed around the board. They are resilient people.

I am thankful for directors who diligently refine their skills and perspective. They acknowledge and accept they need to habitually learn new perspectives and strategies. They take opportunities to refresh their knowledge and skill base with humility and openness.

If you are a director reading this, I hope you see yourself in some way in this post. You are the kind of director who would not take the time to praise yourself for doing your job. I write this post to say I am thankful for you and all that you are doing for your students. Please know that you are appreciated, you are recognized, and you are doing great things in the musical lives of the students you teach. As concerts come and go between now and the Christmas break, be well, be healthy, and know that I am thankful for you.