In the iconic TV show, The Office, Jim and Pam decide to take mental pictures during the days before and through the moments of their wedding.  Pam says that her aunt told her something neat. “She said everything with the wedding goes by so fast, we should try to take mental pictures of the high points.” They begin to “click” their air cameras when something is worth cherishing. 

It isn’t always easy to stop and realize when a moment is a great moment. I often don’t realize how much a moment can change my attitude or even shape my understanding of the world until after time has passed. 

Last January, I was asked to take over as interim principal of one of our elementary schools in the district. Having never worked at an elementary, I was nervous but excited about the learning opportunity. I knew it was a short gig, so taking a page from Pam and Jim, I decided to bank the moments in my memory that I knew I would miss when I returned to middle school. Each day presented new challenges that often tested my patience and exhausted my toolbox of solutions. But each day, there were moments I will always appreciate and remember.

I will cherish my memory of the 5-year-old sitting in my office in his Yoda sweatshirt, zipped up,  hood on with the ears flapping as he talked. I will cherish the excited faces of the Kindergarteners who introduced me to their newly hatched chicks in their room. I will cherish sitting in the Autism class and playing with kinetic sand to help calm a frustrated child. I will even cherish the time my de-escalation techniques failed and a three-foot-tall TK student punched me in the face. I will cherish all the mental pictures of helping open packages during lunch, watching 4th graders race solar cars, hearing my name excitedly across the campus, and the endless hugs from happy and even frustrated children. 

I have so many mental pictures of moments spent with the staff as well, too many to even list. People who love kids and choose to take on challenges are amazing humans and should be prized daily. They are my people, and I am grateful for the moments I have shared and continue to share with them each day.

This year my goal is to be purposeful in recognizing the high points as they happen and taking those mental pictures.  I am hoping to collect and reflect on those pictures each day. Just like Jim and Pam’s wedding, through the challenges, there are so many high points to appreciate. So don’t be surprised if you see me hold my hands up and click my air camera. Know that at that moment there is something to be remembered and cherished.