The power of moments
In their book, the Power of Moments Chip and Dan Heath ask us to consider a trip to Disney land. They point out that for most of the time we are uncomfortable, queuing or paying for overpriced bad food. But we remember the experience as extraordinary because human memory tends to remember 'peak moments' rather than mundane routines. We make meaning of the world through intense moments.
As they say "While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection." Our first days at work, our birthdays, or days of celebration and ritual, and our last days are the moment that imprint meaning for us.
We should all be in the business of creating these moments for each other - those flowers on the first day of work, that surprise party with close friends, that unexpected thank you and gift to mark important moments, the gratitude note from a long forgotten student.
Beginnings and endings are particularly important. For that reason this week we are busy rehearsing and planning graduation. Even those staff approaching graduation for the nth time - are still anticipating the emotional intensity of the pipe band, the sense of pride and achievement at completing schooling as we rehearse for the weekend's graduation ceremony.
Equally at the other end of our section, we are planning for after the break, for the new middle schoolers, to mark in an emotionally compelling way their first few days - building relationships, joy and culture - laying down lasting memories of their first experiences in our community.
I hope you and your families find compelling ways to mark the closing of the year, and for those joining us for graduation, the completion of a journey well travelled at ISA.
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