One bite at a time.
My mother used to tell me this when I was a kid and felt overwhelmed. Homework trouble. Sports trouble. Girl trouble. Whenever I felt down in the dumps, she always made me feel better by saying these words. (She is a remarkably strong, resilient woman. She has endured a lot in her life. She's eaten a lot of elephants.)
Earlier this week a student sat down in my office and expressed her frustration about all she had to do. "I feel so stressed. Country Day asks too much of me."
I gave her a bottle of water and we talked.
"What - specifically - is bothering you?" I asked.
"Three things," she remarked. "First, one of my teachers posted the wrong page numbers on the homework portal. Second, I'm sick and tired of carrying around my heavy backpack. Third, I never have time to get homework done at school and I'm forced to stay up all night. I just don't get enough sleep."
"Wow," I said. "It must be really tough."
"Yea," she said.
During our visit I encouraged her to talk directly with her teacher about the portal error. (The teacher indeed had the wrong pages posted. The teacher apologized.) I then reminded her that there's plenty of time between classes to drop off her books - during announcements, at lunch, as well as an afternoon break. I then suggested that she find a quiet carrel in the Moncrief Library to study. (We can get a lot done in 75 minutes!) She listened, smiled, then said, "I'll give it a try. Thanks."
Yesterday afternoon I checked on her and asked how things were going.
"Great! I love this place." She beamed.
We all feel overwhelmed sometimes. The key is to identify the specific stressors, find someone who can help us formulate a strategy...then attack each one in succession. One bite at a time.
Once we organize our busy lives, we feel better. We see the world through clearer eyes, and it's a pretty great world.
There is only one way to eat an elephant.
One bite at a time.
Dinner table question of the week:
Your classmate asks to copy your homework because they did not finish theirs. You know they were at the hospital late into the night with a sick friend.
Is it ethical to let someone copy your homework, even if they have had difficult personal circumstances?
Thanks Bill for sharing the wisdom of your Mother with us.
ReplyDeleteThe apple does not fall far from the tree!
Thanks for your hard work and commitment!
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI think you helped her eat the elephant. Thanks for sharing.
Great post! My mom uses the same expression! I like to respond by telling her I do not believe in eating elephants :-). This is definitely a good reminder for all of us.
ReplyDeleteLove this Bill. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that when we feel overwhelmed the world turns gray and our focus turns away from the beauty and vitality of the world around us. A great message to impart to this student and to us all. (Especially to me after a long week-thanks.)
ReplyDeleteSuch good advice to all of us...one step (or bite in this case) at a time. The big picture is great to "see" but to move through the big picture it happens in steps.
ReplyDeleteIt is all to easy to forget a simple approach is not to be underestimated. I feel like that student at times...simply overwhelmed. In each of these instances had I just remembered this simple yet profound piece of advice I would have not struggled as I did. Thanks for reminding us of this, Bill.
ReplyDelete