My leadership story inhabits my life story. I took the long way to ‘Thriving.’

Alongside my first steps into school leadership, the nest of my family went SPLAT! Unfortunately, my children and I were floundering and it wasn’t pretty. In those days, I neither knew what I was doing as a school leader nor as a mother. The times were messy and muddy.

Note, I write about this extensively in my book, Learn Forward – An Invitation to the Most Important Journeys of a Child.

Over the next 15 years, I both rebuilt my life, my love story, and I took a school from fledging to a thriving system. Plus, in my spare time, I started a charity, wrote a book, and developed the Learn Forward™ model and platform.

This journey established in me the ‘drive to thrive’.

I believe in this journey as a woman, a mother, and a school leader. I willingly share my journey because I want you to believe too!

You don’t have to a big conversion life event or a hit-rock-bottom turnaround story to believe. You simply have to cultivate this belief consistently.

Thriving as a Metaphor

Yet, thriving is hard amidst the turmoil, treachery, and toughness of school leadership today. How would you rate your ‘drive to thrive’ right now?

So, I use the metaphor of a Tree to help me understand my thriving story.

Everywhere in my life, in every logo, brand, image, and vision, you’ll see a tree: Willowstone Academy, Niteo Africa Society, and Learn Forward.

Why?

Remember in Kindergarten when our artwork told the story of the four seasons of a tree?

Sometimes I feel like the winter tree: dead, barren, dry, twiggy, and dormant. But, this is part of thriving.

Outside my January window, I see these trees now. They are twisted and complex in greys and browns. Only the occasional bird reminds me that something light and fresh. Otherwise, it feels dead.

Indeed, winter. Yesterday, as I drove my little girl to piano lessons, my tears fell. She asked quietly, “Mommy, are you okay?” I told her, “I’m not right now, but I will be.” This is what winter feels like to me. Have you ever had a winter season? Or, maybe you’re in one now?

Indeed, winter can be cold, crusty, and forlorn.

But, be like a tree.

Because thriving can look like lots of different things.

In true colors, trees tell me the story of thriving in all seasons. We must be truthful about thriving in all seasons. Certainly, every season is part of the story.

Plus, the tree and my story remind you spring is coming.

It is a faith journey…

Do You Believe?

Truly, the trees will bud again and then soon after burst into life. Soon, they will flower and bear fruit once more. This season of germination is preparing for fulsome and vibrant growth. Thriving is happening!

Your most important preparation is to believe. In stillness, in movement, in overwhelm, and in exhaustion, believe.

Ultimately, every season is part of the thriving story.

Kindly,
Karine 🌱

PS This post is part of a blog series of Learn Forward™ sticky core values.

You can read from Learn Forward™ 2018 post, Designing for Thriving in Messy Lives.

Brené Brown offers this list of values and an exercise on Living Into Our Values.

You can learn more about sticky core values in schools from this Better Leaders, Better Schools post.