Bosses

While in the store this morning, I saw a sign for Boss' Day. With no hesitation at all, I purchased two cards, already writing the greetings in my head. Driving home, I began to wonder what it might mean that of the myriad management overseers I have had in my 50+ working years, only two jump into my head each year on Boss' Day: Dr. David McDonald and Ben Wortham.

A stranger would never peg either of these two men as a huge influence on my professional and personal life as we (superficially) have little in common. They are conservative. They are devoutly religious. They are heath-oriented. They are soft-spoken. They are thoughtful, as in they think before they opine or take action. They are Southern gentlemen in the truest sense of that phrase.

When I met them I had none of those attributes! Gradually, they worked their magic on me. (They are very sneaky that way.) Today I am occasionally conservative, generally health-aware and, sometimes, I even think before I open my mouth!

Despite our differences, I came to realize and appreciate that we share some core beliefs and values. Families are vitally important. Trust is necessary for any relationship to prosper and trust is built on honesty.  Communication must be give and take, not top down. Rules are necessary but not necessarily rigid. Learning should be joyful. Words are powerful. Schools should be havens, not prisons. Sometimes the student is right and the teacher is wrong. Differences should be explored, not condemned.

My years working for and with these men improved me, as an educator and as a person. I am thankful I met them late enough in my career that I could recognize the benefits of our relationships. (I'm not certain that would have been the case in my brasher younger years.) 

I seldom applaud the greeting card industry's compulsion to have a day for nearly everything - Boss' Day is October 17, this year. Nonetheless, I urge to acknowledge a boss who influenced you - he or she deserves to know. Whether you do it on that "official" day or not is unimportant.