"Our brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks." (Samuel Johnson)
The pro-active, re-active, knee-jerk reaction, responsive, due diligence, avoidance, forward-looking, steadfast, visionary, moored, progressive, regressive, scattered, grounded, reform, transform, leader, followers, initiates, rebukes. These are all terms you hear being thrown around by teachers, administrators, staff, trustees, Ministry and yes, parents and community when talking about Education.
Which of those action words are you? Am I? Should we be? At what time? During what circumstance? A question should not end with the answer. The answer should not be the end of the response. A response should not end the action. The action should end with a question.
Yes, it is better to be pro-active as opposed to being reactive. But can you always foresee a circumstance? A knee-jerk reaction may be required to defuse a situation? But what rationale/reasoning behind the decision will determine if the responsive action was the correct one. We should always be doing our due diligence to discover and avoid any pit holes that may arise before us. Are our thoughts and thinking forwarding looking or are we steadfast in our actions and thinking to change? Are we visionary and willing to explore and challenge what is before us or moored in the tried and true (known)? Is what we do progressive or knowingly (or unknowingly) regressive? Do our plans and thinking keep us grounded in our actions or are they scattered with no plan to follow? Are we reforming or transforming our practises and mindset? Do we know when to be leaders and when to be followers? Is rebuking initiatives accomplishing your goals or just hindering those of others?
Every thought, plan, action, happening, circumstance &/or reasoning does have action and reaction (cliche). Does the term 'practical wisdom' by Barry Schwartz from the video Using Our Practical Wisdom come into play here? Does more knowledge whether practical (life) or academia give you more wisdom? Whose wisdom is proper? How does wisdom play into action?
Is Action Required? Action will happen. The Who, When, Where, Why, What and How will depend on you. Where are your actions taking you?
