The Art of Relating Part I
From the moment I signed up for the upcoming Art of Relating, I have already noticed a significant difference in the way in which I relate to the people in my life. So much so that just last week I landed an amazing new teaching job at an incredible new school in Sunset Park, Brooklyn! Between the Time and Project Management course, which I attended a couple of weeks ago and the Art of Relating course for which I have already signed up, I can truly feel the magical effects of transformation in my life. During this time, I had been contemplating leaving my current school and finding another teaching position elsewhere. About two weeks ago, my friend suggested that I come to her school and speak with her principal. I could have had a thousand excuses not to listen to her, but since attending the Kane’s workshops, I have learned the importance of listening, and also trusting my intuition. When I arrived at the school at the designated time, I was told the principal was at a meeting and that I should simply leave my resume with the secretary. Just as I was about to leave, someone called me into the main office. It was a retired principal who had remembered me and a lesson that he observed when visiting my classroom over four years ago. He inquired about the reason for my visit to this school. When I explained that I was looking for a new position, he introduced me to the assistant principal and arranged an immediate interview. After the interview, which went very well, the assistant principal invited me back to their school to do a “demonstration lesson” with fourteen students the following week. At first I was a bit nervous. I’d never been required to perform a demonstration lesson when I got my first job nine years ago. I prepared a literacy lesson with some excellent help from my friend, Holly, a teaching ooach. This is where the “transformational shift” was most prevalent for me. When I walked into the classroom I didn’t think of my agenda, for example, getting the job or how I was doing as the supervisor observed the lesson. I didn’t think about ’showing off’ or proving what an excellent teacher I could be. Instead I allowed myself to be present, completely there for each of these fourteen students. I felt that even if I never saw them again, in that moment, they would at least have learned a significant reading comprehension skill that I taught them within my allotted 30 minutes. I focused on “reaching” each child, and I was completely present for each moment of the lesson. The next evening I found out I got the job! Fourth grade!! During the workshops I’ve attended with the Kanes, Ariel and Shya frequently speak about “having a good life” and “living your life with excellence”. These were the ideas that propelled me to search for new employment. In the past, change was very hard for me and I would have answered away my unhappiness and literally forced myself to stay at a job when I knew it was time to move on. I’d love to see more people join workshops to experience this magic for themselves. Think about it: what could be more relevant in our lives than how we relate to and communicate with other people? I am so grateful for Ariel and Shya for opening a forum for an incredible community of people that is rich with so many possibilities. -Michael C.
