Attitude

The day before yesterday I had 62 elementary students on my afternoon route. That’s a record for that route. The route lasts between 50-55 minutes, and it can be assumed that it is 50-55 minutes of chaos. There is no question that this is chaos contained in a big, yellow, receptacle on wheel. The question is whether the chaos is joyful chaos or a chaos laced with negativity, conflict, and potential violence, either verbal or physical. Ninety-five percent of the time it is the former type of chaos. At those times, I try to relax, address blatant, unsafe behavior, and enjoy the ride, grateful for the happy (and a bit nerve racking) energy all around me. When I’m surrounded by negative chaos, it’s an act of endurance dependent on grace. I’m realizing that my attitude about the ninety-five percent of joyful chaos, makes it easier to endure the five percent of disintegrating bedlam.

Pencils= 25