Today, I talked to some students having a conversation about hot dogs. Is it a sandwich? This is a struggle, because hot dogs don't really fit the image of a sandwich. Several groups have weighted in, but I have come to one starting realization. A hot dog is not a sandwich, it is a taco.
That's not really what I want to talk about. Me telling students (who all agreed) that a hot dog is a taco was just an opportunity for me to talk with and invest in students. I try to be real with students, to connect with students, build bridges to students so they know they are cared about. I want the students to know that there are adults who care about them. Sometimes the best way to do this is telling them that a hot dog is a taco.
In life, we pass by people all the time. We pass strangers we might never meet again. We see people that we pass every day or every week. We see clerks at the store, the next door neighbor, the person who works down the hall. Each one of these contacts gives us an opportunity to show care and compassion. We need and should be connecting with people.
In our modern society, people have way too many connections on social media. It is easier to insult post hate on social media. Even on social media, we have the opportunity to show kindness and respect. We can engage with people in a positive way. When you are at the store, at work or school, or on Facebook, seek to be encouraging, uplifting, supporting and kind. We need more of that today than ever!
