Many years ago I was privileged to sit in the classroom of an outstanding professor at Butler University. I admit it was an unexpected path that brought me there. My life plan had been un-expectantly turned upside down and inside out…a roller coaster ride, if you will, though I had not purchased a ticket. I was in a state of turmoil with few resources, but much responsibility. Fortunately, wise counsel and helping hands insisted…well, actually “pushed” is a better word… that I go back to grad school to make myself more eligible for career re-entry.
So with battered self-esteem, I did so and fortunately into an education class. This professor made his class not just about methods, psychology, curriculum, but also about real life. Little did I know how much his instruction would influence my career, but also my life. His insights were a tool, not only taught, but practiced by him, and I felt he was speaking to me and my wounded spirit. His wisdoms were useful, encouraging, and healing, not just for the classroom to which I would eventually return, but for every day-to-day encounters then and now.
Dr. D. said we all carry with us an imaginary bucket and that in every encounter be it at home, work, play, street, café, or wherever, we will either take something out of that bucket, or we will put something into that bucket. A frown, a casual ignoring, a demeaning or critical remark…these all take something out of that bucket. However, a personal greeting, a sincere smile, a meaningful compliment, a sharing of mind-expanding ideas… these all put something into that bucket. And if we are alert and sensitive enough to observe the response, it is easy to know which we have done. We also know what someone has done to our own bucket by the feelings generated from the “take-out” or the “put-in.”
Consider what a difference it would make if we would be more about bucket-filling… (even to those who seem to derive pleasure from “take-outs.”) Yes, it is easier to take things out, but the contrast in impact is major. Every day in every encounter, we have this opportunity, this choice, and what we choose to do is really a reflection of our character. Would we visualize the buckets others carry and seek to put something in them… and interestingly, in the process our own bucket gets filled as well.
So thanks, Intramuralist… you know all about filling buckets… including mine.
Respectfully…
DWL
This was put into practice in my children’s second and third grade classrooms. Small pieces of paper printed with “(insert name) filled my bucket today by (insert action) ” could be filled out and posted to a bulletin board under the bucker-filler’s name. It had a very effective, powerful impact on the children, as you can imagine!