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The other day I read a
story about a "Daffodil Garden" that gave me some tremendous
insight into how some people always seem to accomplish so much with the
time they have, while others are confused, stressed out and never seem to
have enough time to get anything done.
The
"
Daffodil
Garden
" was located on the side of a mountain. It
was a magnificent scene. One of the most beautiful sights you could
imagine. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and
poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes where it had run into
every crevice and over every rise. The mountainside was radiant, clothed
in massive drifts and waterfalls of daffodils. The flowers were planted in
majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange,
white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each
different-colored variety (there were more than thirty-five varieties of
daffodils in the vast display) was planted as a group so that it swirled
and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.
A
charming path wound throughout the garden. There were several resting
stations, paved with stone and furnished with Victorian wooden benches and
great tubs of coral and carmine tulips. Five acres of flowers! All planted
one bulb at a time, by one woman who lived in a little house on the side
of the hill.
This
lady had started planting one bulb at a time for a period of thirty five
years. She once had a vision of beauty and joy, imagining the mountain
covered in flowers. Instead of "wishing" she decided to begin
bringing her vision to life on that mountain.
In
the lady’s own words, when asked how she created such an immense garden,
she answered, "One at a time, by one woman, two hands, two feet, and
a very little brain."
And
this is what we call "The Daffodil Principle".
Regardless
of your dream or vision, there is no other way to do it. You have to do it
one bulb at a time.
There
are no shortcuts. If you set out on a journey, it begins with the first
step. Then you take the second step, and the third, and so on. Before you
know it, you have traveled a long way from where you began and you just
keep on going.
The
sooner we all learn to accept the "Daffodil Principle" the
better. When you continuously move forward, one step at a time - and at
times it is with a baby-step - we use the accumulation of time to
accomplish so much. We can actually change the world in which we live.
Just think about all you can accomplish in time.
It
makes me think back to all those things I wanted to do but abandoned,
simply because it seemed as if it would take so much effort and time to
accomplish my ultimate goal. Think of all the books I could have read if I
had only read one chapter per day instead of trying to find several hours
at a time to read. Think of all the letters I could have written to family
and friends if I had only written one letter a week (I could have kept in
touch with 52 different friends each year). Think of how many people I
could have made feel wonderful, if I had taken the time to give one
sincere compliment per day to a stranger.
THE
ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IN TEACHING IS TO ADOPT THE DAFFODIL PRINCIPLE
The
Daffodil Principle should be required reading by all teachers at the
beginning of every year - or perhaps at the beginning of every day!
You
have a lot of long-range and unit plans for your students. You have
individual plans and daily plans and special education plans and
professional development plans...are you getting tired yet? And if you
spend time going over all of those times the tasks will seem enormous.
If
you simply begin, one task at a time; one week at a time; one day at a
time; the job will get done. And at the end of the year, you will look
back and see a beautiful "Daffodil Garden" in full bloom. The
journey begins today. Just start planting and you will be amazed at what
you can accomplish. |
