Magic Feather, 2

 As I stated in a previous post, this is the first year I am doing next to nothing after 49 years in education as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator. I have loved almost all of it, and I firmly believe that those who I worked alongside of, and the kids I've have the pleasure to work with, made me better. Better as a teacher. Better as a counselor, and better as an administrator. I've been blessed and can only hope I wasn't a burden to them. 

Next week marks what I call "teacher week" in my former school district. The veteran teachers show up along with the new hires- some brand new, and others who have transferred into our district. I have always looked forward to teacher week, especially the last day, Friday. That was my day to motivate and set the tone for the coming year.

In the past, I led my staff through various scenarios. One year, I talked about geese and how they flew in a V formation. Something that I learned and then imparted to my staff was that when the lead goose was tired, he or she would drop back and another leader would take the point. Most goose calls, the honks, came from the back of the V, and the honk was encouragement to the lead goose. You can see the point I tried to make with my staff. There will be others who lead, but it is important for others to step up and lead from time to time, and others "voice" their encouragement from the back. 

One year, I gave each of my staff members a small compass. The idea was for the staff member to not only lead in direction, but help others, especially kids, find their true north. Another year, I gave each staff member one Lego. As you know, no one can make something from one Lego. But if several staff members brought their Legos together, something could be made. The idea was that of and by ourselves, we aren't as effective unless we work together. 

One year, I asked the carpentry and CTE guys to make me posts with a platform so the posts could stand on their own. Then I labeled each post with a talent, or something fun to do, or an interest, even a type of food. Then, I asked each staff member to string his or her piece of colored yarn from one post to another. By doing so, a large and colorful web was created. The idea was that we are more alike than not. 

In my last year, I spoke about our two dogs, both rescued. One, Daisy, a Golden Retriever, and Stella, a Beagle-Lab mix. Different as night and day. We've had Stella for ten years now, and it has been only recently that she will be friendly towards me. Someone, probably a male, abused her, and she distrusts most men, including me. I then had the staff write at least one positive thing a teacher at any level told them. Afterward, I asked them to write one negative thing a teacher at any level told them. Each teacher had an easier time remembering the negative statement than the positive statement. I asked for volunteers to read what they had written. It was painful, and there were tears. While they read their memory, I took an overhead projector and ripped up a picture I had projected on the screen. With each comment, a new rip. When I had the teachers read out loud a positive thing said to them, I tried to put together the picture, but it still showed the rips and tears. The point is that what we say to a child- any child, ours, someone else's, even what we say to our fellow co-workers, takes a toll and the "picture" or "person" is never fully healed. 

My favorite, though, was the Magic Feather. It is the story of Timothy Q. Mouse and Dumbo. Here is the story, taken from a post I wrote in 2013.

I’m not exactly sure why, but Dumbo has been one of my favorite characters since I was a toddler. I’m not sure who gave it to me, but I even remember the stuffed animal I couldn’t part with, a baby elephant with a red corduroy vest and big red corduroy ears. 

In the Disney movie Dumbo, a baby elephant was ‘delivered’ to Mrs. Jumbo, and it had big, floppy ears. He was made fun of and wasn’t accepted. During one of the circus acts, Dumbo was supposed to be at the top of the elephant pyramid, but tripped over his ears, toppling the Big Top and injuring the other elephants. He was banished from the act and turned into a clown. His feelings were hurt. But Timothy Q. Mouse felt sorry for him. Timothy convinced Dumbo that if he held a ‘Magic Feather’ in his trunk, he could fly. When Dumbo leapt from the platform way up in the Big Top, he lost his feather and it was only Timothy’s urgent prodding and convincing that indeed, Dumbo flew and became the darling of the circus and turned the scorn of the other elephants into respect.

A lot to think about in this one.

I could talk about acceptance and making fun of another because he or she was different.

Not today.

Legend has it that elephants are afraid of mice. Not sure if that’s true or not, but I thought it interesting that an “enemy” was chosen as Dumbo’s “friend”. Upon seeing Dumbo picked on and made fun of, the smallest of creatures, an “enemy” came to his defense and rescue. He became Dumbo’s mentor, his cheerleader, his coach, his counselor and his teacher. 

How often I see individuals of all walks and stations in life looking out for someone! 

Earlier this year, there was a student trying to pump ketchup onto her tray when an air bubble caused ketchup to burst onto her blouse and slacks. Two students saw it happen, left their lunch and took this young lady into the bathroom to help her get cleaned up. 

The interesting thing about this story? 

Only one student knew who the girl was, and only as an acquaintance. The other girl didn’t know her, but saw she needed help. Easily, the two girls could have laughed. Easily, the two girls could have kept on eating their lunch. After all, they only have twenty or twenty-five minutes to do so. But they didn’t. They saw someone in need and helped out. They moved so quickly that no one could laugh or make fun of the girl.

And what of the ‘Magic Feather’?

A couple of years ago at the beginning of the year, I showed a brief clip of Dumbo and challenged my teachers and staff to be the Timothy Q. Mouse for at least one student, and somehow, someway give that student a ‘Magic Feather’ to help that student ‘fly’. For some, it was a challenge. It takes time. It takes effort. Sometimes, there doesn’t seem to be the expected results. And sometimes, there is no appreciation given. 

But now and then ...

Pat is a teacher who has a difficult student in a tough group of students in one class. The student was disruptive, belligerent, and passive-aggressive, you name it. Pat told her what was expected and reminded her when she wasn’t rising to those expectations. Then, Pat went above and beyond. She noticed when the student met those expectations and complimented her, saying things like, “Good job!” or “Keep up the good work!” and “I appreciate your effort!” Those sorts of things.

One Friday as the girl left Pat’s room, she handed Pat a note thanking her for caring, for supporting her, for being there.

Kids notice. We notice.

All of us, especially kids, need a Timothy Q. Mouse in their lives. Sometimes we need a mentor, a sounding board, a coach. Sometimes we need a shoulder to lean on, someone to listen to us, and to be silent with us. There are times when we need support, comfort, or a friend.

And sometimes we need a Magic Feather to make it work. Perhaps, and to me the best thing, is that we can be that Magic Feather for each other, for someone else. We can convince someone that flight is possible, that it is possible to soar above the clouds and into the sun, and beyond the horizon. 

To be a Magic Feather for someone. Something to think about ...

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!

For My Readers:   

Black Yéʼii received a 2025 Maxy Finalist Award for Thriller and Suspense. It previously won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. It is available in Paperback and on Kindle. An Audible format will be made available in just a short time. 

You can find Black Yéʼii here:

Amazon Link: https://tinyurl.com/25w95xcn

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-y-700-ii-joseph-lewis/1146257565?ean=9781685135379 

If you want more of the backstory to Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) check out my previous book, Caught in a Web, which is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. BestThrillers called it “One of the best Crime Fiction Books of 2018!” It was also a PenCraft Literary Award Winner!

You can find it here:

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2GrU51T

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-in-a-web-joseph-lewis/1128250923?ean=9781684330249

Fan Mail won a 2023 Maxy Finalist for Action and Adventure. It previously won a 2023 Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award. It is available in Audible format, as well as Paperback and Kindle.

You can find it here: 

Audible Link: https://audiobooksunleashed.com/product/fan-mail/ 

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fan-mail-joseph-lewis/1142543281?ean=9781685131685

Of course, you can find all my books, their descriptions, and a pay link on my author website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com 

If you like what you’re reading and find a benefit from it, you can check out my other posts on my Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com under the Inspirational Blog tab. You can find all ten books, their descriptions, and links for purchase at the same site.  

Please Connect with Me on Social Media:  

Website https://www.jrlewisauthor.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557592103627

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorjosephlewis/

TikTok @josephlewis5566  

Substack https://tinyurl.com/2m5ckdvh  

BlueSky @jrlewisauthor.bsky.social

Photo courtesy of Jenelle and Unsplash

Charlie, 2

School is beginning again. Some will head back in about two weeks, while some get an extra week or two before they head back. With that in mind, I decided that for the next couple of weeks, I’m going to dig deep into my posts on this blog because I want teachers, parents, caregivers, and kids to think about how we touch lives. Yes, touch lives. Our own kids, the kids we have in our classrooms, kids we see walking in the hallways, sitting in the cafeteria. Kids who ride the bus, play on teams, and kids who will get cut because “they aren’t good enough.”  

It saddens me to think how many kids I cut in the years I was a coach. Yes, there were some who couldn’t dribble or who couldn’t shoot. Kids who were too slow. Kids who got flustered too easily. You get the picture. I wonder what became of those kids. Did they eventually “make” a team, a group? Did they ever fall in love, get married, have kids of their own to raise?  

So, like I said, I dug back into my posts and pulled out one from March of 2013, titled Charlie. It has become one of folks’ favorite posts. Two of the comments I received on it- anonymously were:

Anonymous March 13, 2013 at 5:40 AM

Just read Charlie, tears are welling up in my eyes. I knew way too many Charles!

Anonymous March 13, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Joe, I loved the story of Jeff. My Dad was an alcoholic. Mom depressed, sometimes catatonic. Me? I walked the halls alone. 

I’m hoping this post touches your heart, and I hope it stays with you. 

Charlie is a troubled teen suffering from blackouts and carrying a secret. His middle school years were difficult at best, and his freshman year in high school gets off to a rocky start. He eats alone in the cafeteria, walks the hallways anonymously, and is in general, ignored. Finally, he’s befriended by a teacher who sees potential in him and feeds Charlie’s passion for books, literature and writing. He’s finally accepted by two seniors, Patrick and Sam, and Charlie confesses to them, “I didn’t think anyone noticed me.”

To say that Charlie is a fictional character from the movie, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, based upon a book written by Stephen Chbosky, I would be fooling myself and lying to you. Charlie is much more than that.  

I’ve been in education for 37 years and I’ve seen, watched and spoken to many Charlies over the years. While The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is a work of fiction, kids like Charlie walk the hallways of any school in any city anywhere.  

I’m thinking of a young man in particular. “Jeff” (not his real name) walks three laps each morning by himself. By that I mean, he makes a circuit from the first floor, to the second floor and back to the first each morning, every morning, always walking past me before he heads up the stairs. He’s by himself. Always. In fact, I’ve never seen him walking or talking with any other students since September, when the school year began. It took him six months to smile at me and say hello. As hard as I try to engage him in conversation, he resorts to one or two word answers. He’s pleasant enough. Dresses like the rest of the kids do. Nothing extraordinary about him other than the fact that he is alone.

And if these kids are walking hallways in a school, these same kids are sitting at your dinner tables, watching TV alongside you at night, sitting in their rooms doing homework, playing video games, texting and listening to music. They’re sleeping in their bedrooms each night only to get up each morning and do what they always do- walk the hallways of a school once again. Push play, repeat, play, repeat …

This past month, we sponsored what is called Challenge Day for our students. Students spend a day with adult volunteers and two facilitators who help kids understand they aren’t alone, unique, odd or different. They help kids come to realize that each of us- adults included — has fears, worries, challenges, good days and bad days. The stories these kids and adults share bring even the most hardened of hearts to mush. There are tears. There is laughter. Mostly, there is understanding and acceptance and tolerance. Above all, acceptance and tolerance. 

There are kids like Charlie all over. Everywhere. Some we know because we see them every day. Some we know because they cut our lawn, wash our car, serve us fast food from the drive-through. Some we know because they sit quietly, passively in our classroom, eat in our cafeteria. Some we know because they are our own children. Perhaps they are, were, us. We know firsthand what they experience because we’ve been through it before them. Perhaps we’re still going through it even now as adults. Moving through our daily job, our daily tasks silently, quietly, passively. Not wanting to be bothered. Not wanting the spotlight. Not wanting to be noticed. But wanting to be bothered. Wanting the spotlight and, most importantly, wanting to be noticed.

Push Play. Repeat. Play. Repeat. Day after day. Night after night. Week after week. Waiting for a kind word, a gentle touch, someone to notice us, to listen to us, to be with us. 

Maybe it’s time to break that cycle. Maybe it’s time to help our children, help ourselves. Something to think about … 

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference! 

For My Readers:   

*GREAT NEWS!*

My newest book, Black Yéʼii, will be $.99 for the Kindle version on Wednesday, July 23 only! Yes, only $.99.

Black Yéʼii received a 2025 Maxy Finalist Award for Thriller and Suspense. It previously won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. It is available in Paperback and on Kindle and on Audible format will be made available in just a short time. 

You can find Black Yéʼii here:

Amazon Link: https://tinyurl.com/25w95xcn

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-y-700-ii-joseph-lewis/1146257565?ean=9781685135379 

If you want more of the backstory to Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) check out my previous book, Caught in a Web, which is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. BestThrillers called it “One of the best Crime Fiction Books of 2018!” It was also a PenCraft Literary Award Winner!

You can find it here:

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2GrU51T

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-in-a-web-joseph-lewis/1128250923?ean=9781684330249

Fan Mail won a 2023 Maxy Finalist for Action and Adventure. It previously won a 2023 Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award. It is available in Audible format, as well as Paperback and Kindle.

You can find it here: 

Audible Link: https://audiobooksunleashed.com/product/fan-mail/ 

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fan-mail-joseph-lewis/1142543281?ean=9781685131685

Of course, you can find all my books, their descriptions, and a pay link on my author website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com 

If you like what you’re reading and find a benefit from it, you can check out my other posts on my Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com under the Inspirational Blog tab. You can find all ten books, their descriptions, and links for purchase at the same site.  

Please Connect with Me on Social Media:  

Website https://www.jrlewisauthor.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557592103627

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorjosephlewis/

TikTok @josephlewis5566  

Substack https://tinyurl.com/2m5ckdvh  

BlueSky @jrlewisauthor.bsky.social

Photo courtesy of Chris Paul and Unsplash