Imparted JOY Moments

i believe that life to the fullest does not happen without hard suffering combined with radical trust. they don't cancel each other out. they share the same space. being vulnerable is scary. letting others see who you are is terrifying. but oh, what freedom when that exposure is revealed. which is why i choose to build foundations of irrefutable companionship. strong connections solidified with great understanding + empathy.

Whether you're a seasoned educator, a student feeling the academic grind, or simply someone longing for a new outlet, I urge you: pick up a brush, grab some clay, sing in the shower. Let your creative spark flicker, even if it's just for five minutes a day. You might be surprised at the joy, the peace, and the connection you create for yourself and the world around you. Because, in the end, isn't that what life's all about? Unleashing our inner artists, painting the world with our passions, and sharing the brushstrokes of goodness with every soul we meet.

While exciting times are coming with new paths I'm seeking, it still has a few drawbacks that make me a bit uncomfortable. When I think about it, I get frustrated that I can't move past it. And why? Here are a few reasons to share with you.

such a fitting episode to quietly celebrate 50 episodes. an emotional journey this week as i was reunited with three former students who each hold a special, SPECIAL place in my heart. just another moment to share that YOU matter. the love, care, compassion, empathy, + inclusion you shower on each student may come back 1000-fold when you least expect it. take a listen to three short stories of students that have impacted my heart with joy. imparted joy.

Today's episode shifts to my Moments of Imparted Joy Podcast Guests Series  A little space where someone besides myself shares answers to a few questions simply about… JOY. My wonderful guest today is one of my best friends, Darrin Peppard. Darrin Peppard is currently residing in Omaha, NE, with his lovely wife, Jess. He is the Lead Innovator at Road to Awesome whose mission is to cultivate leaders by elevating voices and promoting positivity. He is an author, publisher, speaker, and consultant focused on what matters most in leadership.  He is the host of the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast and a proud team member of the Teach Better Podcast network.  I've known Darrin for several years now and consider him + Jess like family. I used to kid that he was like the brother that I never knew I needed (or wanted). Seriously, he is one of THE most supportive + encouraging humans I know, and he deeply respects and is fiercely protective of his circle of friends.    Darrin took a few minutes to answer three questions asked. How do you deliver JOY to others? How do you receive JOY from others? What does JOY mean to you? While this is not a live recording, you will get to know his heart in only 2 short minutes. He believes in surrounding yourself with the kind of people who lift you up, who make you better, who want what's best for each other + who root each other on…THIS is what he is genuinely ALL about. You can find all of Darrin's contact information in the show notes below - if you need another amazing human in your life…he's the guy. Professional speaker, leadership coach, & author helping leaders gain clarity, walk in purpose, and find joy in their work -

the threads of our friendships + relationships mean more than we think they do. leaning into the needs of others + cultivating joy should never be taken for granted. think about the things we bring to the table. our strengths, support, consideration, + can change the world.

Social media has become a prevalent part of our lives, and for many of us, it's hard to imagine a day without scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.  But have you ever considered how social media might be affecting your sleep? For the past few months, I have been disturbed, like REALLY DISTURBED, by crazy + vivid dreams. I often wake from them and have trouble falling back to sleep - usually in fear that the certifiably insane dreams would continue. There is growing evidence that social media use before bedtime can disrupt our sleeping patterns.  Research has shown that the blue light emitted by our electronic devices can suppress the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle.  As a result, using social media before bed can make it harder for us to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. That's part of it. But I believe there is more to the story.

a story to share - getting past the overwhelm + anxiety to see a fresh perspective. moving beyond fear + expectations to a space of generous grace + positivity.

Mosaic patterns. An art form. They are all around us. We may recognize them. We may unconsciously neglect them. But they are there, waiting to be discovered. For me, patterns are expressions of comfort + contentment. It's like an organic discipline that just falls into place without much effort. We strive to teach others to discover them. Our students, our children, our friends + family. The wonderful thing about a mosaic is that there is no template. No step-by-step guide of specific instructions to follow. Just curiosity + creativity. It shapes the mind through original arrangements of sights + sound. Consider patterns you've noticed around you. There's a meditative rhythm of a mosaic that beats softly as designs come to life anytime and anywhere. Our lives are that composite mosaic. A work of art created by imperfect pieces that are carefully fit together. Made from the broken and irregular. Some pieces sharp, others smooth. They can shine brilliantly or remain dull. A beautiful representation of our lives. As the pieces are arranged, the mosaic becomes bigger. Bolder. More complex. The pieces are empowered to tell a story and evolve with change. They unveil a transformation that establishes joy. Joy cultivated from heartache. Joy refined from grief. Joy enlightened from havoc. Joy refreshed from having loved. Joy inspired from strength gained. What does such a mosaic require? It's different for each one of us. That's the beauty of it. It's nothing you can force or demand something from. You trust the process that encompasses every part of who you are. Commit to initiate a fresh breath with gratitude and begin to assemble the pieces as you see them fit. Nothing will be wasted. Construct your collage with patience, grace, and forgiveness. Then take a step back and look at the orchestration before you. A bird's eye view, so to speak. It won't appear as a complicated mess. It will continue to develop your voice as you move toward dreams with passion and purpose. Pick up the pieces and compose a mosaic of joy.

this episode highlights another one of my favorite humans who leads by example. my dear friend, Craig Shapiro. Craig is a Health and Physical Education Teacher/Coach/Trainer and positivity provider going on 33+ years from Southampton, Pennsylvania. wellness expert, specializing in strength, nutrition, and mindset shifting. author of the upcoming book: Dream Big - stories and strategies for a successful classroom. you may know him simply by the nickname ‘Shap'. he is a beacon of joy and brings a flood of positivity wherever he goes. we met a few years ago through the #teachpos Twitter chat that he hosts weekly each Sunday at 7:30pm EST (insert shameless plug here, because you will not find a better space to gain new friends!) and I have followed him ever since. if I had to describe him in just a few words on a list - a ‘SHAP-LIST' actually (that's what he's fabulously known for by his friends) it would be: Empathetic Inclusive Optimistic Dreamer and Loyal this unedited, authentic monologue is genuinely a picture of WHO he is to so many of us who know + love him. lessons from Shap... being genuine + real is of great importance and has a huge impact. kindness, empathy, and choosing words wisely. giving a smile, a handshake, and being willing to help. accept compliments without excusing them. taking the most out of life, making the lives of others better, and always looking at the bright side. embrace your influence. YOU make a difference. connect with Craig here: Twitter: @Shapiro_wths AND @Positively_well TikTok: Chatting with Shap @cmsdreambig Instagram: @wtcccoach Website: https://cmsdreambig.com/

spent the past week in a city that i had never visited before. cincinnati, OH. half of the time for work, but then three days of exploring by myself. i am NOT one who normally is all about being alone + seeking adventure. but. this was my time. to step out of my comfort zone + embrace something new.

To meet someone who has inspired you to cultivate, grow, and thrive is nothing short of amazing. So when I had the opportunity to join up with other passionate educators + leaders in OH for TeachBetter22 Conference, I may have been the first one to register, seriously. There was not one ounce of me that didn't squeal with delight when we came together and saw each other face to face. So many of us who had built personal relationships, through social media platforms, mind you - it's not impossible, connected on a much deeper level that left us woven together even stronger. If I had to narrow our relationships/friendships down to one word….it would be AUTHENTIC. Joshua Stamper is one of those. My goodness, when we saw each other, it was like a joyful reunion! It felt like we had known each other and everyone else for YEARS. So…this leads me to introduce my next special guest. I want to hear what others say about giving + receiving joy and love. While this is not a live conversation, it is a reflective narrative from the heart. This episode I am stepping aside and you will hear from this dear friend. Joshua Stamper is the Training and Development Specialist for the Teach Better Team and manages the Teach Better Podcast Network. He lives in Frisco, Texas with his precious wife and children. Prior to Joshua's current position, he was a middle school Administrator, classroom art educator, and athletic coach. In addition to being on the Teach Better Team, Joshua is the author of Aspire to Lead, podcaster, leadership coach, and education presenter. I hope you truly hear the heart behind Joshua's message…his leadership style, and the way he uses love languages to reach those who need support + encouragement. Connect with Joshua HERE: https://www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper/ https://twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper https://joshstamper.com

knowledge is great. knowledge is something we all need. but we can't just leave it there without applying it in some form. love, joy, peace, patience...all great things we KNOW about. but why are we slow to apply them? let's think about how we can truly reframe our intentions.

Moments of Imparted Joy is celebrating the 40th episode. In addition, this 40th episode happens to fall on a very special day - believing that nothing is coincidental, today is exactly 40 days since the moment that Livia Chan and I met in real life and spent three whole glorious days together soaking up every ounce of sunshine + love. Pure JOY. Eating popcorn, watching Netflix, and enjoying our favorite Ben+Jerry's ice cream flavors RIGHT outta the carton with a spoon. When I say it was the highlight of my YEAR, it's the honest truth. It started me thinking. I want to hear what others have to say about giving + receiving joy and love. While this is not a live conversation, it is a reflective narrative from the heart. This episode i am stepping aside and you will hear from my lovely best friend. Livia. Livia is a head teacher at Burnaby School District in Vancouver BC and Digital Content Coordinator for the Teach Better Team. She is a published author, blogger, and speaker deeply passionate about community, leading with heart and positivity, seeing things as gifts, and daily lifelong learning. You can connect with Livia HERE: https://twitter.com/LiviaChanL https://www.instagram.com/liviachanl/ https://livchan.com/ Thank you, Livia Chan for giving us the gift of YOU. Your joy, friendship, gratitude, and atomic interactions. Keep revealing your heart with imparted joy.

I'm a quitter. And I'm really ok with that label. In May, I walked out of my classroom for the last time, said goodbye to my friends, and left the profession of teaching after 20+ years. It was an emotional choice, but there was something inside of me that just knew it was the right time + space to give myself a new adventure. I wasn't upset, disillusioned, or exhausted - actually, it was the opposite, I was finding that I had more to create + inspire in other areas by using God-given gifts to exercise. We've all heard phrases like “don't give up” or “never give in” We've even chanted song lyrics like “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down” by Chumbawamba. We're human, we're supposed to glorify the tough fighter within us that parallels success with sticking to a plan no matter what. Honestly, that does not motivate me to reach any of my personal or professional goals, it actually sounds exhausting. But what happens if we simply want to take the option to quit? Isn't that ok? Quit is not an unhealthy word. It's not like resigning, retiring, stepping down, giving notice…those sound better. I believe that knowing when to quit, and doing it more often, is an effective way to improve the balance of our personal lives + professional lives.

discounting the gifts + talents we have been given harms our self-confidence and value. shift your mindset towards the positive. take it from me, i learned quite the lesson after finding myself wanting to discard a creative piece and would have missed an opportunity to bring someone else joy.

I was raised from a young age that it was best to stay within the firm boundaries of the rules that were laid out for me. And I pretty much complied. I did not want to risk losing the respect or love of my family, so I set up some pretty unrealistic expectations for myself as I grew older. Those led to creating unhealthy habits that ruptured into pathways of anxiety and stress. Let me be completely clear in saying that I am the only one who created those expectations. After years of putting myself through adverse emotional conditions, I decided it was time to reposition myself to accept peace and grace through flexible rules that would not dictate my success. It's not a perfect blueprint, but it is one that is fluid and can be adjusted to meet the standards that I desire for my life.

do you know what i learned today? that we make an idol out of CERTAINTY. in addition, we chase after control, clarity, protection, + safety in all areas. we long for EXACT answers + for every detail of our lives to line up perfectly. uncertainty + trust play a key role in developing our life's foundations. yes, the ups + downs will always be there, sometimes very unexpected. what I desire is ultimate HOPE + clarity for us all. a constant state of HOPE that permeates + saturates every area of uncertainty. allowing our static souls to emerge with fresh confidence + expectation of what is to come.

no need to audition for your life.

look inward. pull ourselves together. own life's circumstances.

how many wins do YOU celebrate each day?

common belief trap. share your message. that is what is REAL.

consider how you will leave each day as a better person…changing, evolving. with joy.

what awareness will you capture today as you look for intentional connections with your students + peers? pause. seek. engage. with joy.

What threatens to steal your joy today?

yes, that story that you have to share…that thought you need to speak into the world…it's deserving. YOU are worthy.

no standard can be created for ‘different'. can we agree to concentrate on bravely choosing that different is better than good?

be the hope for someone today.

BONUS episode: Middle-of-the-Night Edition…a conversation with myself.

walking in the wilderness doesn't have to be lonely.

you are not the only person impacted by your decisions.

capture it. write it down. let it become a treasure.

unpacking a few lyrics from storytellers needtobreathe + reflecting on the road to awesome.

share your unique individuality freely.

attitude is everything.

yep. comparison is the thief of joy.

what do you have an abundance of that you can share...

joy. is not happiness. it's a cultivated disciple.

Truth be told, we can trade our joy-debt in and seek to experience that internal hope that will bring us peace.

Toxic words.

at all times. for all people.

‘Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear the path.' -unknown

One month. 2020 will be a memory. What will you come away with?

What can you do to see fresh HOPE?

what joy looks like for each of us may be very different. embrace that fact today.

#impartEDjoy

a few moment of morning momentum

Fourth day of school. It's tiring. It's hard. But there is JOY and hope.

What will your narrative with your students look like this year?

Just a few moments to share how we can make an impact in our communities today as we plan to return to school.

How will you hold your NEW lens steady + optimally capture the next shot?