Gratitude for Growth

(Part 2 of 4: A Late-Lee Reflection on Leadership and Thankfulness)

So, I was walking by my Jasmine plant the other day, just checking to see how much weeding I’d have to do. It’s way too much, if I’m being totally honest and possibly lazy. So, I strongly considered to keep moving on, but what caught my attention wasn’t the weeds; it was the Jasmine. So, I decided to pause a little longer.

When I planted it, I just needed something to fill a space. I used to carefully weave the vines through a little trellis, hoping it would grow in the direction I intended. I always love the sight and smell of that hardy plant when it’s blooming. It has survived our crazy southern weather. It thrives despite my lack of attention. It’s a good plant for me. I can keep it alive. Late -Lee, I’ve been noticing a few vines have crept away from the rest. They’ve slipped out of the trellis and stretched out toward the sun on their own.

At first, I thought about tucking them back in, making everything look neat again. Then I stopped. Maybe those stray vines weren’t being rebellious. Maybe they were finding their own way to the light.

That moment made me pause. In leadership, it’s easy to want everyone growing and moving in the same direction, staying neatly inside the boundaries we’ve established. But gratitude reminds us to notice growth, even when it doesn’t look how we expected. It reminds us that sometimes the best thing we can do as leaders is step back, appreciate the stretch, and make room for it.

Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand. In schools, it can sound like, “I saw the way you handled that student today. I appreciate your patience.” Or, “I noticed how your grade-level team is trying a new strategy. That’s brave and smart.” Those quiet acknowledgments let them know they are visible. You see them! 

We can’t always solve every challenge our teachers face, but we can acknowledge their growth, effort, and dedication. And that recognition, spoken sincerely, feeds morale in ways donuts never will.

Leadership in Action:

This week, look for the stretchers on your team. Look for the ones who are experimenting, asking questions, or doing things a little differently. Instead of correcting the direction, celebrate the courage it takes to grow toward the light. Send a note, speak it out loud, or simply say, “I see you growing, and I’m thankful for it.”

Because we need to remember gratitude isn’t just about what’s blooming neatly in the trellis, it’s about recognizing the strength in the vines reaching beyond it.