True Joy - True Purpose

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by “yourself as a mighty one”; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy; I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
-Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, 1903, p. ii

This quote resonated with me when I read it in Michael Fullan's new book What's Worth Fighting For in the Principalship and then shared it with the Mayport faculty and staff in our September 12th Memo. It is always a joy to think about why I chose to be an educator, directly working with future generations. How lucky I am to experience purpose, mindfulness, and joy in every single day!