Ata Marie Whaanau,

This morning I write to you from Totara Springs in Matamata where 38 of our Year 7 and 8 children are here participating in a modified Sports Camp. It is grey, gloomy and very wet, and the day in front of us in uncertain. I take my hat off to these children. The lead up to this camp has been like a dysfunctional kettle. For the Year 8's it is a second time around that the Sports Camp is not what it should be (only two schools vs ten). Today could likely present more change due to the weather.

However, here we are and the children are simply delighted to be able to rescue an event that come Monday morning looked all but gone. Their adaptability and acceptability has been encouraging. When developing, shaping and educating young minds we must take a 'bit by bit' approach. Big chunk-like learning doesn't typically have the longevity style of impact we all might like to believe it does. I see this camp as an opportunity to adopt a 'bit by bit' approach with supporting the children to cope with change. Understanding the picture they had in their head has now been modified and how do we respond and make the most of what is now in front of us. It is too easy to focus on what you didn't have or could have had. Rather we must support our children (and all of us) to focus on what we do have and be thankful for that, life is simply better that way. 

Our actions and attitude are significant factors in dealing with the changing climate in front of us. They work together. My challenge today is not to wait for your attitude to change before you act. Act in a way that you want to feel first, something tells me you attitude will follow suit. 

Warm Regards

Geoff

Attitude follows action far more often than action follows attitude.

We change our mood as a result of how we act. If you want to feel a certain way, begin by acting as if you do. On the other hand, if you truly want to accomplish something, waiting for the mood to strike is ineffective (Seth Godin).