ARE YOU A BUCKET FILLER?

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

 bucket by rubyblossom

If you follow my blog, you know that last week was the most non-productive week of blogging that I have had since I began blogging in April. There is always an excuse, but with school starting back in my district this past week, I have been working insane hours and was unable to write. I’m okay with that.

The beginning of school went very well. One of the aspects of this school year that I am most proud of is the fact that we are implementing The Leader in Me. I’ve written about this program on my blog before (here and here), but we teach our 2^nd and 3^rd graders the 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey. Additionally, every other school in the district is also implementing this program. I believe that this process will change our entire community over the next 5-10 years.

We typically have a theme for our school year. Last year, it was 212 degrees – one degree can make all the difference. This year our theme is “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” We are basing this theme on the children’s book: Have You Filled a Bucket Today? - A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids.” It made me very happy to walk into classrooms last week and witness this concept being explained to children.

The adult version of this concept is entitled How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton. Early in the book the authors explain the concept:

“Each of us has an invisible bucket. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful.

Each of us also has an invisible dipper. When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets -- by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions -- we also fill our own bucket. But when we use that dipper to dip from others' buckets -- by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions -- we diminish ourselves.

Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic.

But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will. That's why every time someone dips from our bucket, it hurts us.

So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one another's buckets, or we can dip from them. It's an important choice -- one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness.”

This is such a simple concept that is so applicable to life. I fully believe if we would walk around each day thinking about this simple concept that the world would be a better place in which to live.

Think about the “bucket fillers” in your life. What makes them special and unique?

For the remainder of this week, I am going to take a concept from “How Full is Your Bucket?” and expound upon it. This idea is focusing on your strengths.

Today I challenge you to be a “bucket filler.” Consciously choose to fill other people’s buckets this week and determine if it truly does make you feel more positive, optimistic and happy. 

QUESTION: Do you know a “bucket filler?” What makes them special? Please post comments below.