Half Empty

I remember being at some workshop or other, being shown a glass that was half way full of water and being asked is the glass half full or half empty. Your response is supposedly indicative of your view of the world. If you say half full it means that you view the world from a positive perspective, kind of like counting your blessings. If you say half empty it means that you view the world from a negative perspective, always see not what you have but what is missing.

Is your glass half full or half empty? Recently I have truly bought into the notion that there is a section of the population whose glass is always half empty. These people view the world from a perspective of being missing something at all times. Unfortunately for them they are rarely ever happy and and unfortunately for the rest of the population they are almost impossible to please.

In September I began my 18th year working in NYC public schools. I have worked with children from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade both in the classroom as a teacher and most recently in the school library as a librarian. And while there are a large number of people who absolutely hate their jobs and look upon them as daily torture, I actually love my job. The children are guaranteed to have me laughing at some point everyday and I love to know that in some small way I am affecting the future.

My first year in the library at my current school I did not start the position until November 1st after some adjustments were made school wide. The library was a disaster area. The former librarian had pretty much "retired on the job" and just did not have the luxury of sleeping late. After much cleaning I was finally able to take students into the library during December. I didn't have much to work with but I threw the doors open and did the best that I could. During that first year I wrote and was awarded a grant for $95,000 to upgrade the library.

My second year in the library I spent the majority of the year talking with vendors and contractors. I was responsible for the entire project and spent my days ordering everything from books to furniture. All of the shelves in the library were sanded and refinished, a new floor was laid, and custom vertical blinds were installed on all the windows. The library was not able to open until March, but when it did it was beautiful and damn near state of the art.

During those first two years there were many complaints. The first year there were complaints because the library barely had anything useful to assist students or teachers. I totally understood the complaints. The second year there were complaints because the library was closed for such a long time. Again I was in total agreement. Who new it would be such a long arduous project. I only prayed that when it was done everyone would be pleased with the outcome.

This is my third year in the library at that school. This year orientations for the students began on the 8th day of classes. During the first week I wrote and distributed to teachers my first library newsletter. I was so proud of the progress. Not only was the library open but it was phat as well.

Don't get me wrong, I don't live for the praises of my coworkers or supervisors. It's nice to hear praise but I don't die without it. However the last thing I expected to hear were complaints. One particular staff member had complaints about my schedule. She wanted to know why there are so many closed periods? Teachers work 25 periods per week, they have 10 prep periods and 5 lunches. The library is open 25 periods a week, I too get 10 prep periods and 5 lunches. Seems exactly right to me. Why should that be a problem? Because her glass is always half empty. Same staff member even had nerve to say that she did not even read my newsletter and was going to throw it in the garbage because the blue paper was too bright. Again I'm thinking chick your glass is seriously half empty. I'm sure once she actually comes into the library with students to work there will be some complaint or another. At this point that is all I expect from her because I fear that is all she is capable of. If the sun is shining it will be too bright. If it is cloudy it will be too dark. If the flowers are blooming they will be attracting too many bees or possibly even making the air smell funny.

When people meet me I hope they don't think my glass is always half empty. What about you?