After four decades in education, I’d like to think I’ve heard it all. Very little shocks me anymore—especially when it comes from the mouths of babes. But every now and then, someone drops a zinger that stops me in my tracks and leaves me with that classic deer-in-the-headlights look.
Let’s
rewind to my high school and college years. I was gregarious, loved sports, was a
good teammate, a loyal friend, and always up for a good time. But when it came
to dating, I had zero confidence. Maybe it was poor body image. Perhaps I was
waiting for a growth spurt that never came. I topped out at a towering 5’4¾”. I
was often drawn to women much taller than me—let’s just say, not exactly
matches made in heaven. Still, my personality kept me in the game.
In
college, I fell head over heels for a beautiful young woman from Mission,
Texas. She still holds a piece of my heart. The first time I saw her walk into
a room, it was like a movie—everything else faded except her. This happened for
weeks until one day, she walked right up to the table where I was sitting with
my Kappa Sigma brothers and said, “Are you going to ask me out or just stare at
me all day?”
That
line hits me every time I hear the song As She’s Walking Away by Zac Brown Band
and Alan Jackson. There’s a verse that goes, “When your heart won’t tell your
mind what your mouth should say.” Truer words have never been spoken.
Spoiler
alert: I asked her out. She said yes.
But
then came the line that stuck with me for life. After a few dates, she said,
“If you were a few inches taller, we’d be raising babies together.” Oof. Not
life-shattering, but definitely life-shaking. A beautiful woman had chosen to
date me, start a relationship with me, and then ended our future because I
wasn’t tall enough. That was a reality check I didn’t see coming.
Fast-forward
to my first year as a principal in 2001, after 16 years in Catholic education.
I had the privilege of working with a veteran group of women who had dedicated
their lives to the ministry. Before I arrived, the school was run by a trio of
self-described “domination women” in Lemay. I observed some practices I
couldn’t fully support and said, “We can be better than this.”
That’s
when I got hit with the first truly outrageous professional line that changed
my course as a coach, mentor, and leader. The lead teacher looked me in the eye
and said, “Honey, we’ve got this covered. We just need you in the office to be
eye candy.”
Now,
I’m no John Merrick (the Elephant Man), but I’m not exactly fashion model
material either—unless you’re into the Danny DeVito type. My response? “The
hell I am.” From that moment on, we had an understanding. I was the uncontested
boss.
Over
the years, I’ve been called every unkind word in the book—in multiple
languages. I’ve weathered more “f-bombs” than I can count. My favorite comeback
when someone calls me a “Son of a Beach”? “I didn’t know you knew my mother!”
So now
I turn the question to you:
What’s
the most outrageous thing someone has ever said to you—personally or
professionally?
How did
it affect you once it was in the rearview mirror? Did it change you, challenge
you, or maybe even empower you?
I’d
love to hear your stories. Let’s share the moments that made us pause, laugh,
cry, or grow.
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