KAREN COMBS is my reminder to be always at work for others.

This happened more regularly than I really want to admit. A moment of exhausted frustration reared its ugly head just when I wanted to make a hopefully simple, quick teacher trek to the copier and then run back to my room to accomplish a million other tasks.

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But then that quick trip turned into a blind, confused, unbelieving stare at the copier. Sometimes, it was accompanied by guttural moans that I wished were silent.

And then a calm voice nearby always offered, “Can I help you”  or “Is there something I can do for you?”

I tried to be mindful that she, too, had a million things on her plate to accomplish along with answering the phone and buzzing people into the building and getting field trip drivers lined up and organizing a school wide fundraiser and …

Karen Combs helping another teacher problem solve.

So, my polite answer was that I was just trying to figure something out.

But then before I knew what to do, I felt her presence alongside me asking, “What have you tried?”

As she miraculously worked her way through the quandary of the machine, her response to my frustrations were always in agreement, “I hear ya!” While I pushed buttons at her prompting, she would say, “No worries, I’ve had to try this before.”  

She ALWAYS gave me her good side.
She ALWAYS made the time for my issues.
She ALWAYS made it seem like I could accomplish things on my own, but she was just going to stand there beside me.
She ALWAYS made me feel like I was on the right track.
She ALWAYS made me feel like I didn’t need to get frustrated because I could master it.
She ALWAYS offered a possible guess or solution.
She ALWAYS validated my problems.

She stayed with me through the problem until it was solved. On those days when my teacher time ran out at that copier, she even offered to complete my work and bring it to me!

I know I fall very short of being that kind of a reminder for people, but I am ever grateful for the person she encourages me to be just upon every remembrance of her. 

She is my reminder to look around and see the needs people have.
She is my reminder to be a sounding board for others’ frustrations.
She is my reminder to offer help to people.
She is my reminder to put others before myself.

I’m thankful that our paths crossed and that she is all of those reminders for me.

Who is your reminder to be a problem solver with others?