• Relentlessly positive
• Have a robust emotional vocabulary
• Are assertive with a balance of good manners, empathy and kindness
• Are curious about other people
• Forgive, but they do not forget
• Won’t let anyone limit their joy
• Make things fun
• Are difficult to offend
• Quash negative self-talk

I do not want to imply that emotionally intelligent people cannot be passionate about their beliefs and values. However, it is possible to let our emotions overpower our intelligence. Knowing how to use both at the same time increases one’s ability to achieve success in all endeavors.

Admittedly, I spend more time thinking about how our adult behavior impacts our children than I do about the relationships of the adults in the community. That may be very short-sighted on my part, since having adults model positive behavior with each other is the best way to show young people appropriate ways to interact. We can have our strong beliefs about the economy, immigration, terrorism, jobs, peace and war without demonizing people with different points of view for addressing these issues. I am more concerned about the 100 million who did not vote than the millions who participated in the election process.

One does not have to search far to find someone who is ready to criticize another person. My hope is that we will take some time to do some self reflection not just on our beliefs but also on our behavior. Have we modeled emotional intelligence? Have we modeled the Core Values of our school: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion?

Many of us grew up with the advice not to discuss politics, religion or money at the dinner table. I hope your Thanksgiving tables are surrounded by stories of family, friendship and thanks for the people and opportunities that have enriched our lives.