Mindful Monday: You're Not Behind

You're not behind.

You might be asking yourself what in the world I am talking about. 

I'd fancy a guess that we're all guilty of creating timelines or benchmarks when we would like to reach certain achievements or milestones in our lives. ie: By the time I'm 25, I'll be married with a kid. (Missed that milemarker.) After I've been teaching x number of years, I will become a (fill in the blank) coordinator. (Still waiting.) Or perhaps the biggest elephant in the room we tell ourselves, we'll feel like a 'real' adult by the time we reach 30 and have it all figured out. (Any day now!) You get the idea.

When we make these arbitrary timelines, we tend to set ourselves up for disappointment. We can find ourselves frustrated that our lives are not going according to our plans. We start comparing ourselves to others thinking we are behind or not doing something right.

Know this...

1) You are not behind.

2) We're all still trying to figure out this adult thing.

And maybe, just maybe...

3) Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created! 

I have no doubt that you are here now, in this moment, with these students because it's exactly where you are meant to be!

Mindful Monday: Circle of Control

When people tell you to relax, they'll often tell you to "not sweat the small stuff". The phrase was further popularized several decades ago when a book was published by the same name. However, it's certainly easier said than done.

If nothing concerned you or bothered you, I would wonder if you even cared. And on the flip side of that, we can easily get caught up in worrying about things that we have absolutely no control over.

Worrying is a form of self preservation that attempts to prepare us for the unknown. And yet, it can also be a trap - an endless cycle of what-ifs. 

So when you worry this week about your lesson plans, your students, BOY testing, etc, I say thank you. Thank you for caring. But- be careful not to get sucked into the vortex of what-ifs. 

Here's hoping that we won't spend our time and energy worrying about that whcih we have no control over.

Mindful Monday: Lost in Translation

Don Epps made this analogy. Windchill measures how cold it "feels", not the actual temperature found on a thermometer. Communication can be thought of similarly. What was intended in an email or text (the actual temp) isn't always the same as how someone might feel about it (the windchill).

Words are powerful. And when emailed or texted, we lose most control on how they are received and interpreted. Tone and facial expressions speak volumes, generally in our favor. (Although, I admit, I have to tell my face to be quiet sometimes.) While texting or emailing has become our default, a ton is lost in translation.

I strongly encourage you to consider picking up the phone next time, whether it be to a parent, or a loved one. Walk down the hall and have a face-to-face interaction instead of a quick text or email. Make those connections in a personal way that doesn't allow your message to be lost in translation.

Mindful Monday: Joy is Not Extra

Are you making time for things that bring you joy?

It's easy to get caught in the grind, ticking off the to do list, doing what needs to be done. But are you making time for things that bring you joy?

Now that school is back in session, if you find your joy fading, know you're not alone.

The joy and peace you found during the summer months won't sustain you during the school year. We must make time for the things that bring us joy during the school year, as well! It's imperative to our health that we continue to make ourselves a priority!

Doing something that brings you joy, no matter how small, has a wonderful effect on us. It has a way to bring us peace, and it's a great way to reset from the stresses in our lives. If you're not making time for joy, then life's stresses are simply adding up. And that's not sustainable. 

You deserve joy in your life! Not only during the summer months, but during the school year, too!

Mindful Monday: Beauty of Brokenness

Todd Nesloney recently posted a blog stating that "Broken Hearts are the Best Hearts". His premise is that the grief, the pain, the struggle, the hurt...it all makes us better. However, he clarified that brokenness leaves us with a choice. We can choose to be bitter or choose to be better.

Because of the trials you have been through, you are a better teacher. Because of the mistakes you have learned from, you are a better human. Because of the grief you have experienced, you are a more compassionate person. Because of the struggles you have navigated, you are a better friend. 

Know that your mistakes, your pain, your "brokenness" is NOT a weakness and should not be hidden. Instead, your brokenness is what makes you better equipped to lead our students. It's what makes you more resilient. Your brokenness makes you more equipped to traverse this epic journey we call life.

At the end of the day, know that we are not looking for perfect. We are looking for real people who have experienced real life to lead our students in authentic ways. Thank you for embracing your brokenness and choosing to be better because of it. 

Mindful Monday: This year, instead of...

New school years are exciting! Everything is fresh and new. The possibilities are endless. As exciting as that all can be, it can be equally overwhelming. Not sure about you, but I can be my own worst enemy especially when I second guess myself and doubt creeps in.

This year, instead of feeling like you have to figure it all out on your own, instead of feeling like you are the only one that isn't excelling, instead of thinking that it's just you, I challenge you to pause, take a deep breath, and know this...

Instead of feeling like you have to figure it all out...

There is a wealth of knowledge in this building. There are innovative ideas from staff that are recent graduates. There are new takes from our colleagues that have joined us from other campuses. Not to mention, there are tried and tested stategies from our veteran teachers that have honed their skills over many years of practice. And not to be forgotten, our teacher aids and admin staff bring an unparalleled amount of experience with them. Utilize them all. Tap into these resources. Stop reinventing the wheel. 

Instead of feeling like you are the only one that isn't excelling...

First, know that mistakes/failure/errors, they are ALL a part of the learning process. I know we tell our students this all the time, but it's time we start taking our own advice. We have to give ourselves grace when our lessons don't go according to plan. In fact, I would be down right gobsmacked if all your lessons were "home runs". We have to model for our students what productive struggle looks like and how to ask for help when needed, as this is a lifelong skill. Just because we are the teachers doesn’t mean that we are exempt from this.

Instead of feeling like it's just you...

When you're in the thick of your feelings, it's easy to feel like it's just you. It's easy to feel like no one else is having as bad of a day as you or their class isn't as hard as yours. However, I promise it's not just you. I promise you are not the only one questioning themselves. You are not the only one struggling. We're all going through it. I would implore you on the days that it feels like you're in this alone, reach out. Reach out to the colleague next door. Reach out to the veteran teacher down the hall. Reach out to the admin team. We're better together! 

Mindful Monday: Ready or Not

Ready or not, students are coming this week.

I get not feeling ready. I get there is always more that needs doing. I get there are more unknowns than knowns right now. But, ready is not a feeling, it's a decision.

This week, before the students arrive, I hope "ready" looks like for you...

• Deciding to give all your students fresh starts no matter what you heard from last year.
• Deciding that some days, done is better than perfect. 
• Deciding that giving yourself grace is always better than giving yourself a hard time. 
• Deciding that while every day isn't always good; you can find the good in every day. 
• Deciding that while teaching is hard, it's always worth it.

Here's to being ready for another great year. Wishing you all an amazing first day!