Mindful Monday: Acceptance

During the Super Bowl this year, Jeep ran a 2 minute commercial titled, "The Middle". If you haven't seen it or don't remember it, it is absolutely worth two minutes of your time. Watch it now: 

There are a few lines in particular that really stood out to me. "The middle has been a hard place to get to lately. (...) We need the middle. We just have to remember that the very soil we stand on is common ground."

It's no secret that our society is at odds with one another. It feels as though we are quick to point out each others' flaws and condemn anyone with an opposing view because it's the "wrong" way of thinking. 

Growing up, I always thought that one of the blessings about living in the United States was that we were free to have differing opinions. I thought that at the end of the day, we could agree to disagree. However, that doesn't feel like the reality anymore. I feel like we have been focusing on more of what make us different and less on what we have in common. 

While, yes, we could all benefit from seeing things from others' point of view. And yes, we could all stand to be pushed out of our comfort zones more. I think acceptance and grace should be our goal. 

At the end of the day, we are all just trying to make it. We are all trying to do the best we can and do right by those we love. 

There seems to be so much hate and anger in the world. And just like hate is taught, so is kindness. 

Let's each do our part to spread more kindness and teach acceptance. 

Mindful Monday: Happiness

Welcome Back!!! 

Did you leave for Spring Break holding your breathing waiting to see if the sky would fall again? Were you filled with trepidation all week wondering if we would have a dejavu moment like last year? Did you finally let out a sigh of relief on your drive into school this morning? 

While we may have felt like we had very little control over the events from the last 12 months, know that you are still in control of your happiness. It may look different, but happiness can be found all around us every day! 

Happiness is hearing the laughter of a child. It is the person in front of you holding the door open for you when your hands are full. Happiness is no line at Starbucks. It's a friend checking on you. And happiness is when our students' faces light up when they see you today after being away for a week.  

Happiness can be found, if you just look for it.

Where Happiness Begins by Eva Eland is a fantastic book that touched my heart, and I hope it helps you reframe your day! 

Mindful Monday: One Year Later

We are mere days away from hitting the one year mark. 

On March 13, 2020, EVERYTHING changed. It was the last day that perhaps life felt "normal" and maybe even a little predictable. And while it's been a full calendar year, don't feel like you should be used to all of this by now. Don't feel like you should have life during a pandemic figured out. 

I love this quote for a variety of reasons. First, I absolutely believe that comparison is the thief of joy. And second, we all process stress, crises and grief differently. You REALLY can't compare your insides, how you are dealing and coping with life as we currently know it, to others' outsides, the facade that they choose to share with others, as we never truly know what may be going on "behind the curtain". 

So please don't beat yourself up if you feel like you don't have it all together, if you feel like this pandemic is getting the best of you, if you feel like the walls are crumbling around you.  If this last year is not what you envisioned for yourself, you're not alone. If you are grieving over what was, what could have been and what you have lost, you're not alone. If you have found yourself in a constant state of being overwhelmed, you're not alone. 

There are five stages of grief. And while we'd like to think of it as a step-by-step process that you work your way through, it's simply not true. At the very least, it's a messy complicated process. Perhaps you think that you have been slowly working your way towards acceptance, and then you wake up one day and find yourself back at the anger stage. It's okay!

Wherever you find yourself, it's okay. Whatever headspace you may be in, it's okay.

Just don't forget that you can't compare your insides to other people's outsides, and mostly importantly, you're not alone. 

Mindful Monday: To All the Rockstars

Thank you to all the friends and coworkers out there that have made this last year manageable. Thank you for all the check ins, for the unexpected treats left on my front porch, for the sweet messages and constant support. Thank you for allowing me to wallow and then lifting me back up. And thank you for the pep talks and the countless virtual hugs.  

No one is meant to go through life alone, and we are certainly not built to go through a crisis alone. While we may feel like we can only rely on ourselves or "at the end of the day, I'm the only person I can count on," it's simply not true. 

The Voigt Family has shown up for me time and time again over the years, and I'd imagine that they've been there for you in one way or another, too. 

This week, I just want to acknowledge ALL the Rockstars out there: all the coworkers that cover your class so you can go to the bathroom, the amazing coworkers that bring you an unexpected Starbucks, the coworkers that send you a text when you're out just to make sure you're okay, the coworkers that make copies for you since they were already in the copy room, and a HUGE shoutout goes to ALL the staff members that have taken the time to send an affirmation to someone else saying "I see you. You're rocking it. And I'm here for you!"

To all the Rockstars that fill our lives, please know that we see you, and we appreciate EVERYTHING you do that makes our lives a little better. Find the Rockstars in your life today and be sure to thank them, as we couldn't do it without them!!