Mindful Monday: There Is No Finish Line

While I am very much aware that this quote from Nike is about running and striving to make better running shoes, I can't help but to think that this mindset absolutely applies to education. 

Hear me out. 

Educators go through a special, very personal experience that is unknown to most people. From the excitement we feel when a student has a lightbulb moment to the joy we get from watching them soar, once you've experienced it, you're hooked. And from that point on, there is no finish line. You are an educator for life. 

So while we are coming to the close of another school year, know that this is NOT the finish line. Your impact lives on. The difference you make continues. 

Thank you again. Thank you for sharing your love of learning, for showing that kindness matters, for being a constant cheerleader for our students and never giving up. 

On a personal note, thank you for letting me into your life each week. I appreciate you allowing me to reflect and grow with you. Have a wonderful summer! Rest, Relax and Refuel. You all deserve it! 

Mindful Monday: Don't Forget You Have Wings

In teaching, there is no short supply of things that need to get done, emails that need your attention, papers that need grading, lessons that need planning, and students that need your time. It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind of it all. And sometimes, when we are in the thick of it, it's not uncommon to feel like you are just going through the motions to make it. 

I plead with you today to not let the next 9 days weigh you down. Don't just go through the motions. 

Instead, make these next 9 days count. Continue to nurture the relationships you have developed with your students. Find ways to connect. Take a moment to look up and be in the moment. 

It's not about doing more or doing extra. It's not about reinventing the wheel. It's about remembering you already have the wings you need to fly. Don't forget how spectacular you are and all the amazing things you accomplished this year. No matter if this was your first year or your thirtieth year, you should be proud. 

Only 8 more wake-ups...we've got this!

Mindful Monday: Go For It

 

Change is hard. It's uncomfortable. It can be scary. No one likes stepping out of their comfort zone. 

But the fact is, whether we like it or not, change is inevitable and a part of life. 

I love the idea that, "to become a butterfly, you must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a capatillar." 

I feel like life works this way. When making a choice to do something, you simultaneously, whether you realize it or not, make a choice to give up the opportunity to do something else. By saying 'yes' to one thing, you innately are saying 'no' to something else, and vice versa.  

While some extent of 'FOMO' (fear of missing out) has always existed, with the rapid growth of social media, 'FOMO' has skyrocketed over the last 10 or so years. It's hard not to compare yourself to others when scrolling through the various social media platforms. How often have you waited to make a choice until the last minute fearing to commit to something "too early", that a better opportunity might come along? We are quick to second guess ourselves. And often we play the 'what if' game. What if I fail? What if it doesn't work? What if I don't like it? It's easy to feel paralyzed when trying to make a choice wondering if it's the right one.

But I'd challenge you to change your inner dialogue to: What if it does work? What if I do like it? What if I soar? 

And here's the best part.

1) Taking chances and making choices can sometimes lead us down roads that we never knew existed. We cannot always foresee the amazing things that might lie just ahead. They may lead you to opportunities you never once considered or possibilities you never dreamed of. And how exciting is that? Scary? Sometimes. But ultimately, exciting! If we knew exactly how things would turn out or knew the ending of every book we read or movie we watched before we even started, what would be the point? The discovery and the journey is what makes life worth living. If there ever was one profession that epitomized this truth, it's definitely teaching. You never know what each day will hold and where life will take you. 

2) If you fail, or if it doesn't work out, or even if you don't like it, guess what? You have the ability to make a new choice and head down a new path. Making a choice doesn't have to be a forever decision. You are allowed to change course. I'm going to say that again. You are allowed to change course. Whether you are 22, 42 or 62, you don't have to have it all figured out. Life is ever changing, and regardless if we choose to acknowledge it or not, we change right alongside it. Part of making a "wrong" choice is so you know what not to do next time and know what the "right" choice is. 

As you begin to reflect on this school year and you think about the choices made, don't second guess yourself, don't play the what if game. Instead, know that each choice has led you here. Each choice has brought you into the lives of your students, and for that, we are grateful! 

Going forward, don't let fear be a part of your decision making process. Embrace your choice and want something so badly that you are willing to forgo something in place of it.

Mindful Monday: See Your Awesomeness

From an early age, we are taught not to brag. We are told that boasting is rude. This often translates into us playing down our strengths or sometimes not acknowledging or even recognizing them. 

Why is it easy for us to compliment others, but we can't see it in ourselves? 

Are we perfect? No. Are there areas in which we could improve? Yes.

BUT...that doesn't mean we can't celebrate our efforts, and that we can't acknowledge our experiences. It's time we start celebrating our successes, no matter how big or small. It's time we start seeing the best in ourselves and see ourselves like others see us. 

As we enter the last month of school (only 18 more wake-ups, not that I'm counting), and we begin to reflect on this school year, I leave you with two challenges: 

1) Don't pick apart your year. See the amazing things you have accomplished. Acknowledge all the connections you have made with your students. Celebrate all the new things you tried regardless if they worked or not. Choose to see yourself like others see you. See just how amazing you are! 

2) Take the time before the year ends to affirm your students and fellow staff members. As apparent as their awesomeness is to you, they might be like our butterfly friend and not see it themselves. So, take the time to acknowledge them. Thank them for their support. Compliment them on their stick-to-itiveness. There is no time like the present.