Mindful Monday: Whatever It Takes

The business of teaching is not for the faint of heart. This is a tough profession that requires a lot from us. 

During the school year, we often spend more time with our school family than our own family. Teaching often tugs at us to give more and more. The need to "do whatever it takes" to meet the needs of the students that so quickly find a special place in our hearts is not uncommon. 

However, I would beg of you to reframe the phrase "whatever it takes". 

As this school year gets underway and we start to dig in, please know that "whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean that you stay late, take work home and work on the weekends. "Whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean that you spend more and more of your own money. "Whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean working through your lunch and finding yourself underhydrated by the end of the day. 

I would argue that "whatever it takes" should in fact mean setting boundaries. We should be doing whatever it takes to make ourselves a priority so that we can give the best of ourselves to both our students and our own families. We should be doing whatever it takes to ensure that our needs are met and not just our students. 

Here's to a school year where we do whatever it takes to ensure we are the best versions of ourselves! 

Mindful Monday: Seeing the Best

Jarrett Lerner, graphic novel author/illustrator, is phenomenal at empowering others. He is all about fostering creativity and helping others see the artist that lives inside them. 

So while this quote is in reference to others not being impressed by his artistic skills but their own, I can't help but think that this quote means so much more. This quote sums up exactly what an educator does on a daily basis. 

A teacher may lead from the front of the room; however, we know that it's not about us. Being an educator is about our students. It's not about what we know and what we can do, it's about tapping into the potential our students come to us with. It's about believing in them until they believe in themselves. Being an educator is about igniting a passion in others. 

Any way you look at it, being an educator is about seeing the best in others. 

Thank you for seeing the best in our students and for continuing to believe in them until they see what we see...just how amazing they are. 

Here's to a year of leaving our students so impressed by what they can do, that by the end of the year, they hardly recognize themselves. 

(Learn more about Jarrett Lerner, his books, and his amazing FREE reources at his website https://jarrettlerner.com/.) 

Mindful Monday: Perhaps This Is the Moment

As we find ourselves on the eve of another new school year, two words come to mind: THANK YOU! 

Thank you for answering the call to change lives.

Thank you for believing that our future is worth investing in. 

And thank you for choosing to be here. 

I can't help but think that "perhaps this is the moment for which you were created". (Esther 4:14) 

                    

There are great things in store for you and our students this year. I can feel it. 

We will rally together. 

We will rise to the challenge. 

And we will make a difference. 

Because at the end of the day, it's what educators do! 

Here's to our best year yet! 

If you haven't seen Joe Beckman's video The Calling, check it out. Even if you have, it's worth watching again.

Wishing you a fantastic first week of school!