Mindful Monday: Your Purpose

We are nearing the halfway point of the school year.  And if you haven't had a stumble or two, I'd be surprised. If you're not feeling tired, I'd be shocked. Teaching is hard. Molding the future is demanding. Managing students is next level tiresome. To say what we do is tough, would be an understatement. 

I don't say all this to make you feel worse or defeated. I say this because what we do is important work. I say this because what we do matters. I say this because perhaps your purpose is even bigger than you imagined. 

You are in this line of work for a reason. You are here by design. So, thank you for showing up. Thank you for not giving up. And thank you for rising to the occasion. 

When it gets hard, I simply ask you to remember that you're not in this alone.

 

MIndful Monday: Grateful for Kindness

We are wired for connection. We need each other. So in honor of World Kindness Day, I wanted to share my favorite ways I have seen our staff show up for each other in amazingly kind ways. 

This first act of kindness is my absolute favorite. Thank you to each and every one of you that takes the extra 10 seconds in the hallway to look up, make eye contact, and check in. Each "Hi", "Good Morning", "Happy Friday!", and so on really says "Hey- I see you." 👍

This next act of kindness is often unexpected, but oh so appreciated.  A shout out to all the co-workers that check your mailbox when they go to check their own. 👊

Which leads me to the life saving staff members that pick up your copies off the copy machine that you forgot to grab for your next lesson happening in 10 mins. 

✋🤚

And finally, the cherry on top act of kindness that is so good it can earn you best friend status goes to the teammates that stop by Starbucks or QT and pick YOU up an unexpected beverage on their way to work.  👏

For all these examples and so many more, thank you for helping make kindness the norm 365 days a year.

If you have an extra two minutes today, I encourage you to check out both Mr. Rogers and Bill and Ted's messages on kindness. And for my PreK-2 teachers, consider sharing the Kindness is a Muscle video.

Mr. Rogers Kindness Video (1:05)

Bill and Ted Be Kind (0:57)

Kindness is a Muscle (PreK-2 Song)

Mindful Monday: Intentional Interactions

Teachers and parents, alike, go out of their way to make memories for the children in their lives. We plan special activities. We make magic happen behind the scenes and are constantly looking to make memorable moments. 

But here's the thing. No matter what extravagant gifts my children receive or how many places we go on vacation, it never ceases to amaze me that often their favorite memory is not what I planned or fretted about. It's often the little moments. The laughs had. The quality time spent together. 

My point is this, the "little" moments matter. Be intentional with your interactions because we don't get to choose what they remember. 

This week I challenge you to make each and every student in your care feel seen. Make them smile and if at all possible, laugh. This could very well be the week a student remembers you for the rest of their lives for all the right reasons.