I Need More Than a Funny Meme

January is a long month.  I think the sickness that has been widespread has made it feel even longer.  

January is a tough month.  It is hard not to get down on yourself.  It is hard to feel positive each day.  The newness of 2020 has worn off.  It is hard to not feel defeated.

I try to present to you uplifting messages of encouragement.  The "go get 'em" and the "you've got it" messages that I know we all need to hear.  But you know what?  Sometimes...just sometimes...those messages don't work.  You feel beaten. You feel down.  You feel hurt.  Education is funny like that.  It is a field where you are placed with the task of encouraging and growing our tomorrow (which is one of the most important jobs out there) but you are often questioned, accused, and feel unsupported.  This in turn leads to those who are encouragers of growth and kindness to feel stuck...and well unkind.  All the funny memes in the world can't help that.

Last week I attended a two day workshop on crisis in school.  Our presenter talked about how when you are stressed, when you have experienced trauma, and when you are down, your body changes chemically.  You have different hormones taking flight in your body and part of moving on is getting rid of those hormones.  He stated the best methods of getting rid of those hormones is to sweat it out, pee it out, or cry it out.  While we are not experiencing BIG trauma, we may have gotten a bad phone call or email, we may have self doubt going on, we may feel stressed.  We need to get those hormones out.  Drink lots of water (pee it out).  Exercise (sweat it out).  Find your person and open up (cry it out).  Find what works for you to find your center and open the door on a new day.  I had a day this week where self doubt and a bad phone sent me for a tail spin.  I did cry it out.  I did sweat it out.  But I also found my center by subbing in a classroom for a morning.  It helped me find my why again.  It made me know that I can do this.  It made me feel connected.  It made me feel appreciated.  I needed that more than any pep talk or funny meme.

When things are getting tough, find the thing for you to "get it out".  Find the things that will bring you back to your why.  And know that you got this.

Throw It Away

There is nothing I like more than the challenge of de-cluttering.  I have been called the Throw Away Queen.  I have no problem going into a situation, rolling up my sleeves, sorting through items and filling up garbage bags.  While it is fun to look back at items, I find myself letting things go and taking them to the curb.  Perhaps it was the fact that as a child we moved ever three to four years and the military only paid for so much stuff to be moved.  Maybe it is due to the fact that as a teacher here I moved classrooms five times.  I just can't hang on to stuff.  The less the better for me.

Now let's talk about hanging on to other "stuff".  You know...the "stuff" you cannot see, but rather the "stuff" that you feel inside.  You can't really physically put those things into a garbage bag and send it to the curb.  Emotional baggage and emotional hurt are things we experience as teachers and things that many of our students deal with daily.  How do you put that "stuff" in the trash?  It can be just as overwhelming as physical "stuff".  It can clutter your mind and your heart.  It can bring with it self doubt, lack of confidence, fear, and low self esteem.  As teachers, we may work through these feelings after a parent meeting...after giving a test...after hearing a rumor.  Our students may work through these things after a bad night at home...after not studying for a test...after hearing a rumor. Not everyone can "shake it off".  (Great song Taylor...great idea...but not always the easiest thing to do...maybe it is if your outlet is to write a song putting the "stuff" on blast and making millions off of it...)

It is important for us all (teachers and students) to invest time in activities and people who help us peel away layers of this "stuff" and beginning tossing it to the side.  Read.  Walk.  Laugh. Go out with friends. Color.  Exercise.  Watch movies.  Laugh some more.  Forgive.  Play a game.  Take a bath.  Forgive.  Laugh.  Find the thing YOU like...invest time in it to help put that "stuff" to the curb.  

It isn't easy.  I held onto some "stuff" for a few years now.  It caused me anxiety in situations where people may be.  It caused me fear that something would be said to me or about me.  I have worked to get over that "stuff" and move forward.  It is much easier said than done, but I feel less burden knowing that I have put that in a Hefty bag and off my heart.

The new year is the perfect time to de-clutter.  When de-cluttering your closet, don't forget to work on de-cluttering those other parts...and helping our students do the same.  Be that person they can laugh and share with.  Think about how much clearer they and you will be able to look at the world.

I hope 2020 has been good for you.