Get Your Pink Back

I recently enjoyed a long weekend with my mom and when I returned, I noticed that the fur on one of my cats looked and felt different. It was more course to the touch on his back near his tail. This cat in particular is very attached to me. He follows me all throughout the house and is always with me on the couch and sleeps with his head on my pillow at night. Like I said- attached.

So, I researched what can cause a cat’s fur to change and learned that stress can be a factor. Poor guy. I think he was stressed out when I was away. His fur has since returned to being more plush and soft.

This reminded me of a fact that I learned about flamingos. Flamingos lose their pink color when they are raising their young. You see they get their pink color from eating foots like brine shrimp and blue-green algae. They spend so much energy caring for their young that they start to lose that pink color until their offspring are independent and able to feed themselves, and then they get their pink pack. This is what the “get your pink back” movement references. A metaphor for hard working caretakers who might not feel like the their full vibrant selves. A reminder that we too can get our sparkle and shine back if we aren’t feeling like ourselves.

This metaphor has me thinking of all of us as educators. Lately, my anxiety is so high even on the weekends that it’s difficult to enjoy my meals or be fully in the moment with family and friends. I find myself opening my email to see if I’ve received an angry reply or bracing for what problem may await me next week.

I don’t feel very pink, and I don’t want to lose my “softness” like my cat. So, what do we do when we feel this way? I think maybe the first step is recognizing that we don’t have to. We deserve better and feeling better can make our work better too.

Talking about it with trusted friends or family helps. Setting our technology aside in the other room or getting outside to feel the sun on our faces even if the air is brisk. Perhaps a puzzle, coloring, a game, or a favorite show. These are all short term solutions.

But the bigger question is how do we continue to strive for a healthy life outside of work? I recently read an interview that Oprah did with George Clooney where he essentially said he wants to make sure he lives his last years fully and intentionally. He’s 60 years old. I’m 42. I would love to learn how to do this sooner, so I can savor as much as life has to offer for as long as possible.

For those of us worrying about having done the wrong thing, said the wrong thing, missed a step we should have taken. I see you. But as I say in Legacy of Learning, we don’t have to be perfect to do these jobs and make a positive impact. We need to learn, care, and keep trying.

And we need to love ourselves and others through the process of growing and evolving.

Whatever you have on your plate today, pay attention to how you’re talking to yourself. Do what you need to do to take a little time away from the work.

And maybe together we can our pink back.