All I know is that awareness can help. Lately, when I’m worried and anxious, I try to focus on the next best step I can take. Something about that makes me feel empowered without getting overwhelmed.
For Those with Sunday Scaries
Carrying it By Yourself
Whatever it might be, we are all carrying something heavy. And many of us are carrying it by ourselves.
Free Will & Free Listening
Titles organize us, but they also get in the way of real human connection. It’s not your fault that people bring their own negative perceptions or trauma to your title. But how you respond is your responsibility, always.
Nourish the Blooms
Hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today, and we are the ones who can make it so. Are we creating environments that inspire hope in our young people, our educators, and our communities?
Signs
When I was trying to decide whether to stay in an elementary principal position, I remember looking for signs on my daily walks after work. I kept seeing cardinals. So many, in fact, that it felt like it had to be sign. Now, there are people who say that cardinals represent guidance from people who have passed away. I remember telling myself on these walks that my dad and mother-in-law were showing up to guide me. Whether they were or they weren’t, believing this was an indication of what I needed: love and support.
Do Less with More Intention
In a fast-paced world of strategy and innovation, what if the most “edgy” thing we can do is to simply be grateful for this beautiful life, this meaningful profession, and the good people inside of our schools? What if instead of adding more to plates this school year, we filled our conversations and our work with more love and appreciation? What if we remained steadfast in our focus on those simple things that matter most instructionally?
The Show Goes On
It dawned on me today that if I want this in our school district, the best way to get it is to see the little kid inside of others. When they are yelling, unreasonable, seemingly unfair, they are afraid of something or longing for something too. Picturing their little self allows me to approach them with more compassion. It’s not that I will “treat them like a kid” but I will love them in the ways I needed love then and need it now.
Stay Curious
There’s a fine line between being selfless and about others and about the work without being too small.
Why Leaders Need Novels
This may be the most obvious but underrated way we change our schools, our communities, and ultimately the world.
Rest Starts with Space
But if we continue to do more and more, there is less space. Emotional space. Space for mental clarity. Space for joy. Space to reflect not just on what we want to achieve but space for how far we’ve come.
MEGHAN LAWSON 