Learner. Human. Joyologist.
I've had the sense lately that maybe I've got a little too much on my plate. Not even necessarily just with work but with other commitments that I've made as well. As an Enneagram three ("The Achiever"), feeling like I'm growing and getting better every day is really important to me. I draw a sense... Continue Reading →
I'm simply asking us to pay attention. I'm asking us to pay attention to how we feel when we leave a live performance or a ceremony. There is a reason why we feel so alive, hopeful, inspired, and capable. There is nothing like a sense of belonging that stems from being "in it" with others. Let's find opportunities this summer to put away our phones and enjoy the magic of being in the moment with others. And perhaps let's be a bit better about asking for help next school year. It's not only a gift we will give to ourselves. It's the gift of neural synchronization for those around us.
The best way to stay encouraged and engaged in processes that take time is to spend time noticing and celebrating how far we have come versus how far have to go. As I mention in Legacy of Learning, this is how we keep our brains motivated when the work is cognitively demanding.
Instead of putting too much pressure on ourselves to execute perfectly these last couple of weeks, let's extend deep care to ourselves, our students, and each other.
All I know is that it felt special to have someone looking out for me that day. And I see educators looking out for kids in so many ways in our schools too. Perhaps they are extending kindness to students that one special person extended to them when they themselves were in school. And that's the ripple effect. That's a legacy of learning.
This is what I mean by being gentle with ourselves. Maybe stop being so hard on yourself. We can push ourselves and hold ourselves to high expectations without shaming and blaming ourselves. OK, so maybe you wished you had handled that situation differently. Maybe you wished you had eaten better yesterday. Maybe you didn't get all of your steps in or didn't get all of your papers graded.
So, while many are counting down the days until the school year ends and summer begins and trust me, I get it. Let's not forget to slow down time in a good way for students. Some students won't be excited to be away from school, to be away from the love of the staff, or to be away from the routines that make them feel safe. So, how might we make these last precious days feel special and savored in our classrooms? Yes, there will be fun field days and perhaps pep rallies, but how might we make our classrooms feel a smidge different in these final weeks? Perhaps a trip outside for instruction, a new learning game, a change in seating arrangements. Every little move we make will allow us to savor the precious time we have with each other this school year. And I don't want us to wish that away. It matters because we matter. We matter to each other. And this work matters to the future of our communities and this world.
I don't want us to miss out on the opportunity to unearth the hidden gems of potential that live inside people. Both those currently working and learning inside of our organizations and those interested in joining us. Because when we overlook the good in others, we miss out on contributions those individuals could be making too.
But when we do this kind of work well, our systems and collaborative model actually begin making the work easier versus harder. We do hard things at the start to make our work more enduring and manageable long-term. When our systems and structures support us in thoughtful ways, we can actually experience more joy, creativity, and success in our daily work with students. It's yes and. Not yeah but.
Before we can truly lead others and hold them accountable, we must first lead ourselves and hold ourselves accountable.
MEGHAN LAWSON 