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Dear Subscriber Name, Happy Monday! The unofficial end to summer is marked by the Labor Day holiday. We still have weeks of warmer weather left in Michigan, but I am starting to jump into knit sweaters, sip warm vanilla lattes, and appreciate all things pumpkin. This is the first year that I can remember that we went back to school before the holiday weekend. Last week, I met with all of my classes online at least 2-3 times. There were many hard days with great moments. The kids are doing an awesome job of hanging in there and making it feel like school. They want to be at school in-person, and even with that out of reach, they are making do. Working with kids remains the best part of the job of teaching. However, the toll of transitions that I talked about in last week’s newsletter remains a challenge. I am still holding on to the little things that come up as moments of gratitude and positivity, but I am finding a need to do big gestures for myself this week. I need to take it up a notch in self-care and self-maintenance because I am still getting a case of the Monday (not Sunday this week) scaries where there is a feeling of dread in my stomach as I look at my to-do list. Going back to school in the fall normally comes with an adjustment in routine and workflow, the stress of online learning seems to have made my to-do list something that feels like a wall. But, big gestures are coping skills for facing walls. So, what is a big gesture exactly? A big gesture for yourself can be as simple as putting work down when it gets too heavy or going after a big goal that occupies your daydreams a little bit each day. A big gesture is making a choice each day for yourself that will positively impact the rest of your day. It is a choice you will make to put yourself in a good mood or a good place on purpose. During this time of transition, I am sure, without a doubt, that everyone needs to be the person doing big gestures for themselves. Example big gestures you can do this week for yourself: This week’s journal prompts: "Tomorrow, I want to..." "The areas of my life I need to balance are..." "I want to find time to..." "My top three daily priorities are..." “I need more_______ in my life…” "My greatest superpower is..."
Brew some coffee or tea, grab a pen or your computer, cozy up with a blanket, and write. Happy reading and writing, Stephanie P.S. You may start noticing that my little blog is getting a redesign with a new logo, new colors, and some new categories. As we move into the fall, keep an eye out for posts about teaching, but also food, family, and finding wellness!
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