Spring Break

 

I saw the T-shirt above as a pop-up ad, and while I did not purchase it {But you can HERE}, it did resonate with me.  

Spring Break this year was NEEDED.   I felt a lot of "eh" and "blah" coming at me and even through me on the days leading up to break.  It seemed like everywhere I turned, someone was in a foul mood.   When I feel the "ugh" start coming on, I immediately do my best to get out into nature.

This Spring Break we headed down to one of our favorite spots, Virginia!   Specifically Skyline Drive/Shenandoah and Harrisonburg where the EMU main campus is located.    Here are just a few {emphasis on few} of my favorite photos.   The break was refreshing and good for the soul.   Yesterday was our first day back to school and I really missed my students.   I can't believe that summer break is less than two months away!   

Be Kind

 This song is amazing!     <---- click that

Take a minute... or well.. about four.... and rock out!

Seriously catchy and the message is on point!

Zee Lyrics:

La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la

It don't bother me if you're old or young
If you got lots of money or you got next to none
Or where you think we all go when we die
It ain't on my mind if you're big or small
How long it takes you to get up when you fall
Or if you can or cannot handle the spice

In a world where you can be anything
I'll be kind to you
Could you be kind to me?
Kind to me
It's all I'm asking

La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind?)

It don't bother me what SPF you use
Or if the body you're born in don't define you
We're all taking different ways into Rome
If you get off to guys, girls, both kind
Or someone in-between
Or like to dress up even when it ain't Halloween
I don't mind, I say each to their own

In a world where you can be anything
I'll be kind to you
Could you be kind to me?
Kind to me
It's all I'm asking

La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind?)

If there's one thing in this life that is guaranteed
It's you and I might see a few things differently

In a world where you can be anything
I'll be kind to you
Could you be kind to me?

La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind to me?)
La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la (could you be kind? Could you be kind?)

In a world where you can be anything
I'll be kind to you, oh
Could you be kind to me?
(Could you be kind?)
Kind to me

I'm alive and well!

 I constantly tell myself, "You need to be writing more!"   

Or 

"Don't forget to put this in your blog."

And then... teacher life... mom life ... grad school student life.

If you've stumbled upon this blog, I know you know.  

You get it.

As I type this I keep thinking about the importance of self-care in general, but especially as educators.

Ya'll... I've got some news.    First off:  I'm finally going for an eyebrow wax today and will no longer feel Bert-ish.

Jesus is my homeboy, this is no secret.  I don't belong to a certain Church.   I'm really a free agent that just believes in the power of LOVE and KINDNESS and LISTENING.    

However, I was raised Catholic and I love me some Lent.

For Lent this year, I gave up FaceBook.    It's not on my phone.  GONE.   Vanished.   I told myself I would only sign on to check in on my health groups from time to time because they keep me motivated  --- I'm down 65 pounds!!!

Giving up FaceBook has been amazing for my self-care.

I've also learned how to opt out of the e-mails FaceBook sends when you haven't logged in.   Did you know if you go more than 72 hours they'll send you e-mail updates to let you know random friends have updated their status?   #annoying

Anywhooo.... I feel happier.   I didn't know I was feeling unhappy, but I did know I was feeling "the FOMO" when reading other peoples' posts.   FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out.    Seeing people doing XYZ making me feel some type of way.   Or reading posts of people whom I've decided to pray for as they're clearly struggling in areas of mental health or more.   I don't know if I need a better audience or what the deal is but I'm not missing zee book o face.  

The whole point of this rant is for me to say "I'm here.   I'm doing well.   I've just been spending more time on me when I'm not doing all the things and it's been awesome."

Stay tuned for more.  But more importantly, do something for YOU today.   

I'm back in Grad School!

....I'm back in grad school!    

I wanted to share something I posted/reflected on for my class:

EDDA 541 L - Self-Care & Resilience for Educator

Have you ever had this experience?   

You read an amazing article, and then you end up clicking and before you know it, what should have taken only a few minutes to read has lead you down an hour+ of reading?    

I'm super grateful for the article, " Building Resilience, Preventing Burnout."   I downloaded the article, printed a copy for myself, and then printed a copy to put in my lesson planning book as well as my journal.   I plan on blocking out the date and photocopying it to put in teacher mailboxes as well.

I plan on blocking out the date because lately it seems I, as well as some of my colleagues, are a bit too cynical when we read "advice" articles that were published prior to COVID.   I feel as if I'm not alone in needing to achieve number four:  cultivating realistic optimism.  

As I was reflecting on each action step, I found myself putting them in order for ME and what I need to do.   

I realized that I really don't struggle with asking for help anymore and I'm able to learn and see what I'm doing well.   However, I really need to focus on building in micro-moments of renewal during the day.    At first, when I read that point/suggestion, I thought, "Hey, that's easy... I can do that..." and then I finished the article and clicked some more and read this and realized this past year I was a level 3 or 4.    It made me STOP, go back, re-read the original article and then journal out a plan that works for me.     

I seriously need to learn that taking time for me is NOT SELFISH.   

I seriously need to stop pretending like stress doesn't impact my health.    You have two autoimmune diseases, Leigh Anne!   Wake up!   This IS hurting you!

I need to seriously stop declining invitations for tea or coffee or whatever with a friend and perhaps step up and start going or inviting others to join myself.    

Self care

Self-care is important!

Check out Dan's latest post!

Self care link

A nice find on Self Care!   
Take a looksie!