TL;DR:

• Over the last 15 months, educators have accomplished so many seemingly impossible things.
• This summer, we should give ourselves permission to rest, reflect, and heal.

Rest. Reflect. Heal.

You GUYS. It’s been a YEAR. My WORD. (Yes, I am yelling.)

Here are just a few of the things we’ve accomplished over the past 15 months: 

• Taught in multiple modes 
• Adjusted to multiple revised health & safety plans 
• Transitioned kids back in school, out again, and probably somewhere in between
• Explained things to parents we didn’t fully understand ourselves 
• Recognized and addressed academic learning gaps 
• Prioritized SEL lessons to help our students navigate this time 
• Struggled to maintain any sense of normalcy for our kids in school and our families at home 
• Adapted to new roles, rules, and routines 
• Recognized what was in our realm of influence and control 
• Remained anchored to our purpose 

As you are nodding through this list, we also know this isn’t an exhausted list.  

But we are exhausted. 

This summer, let’s give ourselves permission to rest, reflect, and heal. 

Rest 

Let’s spend some quality time with our family and spend some time alone. It has never been more well-deserved than it is this summer. It’s OK to be still. As Pico Iyer says in The Art of Stillness, “In an age of speed, nothing can be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. In an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.” 

Give yourself permission to rest. 

It's been a whirlwind. In the serene pockets of summer stillness, think about what you've learned this year about yourself. We were moving so quickly it was impossible to recognize what was happening in the moment. Click To Tweet

Reflect 

It’s been a whirlwind. In the serene pockets of summer stillness, think about what you’ve learned this year about yourself. We were moving so quickly it was impossible to recognize what was happening in the moment. 

Give yourself permission to reflect on the 20-21 school year and take inventory of what you want to hang onto and what you want to leave behind. 

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Heal 

We have been through so much—individually and collectively. What do you need to prioritize this summer to help you feel a bit more content, aligned, or balanced? 

Give yourself permission to acknowledge all that you accomplished this year and allow yourself the space to heal.  

I am so proud of us. We did it. It’s still unbelievable, yet here we are on the other side.  

Thank you for showing up for your students.  

Thank you for showing up for your colleagues.  

Now it’s time to show up for you. 

Small Shifts. BIG Gifts!

Take some time to think through how you plan to approach this summer to rest, reflect, and heal. How will you prioritize summer stillness to help restore your mind, body, and spirit?

 

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ABOUT SUZANNE DAILEY

Suzanne Dailey is a proud member of the Teach Better Family! She is an instructional coach in the Central Bucks School District where she has the honor and joy of working with elementary teachers and students in 15 buildings. Suzanne is Nationally Board Certified, a Fellow of the National Writing Project, and has a master’s degree in Reading. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing the whole child and teacher. Suzanne lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Check out the Teach Happier Podcast here!