Former NFL player and author of Protect Your Peace, Trent Shelton says, “We can’t control what the day brings, but we can control what we bring to the day.”
During this unsteady time in education, what can we bring to the day? What can we realistically do?
As I was thinking about this month’s Teach Happier blog and considering a small shift that could help us with our next right thing, I started out wanting to talk about assuming positive intent in others. That seemed a bit too….precious.
Then I wanted to explore the idea of radical acceptance; the notion of accepting “what is as is.”
Digging deep into the idea that radical acceptance evolves to radical options and that seemed a bit too… heavy a lift and felt it was from the land of toxic positivity.
I quietly pondered and sifted through ideas from books, podcasts, articles, and studies. Nothing spoke to me to share with this beloved community.
After some quiet…and stillness…a question my therapist often asks me continued to echo in my head and heart.
That question is this: What is mine to do?
What is Mine to Do?
When my life gets life-y and I need help figuring out my next right thing, my therapist will say, “Suzanne, what is yours to do in this situation?” In other words, she wants me to name what is mine to do…and more importantly, what isn’t mine to do. It reminds me of a quote by Ten Menten which says: “When asked what I can do, I found the answer by rearranging the words: do what I can.”
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What are we supposed to do?
While decisions in education are being made that could determine our direction and we find ourselves struggling to discern our next right thing, our invitation is to get still, get quiet, and think: What is mine to do?
- I will gather around my colleagues in solidarity.
- I will write to those in Congress who can hear about the real work with real kids in real time.
- I will love, teach, and serve ALL students with everything I’ve got.
- I will put down my phone.
- I will look up at my kids and husband.
- I will read.
- I will curate my media intake to be sure it helps calm my nervous system, delight my sense of humor, or spark curiosity and creativity.
- I will practice gratitude.
- I will notice the good.
- I will hunt for hope.
- I will fuel, move, and hydrate my body.
- I will prioritize sleep.
- I will support people who support people.
- I will move through my days with perspective, integrity, kindness, and dare I say…a sense of humor
- I will embody the quote, “Joy is an act of rebellion.”
This is mine to do. Our invitation is to consider, what is yours to do? Make your own little list in your head, on a piece of paper, in your notes app…wherever you want. As long as we can better understand what is ours to do, we can discern our next right thing.
“We can’t control what the day brings, but we can control what we bring to the day.”
Small Shifts, BIG Gifts!
If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by life, think about your short list of things you can choose to do at this time. It may help you prioritize and protect your time!
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!
