January 2022

Resolving to find sunshine in ourselves

By Greg Fredricks, Regional Coordinator of Social Studies and Blended Learning

Several months ago I volunteered to write the final blog post for 2021. The world was in the flux that we continue to find ourselves in, but I was already starting to think about the promises of 2022. December is traditionally the month where we take stock of our year and make resolutions for the year ahead. The last two years have challenged all of us professionally and personally in ways that we never imagined. We continue to look ahead and recognize that there is more unknown than we probably ever expected we’d have to deal with. Yet, the internal and seasonal drive to resolve to be better persists. I like to think this represents the human spirit, our resiliency, and most importantly, hope. Hope that through our actions we can make things better. But what does that truly mean? Who do we wish to be better for? What does that entail? What does that look and feel like?

Since I can remember I’ve been fascinated by people undertaking resolutions. The gyms find themselves packed for the first few weeks of January, people promise to read more, get outside more, spend more time with those that they love, but unfortunately all too often life gets in the way. People sacrifice those hopes and promises that they made to themselves because they compete with all of the external pressures we find ourselves balancing on a daily basis. Self-care, the phrase de rigueur, has become synonymous with many of these resolutions that we undertake, and by extension social-emotional learning strategies that we may be trying to bring into our classrooms, schools, and districts. We recognize the struggles that our colleagues and students have gone through, and we try so hard to build in the support necessary to maximize the positive social experiences which are ingrained in school. We also must be mindful that modeling is one of the most powerful ways that we can instill learning in others. If we don’t practice what we preach, the message may ultimately be lost.

When we think about our resolutions as educators we usually prioritize how we can serve other people better. People enter this profession because they love to learn, they love to teach, they enjoy spending time with young people, and ultimately they recognize that their purpose is to serve others. One of the challenges of only focusing on how our resolutions will benefit others is that we forget the importance of caring for ourselves. I recently saw a video where a fellow teacher used the analogy of the importance of self-care, comparing it to the emergency directions that someone receives before their flight takes off. We are instructed to put on an oxygen mask before we put on someone else’s if the need arises. Yet, so often we don’t put an “oxygen mask” on ourselves first and invest in our own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When this happens we cannot realistically plan to be better for others. We must acknowledge that our profession has inherent stressors in it because of the human component that forms its foundation. It isn’t surprising that studies have compared the high stress levels of educators to those in the medical field. Caring for others takes an emotional and physical toll on us, and we must take the time to nurture and invest in ourselves.

2022 will undoubtedly bring about challenges and uncertainties. One aspect of the coming year that we can control is making a conscious effort to take care of ourselves. Prioritizing taking time to nurture and sustain ourselves will help us to continue to be the people we want to be. I’ve included a small toolbox with some mindfulness activities and experiences that can be easily built into the day for adults or young people. I hope that you are able to take advantage of them, and that they also serve as a reminder for you to commit to the personal health and resolutions you make. I hope you find peace in that time you commit to “you,” and find joy in others by surrounding yourself with people who make you feel valued, seen, heard, and loved. I’ll leave you with a sign I saw recently in a store. “Stay close to people that feel like sunshine.” I encourage you to find that sunshine in both yourself and others.

Mindfulness and Self-Care Choice Board