Let go of the stress... Focus on what really matters in life!

For lack of a better term, I feel like a hamster in a wheel.   Up until this holiday break, it seems I do the same thing day in and day out.  Eat, commute to work (a whopping 100 miles a day), work, commute home from work, do more work after work, eat, sleep, and repeat!  Then on the days I'm not working, or possibly do I dare say, have a lighter at home work schedule, I try to catch up on laundry, cleaning and organizing, and of course making time for my boyfriend, Rich.  Now I know that so many of you that are reading this blog have other obligations - such as children.  Sometimes there is no way not to feel the effects of pressure and burning out.

Can I get an AMEN that I'm not the only one that feels like they are spinning around and around in that same darn wheel????

I tend to get stressed over the things that I'm not doing because I think I should really be doing them.  For example, I always think I should be doing more work than I already do.  Whether it's more grading, creating products for TpT, or blogging the thought is ALWAYS haunting me!  Then I think about personal things, such as working out - I should be doing that at least 3 - 4 times a week for my own health, but I seem to do more thinking about it than actually doing.   

I face a constant battle with me and myself ... day in ... and day out.  

And then it was brought to my attention.......

Constant stressing about work, doing more and more work, should NOT always be my main priority.  There are so many things worth stressing about and family, my boyfriend, my sanity, and my health are certainly things that I need to move up on my priority list.  I was recently chatting with some blogging friends of mine in a private facebook group of ours.  This is a direct quote from my friend Tina's principal:  

"As a teacher you are juggling so many balls and that we have to remember 

that the only one that is glass is family. The rest will all bounce back. You have

 to treat your family like the glass ball."

I'm going to add to this quote that health is also a glass ball.  Sometimes there is no getting it back once it is gone.  This was a reminder to me today after finding out that a beloved former Assistant Principal of mine and current Principal at a new building passed away.  It has left me heart broken entirely.  He is someone who has inspired me, as well as others, to be the very best of the best and someone who had personal faith in me even when I lacked it in myself.  

That being said, life is a precious gift that we must never ever take for granted.  With a new year only 2 days away, it's time to start focusing on YOU.  Didn't grade those papers?  That's okay, they can wait until tomorrow!  Didn't blog once a week like you think you should?  That's okay, because there is always a new week.  Become the best version of yourself that you could possibly be!  Those stresses that weigh us down day after day are just not worth the weigh down.  Focus on what matters - YOU, FAMILY, and HEALTH.  Start making changes today and don't ever look back.

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Oozing with Inspiration Tonight

When I decided to start this blog, I knew that I wanted to incorporate elements that would be inspirational to others.  I know, I know you must be thinking, what does this girl want to ramble about now!  But wait a second... just hear me out - Teaching is not an easy task!!  Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of why we do this job.  The kind of inspiration I am talking about by the way is not a material or your favorite TpT product that can be used within the classroom.  The inspiration that I am talking about is that, which can only be felt with your heart. That feeling that makes your heart melt and feel proud to be an educator.

Truthfully, there have been points throughout my journey that I almost wanted to turn my back.  It's not the students, because honestly, I love the students!!  That's why I do my job.  See, I am a Special Education Teacher.  I seem to get the "tougher" students, and sometimes when the year starts, my brain goes negative.  "How can I do this?"  "Why do I do this?"  "Will I be able to do this?" (See how negative and self-destructive that is!!) But at the end of the day those are the students that truly make my heart go pitter patter.  The ones that give me the biggest challenge that I can reach the most.  Being able to take a child, that most people wouldn't know what to do with, and try and mold and shape them into society's expectations.  It's quite the challenge alright, but somehow I rise to the occasion.  I teach those kids about respect, love, caring, and help inspire them to learn as quickly as I can with all my might.  Then I remember that I have purpose.

Sometimes when you go through each day, you don't realize the impact that you might be having on these students.  Then one day, all of a sudden you see that your differentiation, modification, heart, and soul and truly paying off.  Wow, it's such an amazing feeling!!!

The point of my post tonight, is to remind those of you that put every ounce of your being into your classroom and your students, not to forget to feel proud of what it is that you are doing!!  It is the best feeling in the world.  

As Rita Pierson stated, it is about "the value and importance of human connection."  Keep building those connections and working hard.  Remember, for some of these kids you are their only positive, only stability.

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Looking for some inspiration?? Every Kid NEEDS a Champion

In a day in age where teachers receive so much criticism about the job that we do day after day... here is an uplifting video that will make you smile.

This was shared with me and I wanted to share this with all of you!  What a beautiful and inspirational talk about how every kid needs a champion.  It is one of the best invested 7 minutes and 49 seconds you will spend watching an inspirational talk.  I would LOVE to hear your feedback!  

"So teachers become great actors and great actresses.  And we come to work when we don't feel like it.  We listen to policy that doesn't make sense and we teach anyway.  We teach anyway because that's what we do.  Teaching and learning should bring joy.  How powerful would our world be if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks, who were not afraid to think, and who had a champion?  Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them.  Who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they could possibly be.  Is this job tough?  You betcha!  But it is not impossible!  We can do this, we are educators, we are born to make a difference." 
- Rita Pierson

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