Challenge 2: Avoid BURN-OUT

Last Monday I began a yoga class that meets 3 mornings a week. The techniques I am learning and practicing are already starting to come in handy in other situations. Clearing the mind, deep breathing, listening to my environment, becoming aware of myself, good posture. I know I will continue to benefit from this as the school year progresses.

I am careful about what and when I eat, take a multi-vitamin, go to bed early & rise early to read & journal to start my day. I am careful about how I feed my mind, as well. What do I read, watch, listen to? Am I learning something new every day? Am I finding things to be grateful for?

I think my best tip to avoid burn-out is to LAUGH..."often and much" as Emerson said. Laugh with students, laugh at myself. I love what I do, and I do what I love. I am in my 14th year of teaching and am still having fun with it. 

This is MY moment

The title of today's post is the theme of the 30-Challenges for Educators.  So, what has been MY defining moment thus far in my career? I would have to say MY moment happens each time a former student contacts me to thank me, not just for teaching them a foreign language, but for encouraging them to do & be more than they thought they could be;  to tell me how I inspired or impacted their learning and/or career choices; to share their successes and adventures. I hold these moments close to my heart.

30 Challenges for Educators

Challenge 1: Create a ME manifesto.

Several years ago, I picked up the book, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, by Donna Partow (subtitled A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life). The first assignment during that 90-day journey was to create a Personal Vision Statement. In fact, I revisited this book recently, and if you go back to some earlier posts here, you'll see some of my introspection.

Anyway, getting back to this new challenge! I believe my earlier personal vision statement still serves me quite well for my ME manifesto. So here it is, once again, with a tweak or two from the original, to keep before me as I work through the next 29 challenges.

I use my energy, enthusiasm and sense of adventure to explore new opportunities to improve my world and the world at large. Knowing the best adventure is a shared adventure, I will encourage my family & friends, my students and my colleagues to join in the excitement.