“That was the best root canal I’ve ever had!”
Isn’t that what everyone says after they have a root canal done? My dentist was shocked with my expression. I was pain free after delaying the inevitable for many months. The procedure wasn’t as bad as people warned it would be. I wish I had done it sooner.
Once this school year ended, I knew it was time to start investing. I’d bet that most teachers on their first day of summer at 7:00am were fast asleep. I was at a car dealership getting maintenance done on my Mustang…for five hours. (Good thing I brought a book.) That afternoon I was at the foot doctor for an hour getting my left ankle checked. Two days later I was having a root canal. A week later I had follow-up dental appointments; along with a trip to the dermatologist to be evaluated for skin cancer. I’m cancer free, but other issues remain. I ended my month with another foot doctor visit and eye doctor.
Part of my June investing saw me get rid of things. Goodwill and Salvation Army saw me a few times with a car full of donations. It felt good to declutter items I no longer needed and help others. Since I got rid of books and clothes, I color coordinated my bookshelf and closet. They look incredible! At the beginning of 2025, I had over 23,000 photos stored on my iPhone. Every day, I go through the photos I took that day and decide what to keep and delete. To date, I’ve deleted over 4,000.
My investing included watching lots of sports. In the summer, sports celebrated in a big way. The men’s and women’s college world series took place that saw many thrilling walk-off victories. Meanwhile the Florida Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and dominated the Oilers to win their second straight championship, making it officially known that Florida is a hockey state. (That sounds weird to type, but it’s becoming true in the NHL.) Global soccer has taken the United States by storm as the World Cup arrives next year.
As I was watching sports, I was also investing into my next school year. For me, that meant spending time studying the math, science, and reading standards. I also prepared postcards for my new students, teachers, and the 50 states as part of postcard exchange. Lastly, I spent hours on my laptop revamping digital projects and sending emails to admin as I prepare for the biggest change in my career in ten years. Stay tuned!
The favorite thing that I invested in was the Florida Special Olympics. Special Education has had my heart from a young age. I love helping and working with people with all ability levels. I earned a double endorsement in Special Education in college and spent an entire semester working in a Special Education classroom. All my teaching career has been in a general education classroom, and next year will too… but I’m also going to be part of the Florida Special Olympics! Soon I’ll be a Unified Partner. That means I’ll be teamed up with an athlete and help them train and compete! I haven’t been told who my athlete is or what sport yet, but I’m excited to start!
It's easy as a teacher to reinvest in appointments, sleep, and your family during the summer months. What about when you do feel tooth pain for a day or week? “It’ll go away.” But it never does. …When you’re exhausted from your job it’s easy to spend hours on your phone or binge-watching shows at night, but what about your spouse or children? You say, “They’ll always be around.” People change and grow quickly.
Last summer I made a big investment into a new home, and it’s been a great decision. As part of that decision, I moved schools and had a wonderful school year. This summer I made the long overdue decision to invest in my health. I feel extremely fortunate that despite my negligence, I’ve remained mostly healthy. Taking care of your health is a lifelong process, not just a one appointment fix-all.
I encourage you to invest. For some, that means pouring time into yourself or your family. For others, that means investing in exercise or a hobby. My point is, start investing today before it’s too late. Start investing! It’ll pay dividends in the future!
