Growth

As part of our science unit, we’re going to grow plants and butterflies!

 

            When I hatched the idea of having chickens in our classroom, I didn’t know it would grow into something much bigger. Long behold, many types of plants, releasing butterflies, and hatching praying mantises. What’s come out of these experiments, have been much larger than I anticipated. 

 

            It starts with an idea. What we plant today, will grow into something much greater tomorrow. The time to start planting is right now; not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. That’s often the hardest part. If you want to change your future, the planting has to start today. 

 

            Preparation. What do you need to grow? Maybe that’s support from your friends, your family, your job, etc. Maybe it means getting off the couch. It might also mean actual tools. Maybe… for you to start growing it means creating a plan, being patient, or letting go of the past. Give yourself the necessary materials so you can start growing.

 

            Water. I can go often without water, but how little do I give myself water. Water is necessary! By water I mean a few things: forgiveness, patience, space, and peace. In order to grow you need to water yourself as needed. For everyone that can mean different things. For me, it means I need to run a few times a week, read often, experience a thrill, and literally water my plants. These things fill me up. Sometimes you’re going to need more water than other times, so fill yourself up when you needed. 

 

            Time. Give yourself time to grow. When I was an Africa a man told me, “Americans have watches, Africans have time.” He was absolutely correct. That sentence still haunts me because I’m its biggest offender. I’m always on time, looking at the time, racing the time, or trying to find more time. Rarely am I ever enjoyingthe time. Growth doesn’t just happen immediately, it takes preparation, water, and actual time. Give yourself at least that much. 

 

            Leaves. As you grow taller leaves form. These leaves might be new friends, passions, and ideas. All the preparation, water, and time you’ve put forth have now given you new leaves. Some leaves will stay and continue growing, while others will droop and die. Keep watering and let the necessary leaves live. Sometimes it’s necessary to let go of toxic friendships and habits for you to grow. it hurts in moment, but in the end the most important leaves will stay with you.

 

            Bloom! It’s a sight that you’ve been waiting for! It’s such a good feeling to feel good and see progress! You glow differently. The world is much brighter. You’re full of water and leaves. All the time and preparation paid off Everything seems just right! Enjoy it as long as you can and keep doing what made you bloom!

 

            In life, there will be days when we’re dropping ready to quit. While other times, we’ll be growing leaves and blooming! Sometimes these moments last days, months, or even years. With a little water, sunshine, and my favorite, time, you can experience more blooming more often than not. You got this! Start planting today! 

Happy New Year

Break out the champagne. Grab your friends. Set off fireworks because the celebration is about to begin. Say it with me, 3…2…1… 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

            You’re probably confused. Jordan…it’s March 31^st. The new year was three months ago. You’re correct, the new year did technically start January 1^st. For me, my new year starts the minute I get home on the day Spring Break starts.

 

            Does my new year actually start during spring break? Of course not, but every year teachers and students look forward that special week in March or April where we all sleep in, stay up late, eat whatever we want, and spend the time however we want. It’s a glorious time of recharging for the toughest months of the school!

 

            For years I never did anything marvelous during my spring break. Many times my spring break was either a day (when I was in Catholic School) or in college when I was on the track team. So last year I decided to change that. I gave myself a spring break to make up for the years I lost.

 

            It was incredible! Riding roller coasters at Busch Gardens and going zip-lining were just some of the highlights. So of course, I had to do it again this year. From riding the Velocicoaster at Universal Studios to driving to Jet Blue Park to see the Red Sox crush the Twins, my spring break lived up to the hype, despite the weather at times. More memories were made, and my soul was rejuvenated.

 

             I’ve made it a vow that every year I’ll continue to use my Spring Break as my new year. It serves as a reminder that there is so much out there waiting to be enjoyed. Teaching isn’t who I am, but what I do, and it’s okay if I don’t live it 24/7. Every day can offer new experiences; whether it’s with friends and by myself, if you’re open to them. 

 

            For me the hardest step is telling myself that I’m worthy of new experiences and joys that others around me have. Getting myself off the couch can be burdensome, but necessary if I want to break the habits and mindsets. Putting down your phone, turning off the television, and realizing what’s around you and what there is to offer is so important to be happy. I constantly remind myself that of how good the life I have is. 

 

            For some during their spring break, resting and relaxing is necessary. There’s nothing wrong with doing what’s best for you. For me, it’s a rebirth of adventure, thrill, and joy rolled into beach surfing, roller coaster riding, trail blazing fun! Happy New Year everyone! 

Personal Time

There’s a first time for everything. Your first word. Losing your first tooth. Crashing your car for the first time. Taking time off for myself for yourself. It finally happened!

 

            I’ve taken time off before: the death of my grandfather, surgery, and professional development; but never before had I done it for my own reasons. For six years, I’ve worked almost every single day in my teaching career. I love my students! Taking a day off for any reason is difficult. But to finally do it for myself was a first. 

 

            Teachers will often use the excuse: creating substitute plans is harder than taking the time off, so why bother? I understand that firsthand; after numerous conversations with teachers and phone calls, I realized I had one hour before the school closed to put together two days’ worth. It is challenging but can be worth it in the end. But I found a way to finish my plans in time. …My school requires us to have emergency plans so that could an option. If you have teammates or have befriended a colleague at your school, ask them for help. 

 

            You deserve it! You hear those words often in my blog posts. Well…more so they’re for me to visually see to remind me to practice what I preach. Whatever your job is, odds are it’s demanding and stressful. If your teacher, you can add underpaid to that list. But in all, everyone deserves a day (or two) to be free from the stressors of their job all the while their job is still going on. My team this year also has a rule that if you’re absent, you’re excluded from the group text chain. Recharge so you can be your best self! 

 

            To refuel… I went to Universal Studios for the first time. It was incredible! I loved it. The next day, I got the battery in my car replaced and had an Italian lunch. Saturday, I went to a Korean chicken restaurant to devour some honey barbeque chicken, followed by mass at a cathedral. Sunday, my childhood dream came true…experiencing the 64^th running of the Daytona 500 live in the grandstands with 130,000 fans for the first time! The days were long, but worth every wait in line. 

 

            During those days, my insanely stressful week suddenly disappeared. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Fun and laughter took over as I soaked it the fun outside in the bright blue skies. You should use your personal days! I came back energized and ready to be my best self afterward. The most important part, I created memorizes that I’ll never forget!

2022 Goals

This year I will not be doing a 'one word'.

 

            Every year, myself and thousands pick a word as our focus for the year. It’s a great idea and I’ve enjoyed doing it year after year. It’s something that I even look forward to. But this year is going to be different. I’m going to focus on myself in various ways. That’s going to require more just a word. I’m focused on multiple goals.

 

            First goal: spend one day each month at the beach. There’s lots of data and psychology behind how spending one day or more in nature each year is very beneficial to your health. For me, going to the beach is my time in nature. That was never clearer when after school on my birthday I drove to the beach and it was the most relaxing evening I had in a long time. As I’m typing this, I did already go to the beach this month and looking forward to my trip in February. 

 

            Second goal: read three or more books each month. Last year I read 24 books. This January alone I read four, compared the one book I read last year. Books, like the beach have become my oasis from life. The more read, the happier I feel. Reading feeds my brain, improves my knowledge, and keeps me off my phone. My favorite part becomes sharing my books with friends and students. Books continue to help give me therapy I never knew I needed. 

 

            Third goal: run in a race once a month. (Have you noticed a trend yet?) If you would’ve told me a year ago that the most miles I’d run post-surgery would be five and a half…I wouldn’t have believed you and laughed, but so far that’s the truth. If I can schedule one race, whether it’s a 5k or longer, it’ll give me something to look forward to and help me meet other people each month. The ultimate goal: run in the Disney half marathon next January. 

 

            Final goal: I want to have fun and do whatever’s best for me. My other goals can be put on my calendar long before they happen, whereas this one can’t. It requires me to live in the moment and say yes (or sometimes no) throughout my day. Choosing to live each day with a fun mindset and the find the joys will be critical. This school year hasn’t been easy and I’m starting to uncover what I do with my life and where I want to live. I’ve learned that chasing my happiness should always be my selfish priority. Life is too short to not have fun!

 

            As you can see, I don’t have a word of the year per se, but I do have a multitude of goals that I believe will make this year the best year yet! …And don’t worry, it’s my goal my complete my third straight year of blogs! 

 

 

Roller coaster

 2021 has been a roller coaster ride for the ages.

        January, like every January is like strapping in your seatbelt on the ride. You’re nervous and excited, just like you are for the new year! You’ve set new goals and hopes. This is what you waited so long in line for, now it’s time to go.

 

            Then you start moving toward and up the incline. You immediately realize…maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Think of this as the goals you’ve set (working out more, saving money, etc.). It hits you that maybe you need to rethink your priorities. 

 

            Now you’re at the top! This is moment you’ve worked all year for. Life is good. You have a moment to yourself. It’s the calm before the storm. You can finally breathe again. Except…

 

            Down you go! Loop de loop, twist, turn, another loop, speed increases, one after one. It feels like you’re spiraling out of control. Things aren’t going your way. You can’t control what’s happening. As a matter fact, you’re just along for the ride.

 

            Suddenly the breaks clamp, the ride slows to crawl. It’s over. You can relax. It’s a relieving feeling. After getting off the ride you realize…it wasn’t all that bad.

 

The reality is every year is a roller coaster ride that doesn’t stop. The ride can go in any order you, your career, or the world chooses. Sometimes it’s predictable (daily commute to work), and sometimes it isn’t (new boss, family crisis, new opportunities). This year was my rollercoaster. 

 

It all started (as most years do) with lots of optimism. Then the twists and turns happened in late January: my principal moved, and a girl broke up with me, and depression set in. After my heartbreaks, I experienced two big inclines and thrills: I went ziplining for the first time and I went to the beach by myself. I remember the nervousness I felt as I drove to both, but afterward I was thankful I went. I ended up going to the beach over 7 times this year! These followed more loops: never ending Covid rule changes, my self-inflected hot sauce punishment, and being forced to use a workbook that isn’t best for my class. 

 

In all, there’s been many big highs: surprising my parents this summer, $12,000 in donations to my classroom, and I finished my long endorsement class just to name a few. I’ve learned a lot about myself more than any other year and proud of the growth I’ve made. Despite the twists and turns, there was plenty of peaks, inclines, and thrills! It was a great ride! 

 

Eat Sleep Teach Repeat

I have to be honest; I feel like a broken record lately. This school year is harder than last year. 

 

 

 

It’s finally Thanksgiving break and a much needed one. I’m finally able to sit down…and do more work. Oh? You were expecting a different answer? Okay, it was just my online class, and I finished my assignments on first day of break. 

 

The rest of the week has been much more relaxing; lots of reading, binge watching, and sleeping in. I even ran in a 5k on Thanksgiving Day with 800 others! I’ve made it an emphasis to not work until right now. It feels so good! I feel better mentally and physically for the first time in a long time. 

 

But it hasn’t been like that the last two months. I’d been in a never ending self-neglecting pattern: eat, sleep, teach, then repeat it all over again. I could sense my attitude was draining. My students and I check in with each other daily, and we all needed this break. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, I tried a multitude of things to change my monotone routine, but none of worked. 

 

Because I was so exhausted, my writing has suffered. If you been reading my blogs long enough, you know in March I started to write daily about at least one positive thing that happened that day. Over the last month, daily writing has become weekly writing. Before you worry, I was still writing, just at the end of the week I was caught up and trying to recall. (Taking pictures helps!) Now, I’m back on my daily writing grind thankfully. 

 

This school year has been difficult. I used to think it was just my school because of the major changes, but teachers on social media are saying the same thing; but everyone has a different reason. The pressure to teach the same way and time as other teachers and a mountain of workbooks that were delivered early in the year. Textbooks and computer programs don’t teach boys and girls. Energized, passionate teachers that have trust and freedom do. Teachers know their students and the data behind the results. Maybe I just exhausted trying to teach in a way that’s not me or best for my students.

 

This break, as breaks normally do, helped awaken me. The good news…we still have 6 months left in the school year. In other words, we (I) still have time to help my students and myself be our best selves. It’s time I to do what’s best for me. That means I have to break the eat, sleep, teach broken record pattern. For me, that means a few things; reading daily, running every other day, and doing what’s best for my students. 

Sunday Scaries

They’re coming! Can you see them? They’re getting closer! Watch out! It’s the night before Monday and that can only mean one thing…the Sunday Scaries are upon us! 

        I figured since it’s Sunday and Halloween, today’s topic is perfect. The Sunday Scaries haunt teachers. A Sunday Scary can be defined as the anxiety of the workload a teacher starts feeling the night before Monday. 

Some teacher examples of the Sunday Scaries include:

·      Teacher guilt for enjoying the weekend

·      Jotting down the never-ending to-do list

·      Meal and outfit preparation 

·      Creating, finalizing, sharing lesson plans

 

For others the Sunday Scaries could include:

·      Dreading the job, they work for

·      The long hours ahead of them

·      The leadership they work under

·      The co-workers and/or costumers

·      The stress of income, bills, and food

        But what if…we made those scaries magically disappear! Teachers should feel energized and fulfilled for enjoying their weekend, never guilty for taking them for themselves, their family, and most importantly their mental health. Lesson plans can be finished during contractual hours. Meals can be prepped the morning of. That never ending list…it’s never ending so throw it away and start the week fresh! Get rid of the guilt. It’s the weekend. You’re not contractually obligated to work.

 

        For those non-teachers, I empathize with you if you dislike where you work, the hours you have, the costumers you encounter, and the stress of income. You are not alone. Many others, including myself know what it’s like to barely get by day in and day out. But you are tough enough. You are there for reason. If you don’t like where you’re at currently in your job or health, seek ways to change your situation. The first and hardest step, is ask for help. You can do this. You can’t stay where you don’t want to be. Leave. It’s what’s best for you. 

 

        The Sunday Scaries can be very haunting, but they don’t have to be. You are off the clock. Don’t ever feel sorry for doing what’s best for you on the weekends. Take that nap. Go for that walk. Eat at that restaurant. Have fun with your friends. Binge watch Netflix. Because if you stress the Sunday Scaries, come Monday, you’ll be ghost of yourself. No one wants that. We need you to be the best you!

        The magical potion is inside of you: find your happiness every weekend and live it! Make the Sunday Scaries disappear!