As we look forward to next year, there is some anxiety about the different changes in some of our schools. Some schools are brand new like the 6th grade center (well--new staff, etc.) Others are shifting staff (Junior High East and West) and some elementary teachers are going here and there. A colleague gave me advice once that I will pass on. When I told her about changes and anxiety I felt about them at a school I was at, she asked me what it was that I could control. It made me think for a few minutes. There were a couple of things--I could control how I felt about the changes and what I could do--but not the changes themselves. It made me relax and feel a sense of "serenity"--What is that serenity prayer for 12 step programs? Grant me the serenity to accept the things that I can't change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
We can choose the anxiety we take on--and we can let go as well. We don't want to take on too much and just burn out. It's also important to take care of ourselves, and then we enjoy our jobs much more!
Great post Ann!!! As we toured the Pearson Center we asked the dreaded question, "when do you think we can get into our rooms this summer?" We were told to think the worst, so that it something changed and was better, we could feel better about the process.
ReplyDeleteAs stressful as this is and thinking about how we are going to make our rooms feel inviting for those 6th graders on the first day, I am realizing this is totally out of our control and we will have to do the best we can with what we have. So maybe we have to come in on the weekends OR I am thinking....dragging in my whole family to help out :)
Once the stress and anxiety passes of starting a new year, I think everything will slowly start to fall in place :)and all we can do...is let go
That is sooo right! Letting go is sometimes the best way to solve something!!!
ReplyDeleteSo much of the education world seems to be about this statement. I also think that in addition to only worrying about what we can control, we should also try to assume that things will work out well. Some people on the 7th grade team are moving to different grade levels, which could be viewed as very stressful, but I think the team is trying to look positively at the situation, and so our PLC time is not all spent worrying.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic of discussion. I think in the education world, more than almost any other profession, it is IMPERATIVE that we learn to let go. It is a profession where the "to do" list NEVER ends. Not to mention that you could think about your students, tasks, changes for next year non-stop. It can drive a person crazy. I think, in a way, letting go and finding balance in your life are very similar.
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