May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There are a plethora of resources to support student mental health popping up on Twitter and Facebook for all age groups, with many of them focusing on creating positive connections on campus. We know how important it is to ensure students feel heard and valued in our classrooms, and we are always looking for ways to embed these supports within our classes. In fact, the mental and physical wellbeing of students is, many times, what wakes us up in the middle of the night with worry and concern. Caring for kids is what we DO!
But how are YOU doing emotionally? Physically? And are you caring for yourself and supporting your own mental health?
Know this: Caring for your own mental health and making sure you are in a good place is not optional. It is a "put your own Oxygen mask on first" kind of scenario. We cannot be effective, supportive, connected educators without first caring for ourselves. Yet, as teachers, educators and leaders, we tend to ignore this. We serve others. We prioritize their wellness. We sacrifice. We give. That is who we are. It is why we are great at what we do.
There must be balance.
We cannot do it alone.
I remember a particularly tough week. I was done. Fried. Finished. Frustrated. (There may have been other "F" words that came to mind as well...)
Of course, I needed an escape and social media seemed the easiest option.
Facebook, here I come (yes, I am that old!).
I scrolled and read and scrolled some more.
Then this popped up, straight from A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.
“Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh.
There was a pause.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.
"No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do."
"That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
"What are you doing?" asked Pooh.
"Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.
"But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh."
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right."
A.A. Milne
At every site I've worked, I've found people like this. People who are willing to endure our Difficult Days with us and support us quietly as we process. They are willing to listen and quick to respond. Ready with time, energy, food and coffee. I've seen their strengths and been on the receiving end of their support. While there are other actions we must also take for mental wellbeing, being surrounded by people like this is invaluable.
This week would be a great week to say "Thank you" to these special people in our lives! Write a card, bring a coffee, give a hug. Each of us "says" thanks in our own special way. The important thing is that we express our appreciation for one another and the way we lift each other up, especially on the Difficult Days.
We are truly blessed!
Live. Give. Appreciate.
Kim
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