Well-Resourced: Follow a Feeling
and honor the school year to summer transition.
In this note:
Following a feeling.
Offering some reflective touchstones.
Hi there,
I was wondering why I’ve felt somewhat melancholy this past week and well, there’s definitely a lot of reasons for the feeling.
One of the reasons is related to our topic of being well-resourced and caring for and about children. It’s the time of year that school is ending for the summer.
I recognize that everyone ends school at somewhat different times. I recognize that some are in year-round school… that some are in homeschooling or unschooling setups with unique rhythms… that some are in year-round or sporadic child care…
… and for all of us in the northern hemisphere, June is the month summer begins.
Given that I’ve been either a student or an educator for most of my life, the end of the school year is a notable personal transition.
This is the first year in awhile I haven’t been tied to one particular school or learning environment, but rather supporting educators and families who end the school year at different times throughout May and June. I have also been working more with fellow adults whose work is not tied to the school year.
So, the melancholy makes sense.
If you are tied to the end of school year transition in some way, I offer you an opportunity to reflect and move within.
If you aren’t tied to this particular transition, I wonder if there is someone to whom you are connected you’d like to share the questions with? You can share just this post with them by clicking the ‘share’ button below.
Or perhaps you could reframe them to being the transition from Spring into Summer?
If you wish, give some time to ponder the following reflection questions. Just let your eyes wander (or your ears if you’re listening to the text being read to you) and let two to three questions choose you.
During this transition, are you feeling one or two emotions, senses or feelings that feel front and center in your mind and body?
During this transition, what are you ecstatic to say “good riddance!” to?
During this transition, what are you feeling pulled towards? (foods, spots in your living space, hobbies, activities, spots in your neighborhood, people, more-than-human beings)
Could you allow your mind or heart to arrive at one or two challenges that you found your way through even though at the beginning of the school year you had absolutely no clue / faith / confidence / trust that you could?
Could you allow your mind or heart to arrive at one or two “wins” or moments you were proud of yourself?
What is one small shift you’d like to make that would support you in feeling more centered and well-resourced for next school year?
If you’d like to share any of your reflections, you’re welcome to leave a comment by clicking the button below or reply to this emailed post.
I believe that a huge part of being well-resourced comes from us individually and collectively looking simultaneously back and within and being curious about what worked for us and how we could make that even better.
Wishing you well in your Spring to Summer / school year to summer transitions…
Til next time,
Cassandra