Original Insights - Issue #3
"It always seems impossible until it is done."
-Nelson Mandela
Greetings!
I want you to meet my Aunt Kathy. She is pictured above in the artsy shot juggling four devices with screens plus a document camera. This is no surprise to me as I flip through the many mental images I have of Kathy from throughout my life. She has always been the queen of What is possible? From home repair to crafting, cooking for a crowd or jumping into a graphic design project, wrangling children (including her own newborn grandson for whom she is a part-time caregiver) or performing service work, Kathy is one of the most nimble, dedicated, spirited people I know. She is the master of "YES, and..." rather than "YES, but..."
Naturally, she applied all of this agility to her work as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher facing this unprecedented school year of remote instruction. I would guess that if you asked her, Kathy would tell you that she prides herself on inspiring her students to be readers and writers. She might also share the professional development work she has done to teach Economics to her students or expand technology use at her school. She might not come right out about her award-winning talent show performances, but trust me, she should.
She probably won't tell you that she is a master at observing her students and knowing them deeply. She is a relationship builder. She sees the good in her students. Their uniqueness. Their shine. She sees their challenges, and scouts out ways under, around and through those blips. She mentors new teachers with this same aplomb.
This is a skill.
How many educators are trained in how to develop relationships with their students and colleagues? Some. Certainly. There is one thing I have noticed though.... skill and capacity are two different things.
I have been lucky to know so many educators like Kathy. Willing. Observant. Loving. Nimble. Open to learning a new program/app/platform to support their students. I have known generosity of self that is astounding.
No matter how super-human educators can be, they all face moments of feeling they have little to nothing left to give. This diminished personal capacity is the product of many factors and was a passion project of mine long before pandemic days brought the mental well-being of educators into our awareness.
I believe emotional self-care is one of the keys to maintaining and expanding our capacity to connect with others.
Would you like to learn more about emotional self-care and expand your skills in this area? Join me for a 14-Day Self-Care Challenge. September is Self-Care Awareness month. Launch day is September 8th! During the challenge you will receive a self-care toolkit, see daily posts to encourage new practices, enjoy connecting with other educators, and have the option to sign-up for a free coaching call with me to problem-solve your unique self-care obstacles. I can't wait to connect with you and support you in your self-care goals in September.
I see you.
Shine On,
Dr. Sara Knickerbocker
Chief Empowerment Officer