MIDDLE WARRIOR
COACHING AND CONSULTING
EDUCATION
MINDFULNESS
EMPOWERMENT
Building bridges
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In various stages of a career in education (whether you’re just starting or nearing retirement), one can feel lost, stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, or like they’re on repeat. Growing from years of exhaustion, developed fear, noise, overpacked schedules, stacked plates, lack of feedback, unclear direction, or change these “things” can become extra weights we don’t have to carry or bricks in a developing wall. These bricks or weights may feel like ways of protection at first, but they block our energy, sense of belonging, community engagement and support, and creativity. Carefully, purposefully, and gently I aim to break down these walls, unblock pathways, release the extra weight, and re-spark joy for teaching, education, and life-long learning.
I like to think of myself as a bridge builder.
Building bridges from where you are to where you want to be.
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COACHING
1 on 1 professional development for teachers, teams, and administrators to help educators get from where they are to where they want to be through a strengths-based, Transformative Coaching style, using the client’s personal values and created goals as our compass.
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CONSULTING
Businesses, start-ups, and the like looking for an educator’s brain to help transform or boost their product, host and conduct webinars or workshops, or connect with their local community or a new audience through schools.
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CONNECTING
Developing youth empowerment through yoga and mindfulness practices. Working with yoga studios, athletic teams or clubs, or hosting an after school series, I get students off of their screens, onto the mat, and into their heart, body, and mind.
Elementary Teacher
“SHE’S THE JUMPER CABLES TO MY BATTERY.”
2nd Grade Teacher
“I’M A SMITHY.”
Elementary Teacher
“Lauren has incredible ideas to share with us and I am always "WOWed" by what she suggests. She knows how to brighten a room even when things get challenging. She pushes me to be a better educator and human.”
1st Grade Learner
“SHE’S Magic!”
3rd and 4th Grade Teacher
“She has a fresh perspective, keeps an open mind, and has a sense of truly understanding educator needs.”
7th and 8th Grade Teacher
“Lauren Listens and truly hears her client. She Remembers the small things, and understands what it is like to be in the classroom.”
The November JOurnal
Word of the Month:
Pause
I love this month, and I think that is a rare statement to be heard and shared. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about the daily crisp November mornings that just feel so good to me. Maybe it’s because the air smells like the holidays. Or because the weather feels like it could snow. I love the bare trees, the brown leaves dancing in the wind, and crunching under your feet. I love how the sun setting early makes you want to cozy up, get a fire going even if it’s just a candle, grab a blanket, and have a cup of tea.
This month tends to bare, brown, and as if you’re just in a constant state of waiting. Waiting for the holidays. Waiting for the snow. So maybe this month instead of feeling like you’re waiting for the next thing to happen, take a moment to pause and reflect on all that is currently happening. Find the beauty in what some might argue is an ugly time in nature. Find warmth in the early sunsets and crisp morning. Find light in the time change, through candlelight, firelight, twinkle lights. This month, let’s take pause. Breathe. Listen. Look. Enjoy. Because we all know once the doors to the holiday season kick open, we’re on a fast track to the new year.
Enjoy this month’s prompts and find some joy in November.
To Write About:
What comes to mind when you think of November? Use your 5 senses to describe the month.
What is one thing you could put into practice this month that would help you find pause on a daily basis?
Thinking about your days, how often do you pause, reflect, and then jump back in to your day? Why might this be?
Do you have any big events this month? What does your calendar look like? How might you create or save space for moments of pause?
How do you feel about November? Make a pros and cons list where for every con you list a pro or look at that con through a golden lens. Example: Con: The days are shorter. Pro: When I get home from work it’s easier for me to release and relax because the sun has already gone down. No pressure to keep up and stay up!
To Put in Play:
VOTE! Pause and reflect on your values and the world you wish to have in the future. Then, take action and vote.
Where in your life are your values in action? If they aren’t, pause, research, and find where and how you can bring your values to life and into the light.
Try meditating this month. Set a small, achievable goal for the remainder of the month, and see how you feel. They say it takes 30 days to create a new routine - give it a shot.
Rest. Take rest this month. Recharge.
Take some Self Care moments - on weekdays or weekends, mornings or evenings. Start by redefining Self Care. Take the “ick” feeling that you may get when you hear that phrase out by redefining what Self Care looks like, feels like, and sounds like to you. How do you take care of yourself? Not take care of your job so you can take care of yourself, or take care of your family, so you can take care of yourself, but start and stop: How do you take care of yourself?
Keep a gratitude journal for the month. Sometimes we find pause, by becoming present, and most of the time we can get present by finding gratitude.
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