My words for the summer have been: Find the joy and then sit with it.

“Find the Joy” is a phrase that I say to teachers more often than not. It’s a phrase I remind myself in some of the easiest and most difficult moments of my day. It’s so common for me to say, a couple of my clients bought me a bracelet with the phrase on it, which I love, and wear daily. Anyways, the point here is that finding the joy is one thing, but being with the joy is another thing. This summer, I’ve been trying to take that next step. I’m not just finding the joy but I’m actually living in that joy, and to be honest it’s really hard not too sometimes with a 2 year old. Sure, he’s got his moments of tantrum, but when that kid is riding down a slip n’ slide, jumping into the lake, cruising on his bike, giggles in the wind, I can’t help but find joy. So, how do I sit with it? I try to limit my distractions and then I try to participate as best I can. This little step has helped to not only improve my mood, but it’s probably improving my step count too lol.

Ok, so phrases aside, let’s rewind the tape. I haven’t been on here since May, and that’s with no excuse and no guilt. If you’re on this website, and you’re reading this, you are most likely in education. You are fully versed in the end-of-year chaos that is June. It is wild, it is full, and it is exciting. As an instructional coach it is all of that PLUS finding time to wrap up, reflect, close books, set reminders, personally reflect on client work plans, draft ideas for the next year, close out with admin and HR, and (like teachers) feel like you’re heading into Summer with a little breathing room. This June felt extra special because I was able to fit in a Year End Celebration, which I have been wanting to do since I started coaching. After the celebration, I had my son’s birthday, followed by his party, followed by a family weekend out of state.

Bring on July! We lucked out with some awesome weather for the 4th of July, we survived a heatwave, and then our family was off to the West Coast for a family wedding and vacation in Northern California. Through all the busy I’ve been finding joy in my son, my husband’s laid back ever-summer personality, getting outside by 8:30am, iced lattes, watching my veggies and flowers grow, keep my front stoop spruced, and to be honest, taking some time away from the work. My business is TINY. It is a one-woman show - this website, the MW instagram, all resources - created and found, agendas, work plans, shared research, outlines, schedules, communication, invoices, billing, donations, gifting, etc - is me. So to take time away is a serious pause, but here’s the bit. When I do this, when I step away, without guilt, I always come back more and more excited.

So although I missed June and therefore sharing an EOY Reflection with all of you, and I really missed July and therefore sharing a playlist, or a couple summer themed journal prompts, I decided to show up and write today. It felt right, and I’m finding such joy in it. I’m in a coffee shop. I’ve got an iced latte. I have some groovy instrumentals in headphones, and I am happily back to work.

How are you finding joy this summer and tell me how you’re sitting with it? Happy writing, reflecting, and exploring. Enjoy Summer. Feel no guilt. Return to your work, your laptop, your classroom when you are ready. That may be August 1st. It may be on your first contracted day back. GREAT! Let it be. Let it be joyful. Let yourself sit there and think about how awesome it is to be in your joy.

With Love and a Reminder to Wear SPF,

Lauren

Some things to write about or put into play before school starts :

• What have been some summer highlights so far?

• How would you like the rest of your summer to feel?

• Create a list of 3-5 things you want to do before summer ends. Summer ending could be the 1st day of work, 1st day of school, after Labor Day or when the Fall Equinox hits - you decide.

• With space, we tend to see growth. I’ve seen this in how my cucumbers and zucchini take over my garden, no matter how hard I try to keep them somewhat contained, they always explode and expand. With summer, and its space, how have you expanded and grown?

• Get a little creative! Maybe this is painting rocks or getting a watercolor book (I’m loving these!). Maybe you try out a new recipe or do something different with your coffee. Build a new playlist and feel like a DJ for a second as you really plan out how songs flow into and out of each other. Make a collage or vision board. Rearrange a space. Create a space!

• Do yourself and those you live with a favor, and make a cobbler - peaches, blueberry, any berries - just do it.

• Get in the water! Go to a lake, pool, or ocean. If you can’t do that, just run through a sprinkler or treat yourself to a kiddie pool and float in it. Two of my best purchases this summer were a slip n’ slide and splash pad. No regrets.

• Get to a Farmers Market or local Farm Stand. There is so much joy and so much beauty in these spaces. Enjoy.

• What is one thing you’d like to remind yourself about the First Day of School?

• What is something you did last year that you LOVED and want to thoughtfully build back into your curriculum this year?

• What is something from last year that just didn’t hit or sit right with your students? How can you change it for the better? Or is it something you can delete, and try something brand new?

• How do you want your classroom to look, feel, and sound this year?

• What are you going to put on the walls of your classroom to inspire and motivate your learners?

• Will your classroom have a theme? A mission? A saying? A mantra?

• Don’t forget to drink water and wear SPF :)