"Gratitude is like a flashlight. It lights up what is already there. You don't necessarily have anything more or different, but suddenly you can actually see what it is. And because you can see, you no longer take it for granted." M.J. Ryan As we think about the upcoming holiday, and consider the work we've chosen in education, it seems only fitting to talk about gratitude today. I've been learning about resilience over the past few difficult years, as I'm sure you all have too, and a big part of being a resilient educator is practicing gratitude. If you haven't yet read Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar, I want to share a snippet of the book with you now. Aguilar talks about a variety of ways to practice gratitude, but what stood out to me is the idea of self-appreciation. She talks about how Teacher Appreciation week could often be a let down for her because while she appreciated the notes and the luncheons, they did not seem to match the amount of energy and dedication she put into her teaching. She states, "The only person who knows how much you put into your teaching is you. Self-appreciation may not sound as if it would be as rewarding as external appreciation, but you'd be surprised by its benefits."
Then she goes on to give some examples of how you can appreciate yourself: 1) At the end of each day or week, select three things that went well and describe your role in making that happen. 2) Set an alarm: For a few times each day set an alarm and when it goes off, take a moment to appreciate yourself for whatever you're doing right then. 3) Write a letter of appreciation: Take a few minutes each week to write yourself a note outlining something you've done well. I can tell you all day how thankful I am for you, and I really am, but sometimes I imagine that feels hollow because I don't truly know the ins and outs of your days and how much time you spend at home and on the weekends thinking about work, planning for lessons, worrying about students, etc. In the same way that you are the expert in the classroom, you are also the expert on yourself. So please take a moment today and for the rest of this year to thank yourself for your own hard work and dedication. You deserve it!
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