I must be brutally honest in this blog because I always try to share my thoughts which will always try to remain positive about the education profession. And the reason for that is because I see the passion, the heart, and the authenticity in educators every day for the love of their students and the opportunity for learning.
This past year educators have reached a boiling point. What I mean by that is things were already tough in the teacher world before the pandemic, but the pandemic added another layer of stress. I have never seen such exhaustion and weariness in the eyes of so many of my beloved friends who are teachers, educational leaders, professors, counselors, etc.
I am writing this blog because I don’t know how I can help make the changes needed for teachers fast enough, but I do have some great ideas that I am working with people on to implement. For now, the best that I can do is continue to put out inspiration and hope for those who need it. I just hope you know that the positivity does not mean that I don’t think there aren’t bad days or even things failing in our education system.
And for my friends and colleagues who are leaving the classroom or education profession altogether, my wish is that you were able to stay because you are amazing, but I want you to always do what is best for you and your health. If that means leaving the education profession altogether, do it. I know you aren’t taking this lightly and have really thought about that decision to leave.
With that being said, I have noticed that people are reevaluating their purpose either in life or in their job. I do not want to make the burnout seem trivial, but I wanted to try to find some kind of connection in pop culture to let people know that it’s very common and natural to reflect on one’s own life, and the best thing that you can do is make changes for your happiness and well-being.
The universe has been throwing at me a lot of conversations or references to existentialism. I can recognize that over the last couple of years, I have had many opportunities to stop and reflect on my own life and profession. The movie Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds recently came available on Disney Plus. I have been waiting to see this movie for months.
Each character in the film has an opportunity to examine their life and decide to make changes to their lives. I thought it might be fun to hear which character you can most relate to right now and maybe you can embrace the way they looked to change their life for the better.
IF YOU ARE...
GUY
You wake up every morning feeling positive about what the day has in store for you. You don’t just strive for a good day, but you want it to be a great day. You have tried to change your mindset and enjoy the little moments from spending time with your pet, drinking a good cup of coffee, and/or hanging with friends. You know that there is something more out there and won’t give up trying to make your dreams from happening.
Guy fights for his dreams and takes risks. Once he realizes his dream can be a reality, he leads by example and empowers his community to accept a new culture where all things are possible.
IF YOU ARE...
BUDDY
You are a cautious person. You find routine soothing and create a sense of security. You easily make friends, but you have at least one person that you can rely on to be your bud and share the good and bad of the day.
Buddy is resistant to making a change in his life. It scares him. But, he is really good at building relationships and learns he can rely on those to have the courage to try new things.
IF YOU ARE...
DUDE
You do everything at 110%. While you like to work with others, you tend to work on your own at an intense level. Your catchphrase is known to everyone because it is what you say every chance you get. You often find yourself in conflict with others and you know that things have to change to get better. You just need an opportunity to show your true self without the crazy expectations put on you by others.
Dude finds a way to slow down and not get ramped up about everything. Once he is able to let go of his frustrations, he finds that he enjoys helping others. Instead of punching walls, he fills his days with more laughter and enjoys seeing the beautiful things around him.
IF YOU ARE...
MOLOTOV GIRL
You are not afraid to fight for what you want or know is best. You are great at multi-tasking especially if it means you can get the job done. Sometimes you feel like you are living in two different worlds, but you can appreciate what both can offer.
Molotov Girl finds It is hard to do the right thing sometimes, but if you believe in something, it will always be worth it. When you stop from multi-tasking, you appreciate all that you have accomplished and what you have in front of you
No matter which character you identify with just remember that they all found a way to make a change and find some positivity in their life.Â
See You Real Soon,
ErinÂ
