When we talk about balance, we may picture a scale with weights on either side that are evenly distributed to demonstrate the need to give equal attention to two areas. These areas may be work/life, personal/professional, physical/emotional, self/others, etc. The problem with this image is that it usually focuses on two areas. In reality, we balance dozens of responsibilities on any given day. As educators, we wear many hats. We are parents, children, teachers, learners, leaders, followers, dreamers and realists. The balancing act gets more complex the more people that depend on us. Unfortunately, the area that usually gets neglected is ourselves, because educators are trained to take care of others first!
Disclaimer: I’m about to give advice on something that I’m not very good at! If balance was easy to find, then we wouldn’t have so many books, speakers, and seminars on how to find it. The one thing I do know is that in order to achieve it, we must be intentional in creating it. Balance doesn’t just happen, it is carefully crafted. I meet with teachers all the time and often give the same advice to people, “Are you holding yourself to the same standards that you hold others to or are you expecting more of yourself?” Many times, teachers are beating themselves up about not getting every child to succeed, or not being the perfect parent or spouse, or simply not being perfect. When they answer the question that they would not expect the same of someone else, it sometimes helps them realize they are holding themselves to unrealistic expectations.
Finding balance isn’t a one time event that we can check off our to do list. It’s something that we need to continually work at and be conscious of. Most importantly, we need to remember to forgive ourselves, take care of ourselves, and treat ourselves as we treat others. So, in the words of my father, “Do as I say, not as I do“, because I’m still working on this balance thing myself!
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.” – Thomas Merton
“There is no decision that we can make that doesn’t come with some sort of balance or sacrifice.” – Simon Sinek
THE POWER OF MOMENTS (4 min)
- Saturday, March 10: Pancake Breakfast & Book Fair Kick Off 9:00-12:00
- Monday, March 12: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM, Book Fair in the East Commons all week
- Tuesday, March 13: Achievement Team (Haapala) 8:15 AM, All Administrators Meeting 3:00-4:30 PM, Grades due in by midnight
- Wednesday, March 14: M-Step Training for Principals 1:30-4:00 PM
- Thursday, March 15: Collaborative Learning Time 7:50-8:50 AM, Movie in the Gym (for qualifying readers) 1:30-3:30 PM
- Friday, March 16: Read with a Stuffed Animal Day, Report Card/Reading Proficiency Reports/IRIPS go home with students
- Monday, March 19: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM
- Tuesday, March 20: Achievement Team (Benson) 8:15 AM
- Wednesday, March 21: Elementary Principals Meeting 1:00-4:30 PM, PTSA @Frost 6:00 PM
- Thursday, March 22: Staff Meeting 8:05 AM, Battle of the Books (lunch in rooms), PTA Meeting 7:00 PM
- Friday, March 23: Safari Reading Adventure, Jon to ABC Negotiations 1:30-4:00 PM
- Monday, March 26: Student of the Month Assembly 9:05 AM
- Tuesday, March 27: IEP for KP (Kurtjian) 8:15 AM, Wild About Reading Assembly 1:30-2:30 PM
- Wednesday, March 28: Reading in the Wild
- Thursday, March 29: Staff Meeting 8:05 AM, Reading in the Wild
- Friday, March 30: No School – Spring Break Begins!
The Spark of Learning 