As educators, we are all moving into the state of the unknown. Everyday, something different is transpiring behind closed doors that have an impact on many families. Anxiety is building, tempers are flaring and some are falling by the wayside. In preparation for the upcoming school year, plans are changing from day to day. And while I find myself getting frustrated, I had to pause and remind myself of the serenity prayer. The most important part for me over the last few days has been the part that says, “courage to change the things I can”. I’m so glad to have reminded myself of this because otherwise I was going to go bananas. While there are many things I cannot control as it relates to decision making, there are a ton of things I can control as it relates to the way I respond to things. Those few things include:

• My thought process – Instead of focusing on everything that’s being said and done, I only focus on the small pieces that impact me. I’m only a minute piece to the puzzle. If I focus on where I fit into the puzzle and let the pieces around me fall into place, it will all work out to create a beautiful masterpiece.
• Boundaries – Right now everybody is on edge, but it doesn’t give someone the right to snap at others. I am willing to protect my peace at all cost in this hour. I refuse to become a scapegoat for anyone in distress during this trying time.
• Staying physically active – I try to workout at least five days a week. I’ve gone from only working out 2-3 days a month prior to Covid, to making sure I’m spending most of my evenings getting fresh air. This is two-fold, it helps me physically and emotionally.
• My schedule – In an effort to control my state of unease, I chose to plan day to day this week instead of planning for the whole week. This makes my schedule appear less stressful and I don’t start the day worrying about the next day. This has allowed me to be in the moment this week without the distractions of what’s to come.
• Limits on social media – Now that I’m back into the swing of things, I need to adjust to my social media schedule for school. I’ve had a lot of screen time since March and it’s time to refocus and remove the distractions.

Today, I’m choosing to remove all diversions and be at peace. “Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.”