Teachers, your brain is a commodity. Rest it and give it love.

As we head into summer, what I will call “the big exhale” is coming from a teacher near you. If they are anything like me, they can’t believe they did what they did and handled what they handled and taught how they taught.

But they are also: So. Very. Tired.

Teachers are artists. We take what we are supposed to teach and form it into magical captivating (online) lessons with little extras to attract every kind of learner. We share, evaluate, edit, and critique our art each and every day. We are sometimes hard on ourselves. We lean on our colleagues, we look to our students, we try again and again and again.

But our artist brains need a chance to rest. Recharge. Quiet all of the voices of this year. We need to take our creativity and ingenuity home and nurture it. Allow it some inertia for a bit. Exhale the year that we never could have expected to have survived.

We are happy. We feel accomplished. We know that we have become better at our craft and know ourselves (and our limits!) so much better. But you cannot pour from an empty cup. I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: You

CANNOT (continue to) pour from an empty cup.

So, if you can send love and kind words in the direction of the teachers (counselors, psychologists, support staff, admin) you know, please do. Because some of them need to know that they didn’t mess this year up. Some need to know you noticed. Some just need a fully vaccinated hug and a “Thank you.”

Teachers, we have been through something and right now our profession sits wide open for future change- some change we probably need, some change that will likely call for many artists to start over with a blank canvas.

But, your brain is a commodity. You have used it to problem solve and contact trace and online teach and Zoom Zoom Zoom all year long. Now is the time to give it the love it needs to cultivate and regrow the pre-pandemic teacher you used to be (but this one is much, much wiser).

Take all you’ve learned and survived and hold it close. And then, gently, let it all out, too.

Reflect and consider all you’ve done and all you will continue to do. Let the past refocus you, remind you, regenerate you.

It’s time. To rest. Exhale.

Because: You deserve it.

Have a wonderful and restful exhale, wherever it may be. 🙌