Description: It's a reflective week for the Self-Care Squad. As we move into a post-pandemic era, Dr. Boogren raises some thought-provoking questions.
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Transcription: Hi, and welcome to episode 49 of Self-Care for Educators. I am your host, Tina Boogren. This week's invitation is about spending a little bit of time thinking about what you want to hold on to as we move to the other side of COVID. Now, I know we're in this weird place and things change all the time, and we can take masks off some places. Some of us are not ready for a kids, the whole blah, blah, blah. And, I'm, I'm not going to go into all of that. Here's what I know. I feel it happening, and you probably do too, that we are on the verge of moving at a different pace. At a pace, more similar to what life was like before COVID changed everything. And, I don't know about you, but it's making me a little nervous.
In fact, last weekend we were out and about, and I made a really sincere comment that things kind of felt normal. We were actually at a little kind of art festival in our neighborhood. We're outside, so we didn't have masks on. There were lots of people there. We were kind of shoulder to shoulder. It felt odd and weird and wonderful and scary and all of the emotions at the same time. And, as I moved through the weekend, our plans just kind of built up, right? We were doing all of the things and seeing all the people, which is so great. I'm here for all of it. Oh my gosh. I can't tell you, like the hugs at book club and with girlfriends have just been incredible. I love all of that, but part of me, if I'm being really honest is a little bit trepidatious.
Well, so much of COVID was so hard, and I wouldn't have chosen it. There were, for the introvert in me, there were some really glorious moments. I actually loved not having to think about making plans and what I was going to say yes to and what I was going to say no to. It felt really kind of delicious to know that we didn't have any plans that are bland. We'll maybe to go for a walk and to just tuck in. And I, I really actually loved that. I really loved that. I loved actually eating at home more and making different meals and getting on a really solid routine with my working out and meal planning. And, there was so much that I really loved. And, I'm really excited to get back out into the world. It's that weird balance.
And I know, I know that you guys know what I'm talking about, that I am not alone in these feelings, because I've been having this conversation with a lot of people lately, and we're all kind of like, Yeah, I'm super excited and I'm not so excited and this is going to be great. But man, I wish we could hold on to this. So, the invitation for this week is to give some thought to what are the pieces from the last year, pieces that worked for you, that you want to really make sure that you hold on to and carry with you, even as life starts to speed up again? You know, for me, it's, it's the commitment to moving my body. You all know the walks that I took, my AWS, my Attitude Adjustment Walks, oh, just became a as sacred part of my routine. And, I don't want to lose those. I don't want to lose having incredible one-on-one time with my husband. I'm going to start traveling again for work, and I'm super nervous about it and excited about it. And again, all those mixed emotions. But, what I know is I have got to really set some boundaries around, making sure that I have time for me, and I have time for us. And, my us includes my husband and my dog and having some time together, which we were good about pre-COVID, but I really want to up my game there. I don't want to be totally exhausted when we have our time together. I want to find a little bit more balanced and I think that's what a lot of us are, are seeking.
I want to be able to more confidently say no to things that just don't feel like they really move, excite me. I think it's Jen Hatmaker that I learned this phrase from, and she might've learned it from someone else. It's the idea that if it's not a heck yes, it's a heck no. And, I got to learn to live by that a little bit more as do you, as, as the ... That many of us can relate to the notion of being kind of a perpetual people pleaser. It's hard to say no. And, it's hard to say no for things that I really do want to do, but there's just not time to do all of the things. So, being really careful about what we do say yes to that it's a really intentional yes ... And, that no is a complete sentence. No. I have to work on that one myself. And, no is not a rejection of the person, it's one of the greatest forms of self care out there, setting those boundaries for ourselves to really protect our time and to protect our energy and to protect our hearts and what fulfills our soul.
All of that is huge. So, as we navigate this really interesting time where we're, we're coming, you know ... The light is starting to shine at the end of the tunnel. We can see it. We're moving. We're inching closer. Oh, it would just break my heart if we didn't take some of the lessons and the good parts that we learned and leaned into during a really otherwise ridiculous hard time. But, if we didn't take those lessons and, and move those into our lives, we can have a whole other, and we probably will conversation about what this means for, for school and for work and for our professional lives. But, this right now is just thinking about our own personal lives, our own families.
What was sacred to us? what really worked for us? What was that? What were those unexpected gifts during that year-plus that we really leaned into and felt really good that were kind of an unexpected gift that we didn't even know that we needed? What were those? We've got to identify them so that we can make sure we set boundaries around bringing those forward. And, even if it has to look a little bit different, that's okay. Our lives are going to look different, but what are the meaningful pieces that we want to really ... we'll be cautious of? .. Get them on the calendar or have some conversations. Maybe, maybe this is about having conversations with someone about what life looks like moving forward, particularly with your own families, friends, just all of it. So, I know that's kind of a wishy-washy invitation, but I ... It's really just about reflection for me. What this is gonna look like is journaling. This is ... That's kind of my go-to. I'm going to spend some time really thinking about ... I love to make lists. Actually making some lists of what were the, what were those great gifts that meant a lot to me that I want to make sure that I hold on to? And, what will that look like as we move forward? So, maybe it's just a thoughtful reflection. Maybe it's talking through with someone else. Maybe it's writing it down. Again, maybe it's making the list, but just spending a little bit of time being real careful, thinking about what worked. What do you want to hold on to?
As always, a huge thank you to Brooke for making this happen. Thank you to Solution Tree and Marzano Resources for this incredible job I get to do. And, as always, to you, my bad-ass Self-Care Squad. My goodness. I'm so grateful for you. Have an amazing week.