A little affirmation for us all:

It's OK to stop and take care of myself.

I doubt if anyone is telling you this.  No one is telling me this these days.  But it does take me back to my first marathon in 2005.  I listened to all the coaching I received, but some of it seemed counterintuitive.  For example I remember the coaches saying if your shoe strings got loose and felt uncomfortable, stop and take care of it.  If you needed to use the restroom, stop and take care of it.  If you felt a cramp, stop and stretch it out. 

None of this made sense.  It will take longer to finish.  You might stop and not be able to start again.  You will look foolish or like an amateur who doesn't deserve to be there.  Any of those scenarios is possible, but probably the person who listened finished with a better time, feeling better, and knowing that they belonged there.


Please stop and take care of yourself, even if it seems counterintuitive!

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for the Brave Teacher Retreat this weekend!  I'm gearing everything toward what I want and need, and I'm trusting that will strike a chord with others.  Here is some of what I'm looking forward to:
~Yummy simple meals
~Yoga and just breathing
~Sipping Tea
~Creating, creating, creating--I can't wait to play with paint and magazines!
~Walking
~Taking pictures
~Resting
~Re-engaging with my passion for teachers

I already feel calmer just thinking about it!  Now I've just got to get everything packed up!  I sure wish you all could be there with me.  I'll send some good thoughts 

What thoughts are calming you today?  What thoughts are reinvigorating you?

Dear Brave Teachers,

One part of teaching that is especially challenging is all the unexpected stuff--change in schedule, contact with parents, expectations of anyone and everyone, change in student behavior or mood, paperwork, and so on.

What do you do when you're at that overwhelmed place?  I try to take gentle care of myself.  I try to be okay with leaving some non-urgent stuff undone.  I try not to over analyze!  I try to carve out time to create something.  I try to walk in nature.  I breathe!  I'm trying to learn how to keep an energy reserve and not give it all away.  

What about you?  How do you handle it so that overwhelm doesn't handle you?  Please share your thoughts and insights!  There is someone who needs to hear from you today.

Sending you an invisible pocket to keep your reserve,

Brave Teacher Mim

It's not to late to sign up for Brave Teachers Fall Retreat!

Just a couple more days to sign up for the Brave Teachers Fall Retreat.

Dear Amazing and Brave You,

I've finished 3 weeks of school, and I have to say it's been the smoothest and calmest start EVER in 13 years. (And you should know that there are some real chaos generators in my life right now trying to move me off course.)   What do I think has made the difference?

I'm glad you asked!  I believe that all the journaling and creating and crying and soul searching and walking and meditating I did last year has made the difference.  It was hard.  It hurt.  It was messy.  
But the difference I'm experiencing is HUGE!

• I'm clear about what I need to be doing.
  
• I'm clear about what I don't need to be doing.
  
• I'm offering more grace to myself and people around me.
  
• I feel like I have more space and time and energy--can't explain this, but it's true.
  
• I'm keeping a reserve of energy which allows me to continue creating and deal with unexpected stressors.  (I'm making some super cool prayer flags this weekend.)
  
• I'm listening to my heart and body more.  (I went to bed at 9 pm twice this week.)
  
• It just seems so right and real (and still imperfect and messy.)
• It's absolutely AMAZING!

Would you like this in your life?  I really want every teacher I know to experience what I'm experiencing and so much MORE!  I've compiled my very best journaling prompts and little lessons and creative projects into a little adventure course called Art and Soul of Brave Teachers.  Art and Soul is the focus of The Brave Teachers Fall Retreat, September 23 - 25, 2011, in Lakeside, Ohio.  If this sounds like what you want or need, sign up NOW.   Email me if you have questions or just need a personal boost.  


P.S.  Forward this to EVERY Brave Teacher you know who could use this amazing sort of boost!  They'll thank you!

I've been completely cut off from the internet this week.

Please know that I'm sending you LOADS and LOADS of

LOVE
        STRENGTH
                         and COURAGE!

What are you sending out into the world today?  What are you receiving?

It's not too late!  Sign up HERE for the Brave Teachers Fall Retreat.  It's going to be soooooo good!