May 2018

Teacups or the Scrambler? Thunder or Space Mountain?

Just like the carnival, or Disneyland, you pay for your ticket to wait in line to experience one or more of these so-called-adrenaline-pumping ‘rides.’ As a kid, yes please. Right now, no-thank-you. Yet, many of my daily experiences are similar to being on a roller coaster, YET I must contain the emotional impact it makes on me. And it gets hard when you didn’t even know you were on a “roller coaster,” you just thought you were taking a float down the river…..singing songs…. like ‘everything will be alright.’

Many days, I feel this. Like I’m on an emotional roller coaster. Now don’t get me wrong. I signed up for this. I put forth a LOT of work to do what I do. I put my everything into bringing out greatness for my students and families. My heartstrings are truly attached to those little human beings that I’m attempting to download information into. Yet essentially, I want to inspire them to be great, to be compassionate, and to LISTEN- to each other and to themselves. Which takes a lot of PATIENCE on my part.

———————————————– Intermission—————————————————————-

August 2020

As I read through the above drafted blog post, I can’t help but giggle, yet relate. I remember writing this during a season (or year) of exhaustive teaching. I was committed and dearly dedicated in getting through the challenging behaviors that I had been given the opportunity to lead. It took mindset shifting, mindfulness, healing, and heart. As stated above, “holding on” during the rollercoaster ride took courage and vulnerability. Looking back, I can’t help but be grateful as those students may have taught me more than any other group I’ve had.

Why you ask? Let’s go there. Resiliency. I’ve always thought- being resilient meant “being tough.” Yet boy was I wrong. Being resilient is being real and vulnerable.

It’s about acknowledging that you are on a roller coaster—whether you want to be or not—and finding ways to navigate the ups and downs with authenticity and grace. It’s the willingness to show up, even when you’re unsure of what’s coming next, and the courage to face the challenges head-on without putting up a facade of invulnerability.

In the whirlwind of those demanding days, I discovered that true resilience isn’t about being immune to stress or struggle. It’s about embracing the messiness of life and being honest about your feelings. It’s about understanding that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and that seeking support or taking a moment for self-care is not a sign of weakness but a step toward genuine strength.

Fast forward to now, and I see the echoes of that roller coaster in different forms—new challenges, different students, evolving responsibilities. The lessons learned from that season still resonate with me. They remind me that resilience is a continuous journey, not a destination. It’s about adapting and growing, and most importantly, it’s about staying true to oneself amidst the chaos.

So, as I face new twists and turns, I remember that it’s not just about holding on but about learning to enjoy the ride—however wild or unpredictable it may be. And as I look back at the emotional roller coaster I was on, I feel a deep sense of appreciation for the growth it inspired. It has taught me to embrace vulnerability and to understand that being resilient means being real, and that’s something I wouldn’t trade for any smooth sailing or ecstatic ride.

Here’s to the roller coasters of life—may we continue to ride them with courage, authenticity, and a touch of humor.