Teacher Truth #12: Community makes it count

November is the month to be grateful right? For friends and family, of course. Also, to the humans that help teachers survive the battle of the season. To the people that are expected and unexpected, traditional and new, to the importance of community for all humans.

It may be through the variety of communities, beyond school, that can help foster humans and build resilience. If I am supported by my friends, family, as well as people I volunteer with, in addition to the people I practice yoga with, my support only increases. Or so I have recently learned. As an introvert, it can be especially challenging for me to have the drive to be around people, even though I consciously understand the value of community. The more I learn though, the more the physical and health aspects of community continue to inspire me to be bold, be brave, and leave my comfort zone of the couch.

As a nomad, it is hard for me each time I start anew, but I am at a place in my current school community where I’m excited to see old families at basketball games, where I run into friends at the local farmers market, and where I can finally navigate around my area without GPS. Time is the strongest influence in creating community, but then again, everything worth meaning takes time. Spending time together is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other.

This from someone who spends 75% of her time with prepubescent humans. I chose to enjoy my time with them and find humor in the chose. Similar to leaning into being present and building bridges of meaning to people in my local area, and in the digital global community- I know my time has meaning when given to others willingly and with love.

Teacher Truth #13 : People really stink sometimes

Also, on the other side of this coin, are the people who make life miserable, especially at work and absolutely in schools. Sometimes that one toxic teacher really can suck the air and the energy out of the room.

If you know, you know. We have all had that teacher in one building or another. May the force be f*cking with you. That’s all anyone can really say.