Step One: Find your "Why"

My first step preparing for my retreat was to clarify my purpose for the trip.  Was I relaxing, creating, or sleeping? Was I stressed, exhausted, or just stuck?

I needed this trip for some alone time to get my creative juices flowing.  It was important to me that I have time to begin creating my next project for The Whole Teacher and I needed alone time to do that.  For a long time I have wanted to get away to a cottage near the dunes on Cape Cod and write while the winter winds were blowing snow drifts.  Spring in Massachusetts had other plans, to my delight the weather was be beautiful and allowed for some outdoor excursions.

Step Two:  Set your intention

I knew I needed to relax and renew, but I also wanted to balance that with actual work writing.  I wouldn't have considered my retreat a success unless I left with some writing completed and a good solid plan for the future … something I could implement easily when I returned to my busy life.  What is your purpose?  Define it ahead so you are not disappointed if you don't get around to doing what you most wanted to do.  But leave some room for intuition.  Listen to what your soul is asking for.

Step Three:  Select your "Where"

I knew that I had been called to the Cape.  I have been looking online at inns and hotels that seem to meet my needs for location (the dunes) and safety and security of going alone.  I also wanted someplace near some trails or historic locations, even if it rained I could sit and sip coffee in my car at a beach lot while working on some drafts. I also knew that I love driving down historic Route 6A, so part of the treat for me was enjoying the trip itself.  Where would you like to go?  Does it need to be close by?  Is the ride part of your retreat?  Do you want to drive, fly, or boat?  All of this depends on your purpose and the amount of time you have for your retreat.

Step Four:  Decide on your "When" 

I actually started planning on this being a winter get away, but it took me into early Spring.  My "when" was affected by tourist season.  I knew it would cost less and be much quieter in the off season.  I also picked a quiet weekend to be away from family .. no commitments.  What is a good time for you?  How long do you need?  A day, a weekend, a couple of hours?  Even a mini retreat can do wonders if designed well.  

Step Five:  Choose your "What" and your "Won't"

I thought very hard before I left, about what I wanted to do on my retreat.  I wanted silence, nature, nourishing food, and time for creativity.  I also knew what I wanted to avoid …things that would suck up my time:  web browsing that was not specific research, television, top 40 radio, talk radio, too much contact with the outside world.  It was so empowering to set these ahead of time and so much easier to fend off distractions if I went astray.

Step Six:  Pack your "Tools"             

Keep it simple.  I knew that I had a vision of my comfort and packed comfy clothes for lounging, my big terry cloth robe, layers for outside, colored pencils, post-its, markers, and journals for creating, my lap top for posting blogs and research, poetry books, prayer beads,  and note cards for inspiration.

There were also things I knew I did not need to bring: dressy clothes, uncomfortable but fashionable shoes, too many books, etc. 

Your materials should meet your purpose.  Don't bring too much.  Sometimes less is more.

Thinking ahead and following these steps will help you to focus on what's important to you, and alleviate some of the overwhelm we feel when we put such emphasis on the occasion.  Don't forget to leave some room for impulse and adventure if it fits your purpose.   Best wishes!

In this month of building the Balance Reserve of Meaningful Connections, I suggest we reframe this and look for the variety of relationships we have at school.  Who are the 7 Colleagues Every Teacher Needs?  I’ve borrowed some of the titles, but let’s see how they fit in at school. Here’s the first:

1.  The in-the-trenches-with-you Colleague -

This person is usually right next door to your classroom.  They are extremely important when you can’t wait for your planning time to take a potty break, when you need a time-out for a student or yourself or just an ear to listen to your story at the end of the day. 

Teaching can be isolating, but strong bonds are formed by geography.  These are the colleagues who best know your daily routines.  They  witness your good days, and are the most likely to hear through the walls on your rough days and vice versa.  They tend to teach the same grade level as you and are an amazing resource to help alleviate re-inventing the wheel.

Do you need more crayons?  Have you run out of glue, or staples?  Need a great lesson for teaching Egypt?  These are the colleagues we turn to the most during our school day. 

My last year in the classroom I developed a very close relationship with the woman who taught next to me.  Every morning we shared a routine of relaxing music while we both checked emails.  We each sipped our coffee and reflected on the previous day, while getting ready for the present.  I made sure I was prepared for the next day the night before, so I could enjoy the morning "socializing".  I felt that "adult" time helped me set the stage for a day full of "children". 

Who are your in-the trenches-colleagues?  What do they add to your day?  Post a comment below.  Tune in in a few days for "The Wise One".

The irony is that at this moment my reality is anything but silent.  The fan on the stove is now set to hyper boost as I bake cupcakes for my youngest who turned 9 today to bring to school tomorrow.  I am trying to clear out a house full of smoke from the fire caused from drippings of the flan I baked earlier with my older son for his Spanish class .  "La comida esta en fuego!"

The dishwasher is humming with it’s second load of dishes from the family party we had last night.  And in the midst of this, I am attempting to write about the importance of finding a "piece of quiet" when the post I am working on disappears into thin air.  It is at this point when the little voice of my inner critic begins asking me "Who do you think you are?" as I attempt to finish the work I had planned for my own business this"quiet" evening (and check the oven once more for flames).  It’s funny how I have no problem hearing him over the roar of kitchen appliances.

I could listen to this voice.  I am tired and beat from a weekend of "busyness", but I know exactly why I am the person to do this job.  I know why I have worked so hard to make The Whole Teacher a reality.  I know how much time teachers put into their work. I know how hard it is to do it all.  I know first hand how our best laid plans often fall to the wayside (or up in flames).  I know how we often put ourselves last on our list, and I know how much we crave a group of like-minded people to support us as we try to be the best for our students. 

Therefore I choose to look at the lesson and try to find the humor in the situation.  There are many parts of life we can’t control, but it’s only what we make of it.  We all have this inner critic’s voice inside of us.  The stressors are inevitable, but we must build our resilience by taking care of ourselves and building reserves of what we need most.  Right now I need to finish my baking, close up the windows, and head upstairs to a quiet candle-lit bedroom (better yet let’s forget the candle) and follow my own advice for silence.  Who knows what inspiration will come when I take the time to listen?