Redefining Self-Care as Self-Choice

 Dear Readers,

When I started writing this blog in the summer of 2019, I was at my peak of self-discovery.  This included how I exercise and keep in shape.  What foods fuel me and what foods weigh me down.  I learned so much about forgiveness and self-care; authorship and publishing; marriage and parenting; and the time I needed as an introvert to just get away.  

When Covid hit, I think I just went on autopilot for the last two years trying to navigate the new waters of job changes, schooling options, childcare arrangements, and quarantines/testings.  In the end, I look back at this season of life and realize that my self-care manifested itself as self-choice through Covid.

Self-choice.

It was enough for me to still be me-after it all.

See, I wore lots of hats this pandemic- some new and some old- but all of them ever-changing.

If I learned anything about this school year experience, I learned this.

I. choose. ME.

Because if I don't, who will??

Many times this year I had to make hard decisions for me.

 I had to request time off to fulfill the hours of my internship during school, so I could watch my kids after school.  If I didn't, I wouldn't have finished my degree and fulfilled the credits for my scholarship.

I had to resign twice at my first school and start again mid-year at a new school.   If I didn't, I wouldn't have found my kids a stable school community- with both before and after school care.

I had to own up to how much I still love the job of teaching and that I really am not ready to leave education- which also meant I had to keep going to school.

The EdS degree in Educational Leadership K-12 really isn't my end goal to being the leader I know I can be in the schools.  So, I've been grinding at my PhD, ELL endorsement, and Reading Specialist endorsement since the Spring.  

Honestly,  If I didn't flex my intellectual muscles through Covid, I think I would have been a broken woman.  The more I stay in education, the more I realize I'm so different than anybody else.  Because of that, I've gotten mixed reviews on "where I belong".  So, I keep grinding and fighting for a  place in this profession. 

Post-Covid living is a blend of virtual and in person duties, so boundaries blur pretty easily.

However, as long as I choose to fill my time up with things that make me a better me.

I'm good.

Always. good.

 

So, self-care isn't my buzz word anymore.

Self-choice is more my jam.

Your girl has got dreams- 

and she's not giving up on them!

Thanks for reading!

Love. Always,

Crystal