Several years ago, I was having brunch with a friend in a nice restaurant with a waterfront view.  We were enjoying the food and conversation in a beautiful setting when someone at the next table loudly said, “Look!  Is that a DOG on that kayak?”  All heads turned and indeed, a dog wearing life preserver was calmly perched at the end of a kayak, taking in the view, with his master behind him rowing in the bay.  This was obviously something they had done together before, and enjoyed very much.

    What activity do you take great pleasure in doing, resulting in your feeling revitalized?  Is this an activity you do only during Summer Break because you feel there is no time left with all the tasks you have in the classroom?  We all start the school year with the best of intentions to make sure that a cherished “Summer Thing” is also done while teaching.  However, after several weeks, department meetings, conferences, lesson planning, grading papers, photocopying, homework club, professional development and so much more fill up the calendar.  As a result, it seems like there is no time left to do anything else.  Over the course of the year, our inner gas tank is left close to empty because so much is being given out to our students, making sure they are nurtured, but we are not consistently nurturing ourselves.  

     The owner of this lucky dog made time to go kayaking in the bay on that clear morning.  It probably took planning, and was a priority that took precedence over other things.  This event for them happened because a commitment was made on the calendar, and action taken to follow through. In the same way, your “Summer Thing”, that you know will be revitalizing, should  literally be written on your personal calendar during the school year, in pen, taking preeminence over any school responsibility outside of the normal contract hours.  This allows for a commitment to be made that is visual, and because it is in writing, it becomes even more important with the chance of follow through much greater. It is very powerful to teachers who live each day by the calendar to see a  tangible item that shows clearly a time that will be spent recharging batteries, allowing them to be ready to take on another day.  So, as this Summer Break winds down, take a moment to choose one “Summer Thing” that would recharge your soul, and would serve as a reminder of how valuable you are.  Then, place this special activity on your calendar as a commitment to nurture and refill that part of you that you are so willing to give to others.  You are worth every moment!