The Mindful Educator: Going for the Triple Play! +
Dear Catholic Educators, So, how is it going, now that the first trimester is coming to an end? You may answer, “Well, I’m feeling quite overwhelmed. I have so much to do, but there are not enough hours in the day to get it all done.” This is how we may feel at times, but for some of us, if we are honest with ourselves, this isn’t entirely true. Sometimes, the reality is, we just don’t prioritize efficiently. As Catholic educators, we need to remember that to have wholeness or holiness in our lives, we must consider the mind, body, and spirit. So, what should come first? You got it, Spirit. With Jesus at the center, everything falls into proper perspective. I am a visual learner, so I will give you an example. I was talking to a priest friend of mine who suggested that I look at our parish stained-glass window above the altar. Father explained, “If you notice the window, Jesus is in the center and see how the beauty of the surrounding windows extends from the center? He continued, “ when we have Jesus as our focal point in life, everything else will fall into place.” Now every time I look at this window, I ask myself, “Mary, are you keeping Jesus at the center of your life? Do you have your priorities in proper order?” Unfortunately, more times than not, the answer is no, but I keep working at it, and it will take a lifetime. Now, let us consider the mind. Daily, I am guessing that our minds are cluttered with a plethora of thoughts, such as, formulating lesson plans/assessments, conducting walk-throughs, answering emails, scheduling meetings, addressing parents’ and students’ concerns, keeping informed of educational best practices and how to implement them, and the list goes on and on. Here are a few practical strategies for striving to accomplish balance in life. 1. SPIRIT: Begin each day surrendering and placing the day in God’s hands. Here is a short surrender prayer by Servant of God, Father Dolindo Ruotolo that you may find helpful “Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything” https://bit.ly/3jSesKe. Pray the rosary as you are getting ready in the morning, doing the laundry, or driving to school. There are many rosary recordings online. In addition, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has podcasts of the daily Mass readings with a reflection. Here is a sample podcast that fits in with the theme of this article https://rb.gy/svjwxd. This will help get you and keep you in the “Spirit” throughout your busy day. It also helps to recall the presence of God and ask for His guidance before responding to emails or other school or Prep program matters. Don’t be surprised that by inviting God into your everyday happenings, the impossible becomes possible with God. Taking time out for fun and relaxation with family and friends also helps to invigorate your spirit. 2. MIND: Write in broad terms what you hope to accomplish during the week and then create a list of the day-to-day responsibilities. I have found that if I schedule and make a list of tasks to do for each hour, it just becomes a source of frustration, because most days, our time is not our own. Having a checklist to mark off items as they are completed will assist you in noting the importance of prioritizing tasks and will provide you with a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, principals, DREs and teachers do not always have to have an open-door policy; otherwise, the time that should be allocated for completing required paperwork, on time, may result in late submissions, or worse yet, piled on the to-do heap! 3. BODY: As we move into shorter hours of daylight, making time for exercise can be a struggle. One way to make yourself move is to walk the hallways or get the students up and moving. We know the importance of a healthy diet and that we must set time aside to fix a salad for lunch and to plan healthy meals for ourselves and our family. Sleep is also an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Try your best to leave work while there is still enough daylight for you to get a brisk walk in before dinner; this will serve as a way to declutter your mind, so that you can be truly present to your family. These are just a few strategies to assist us in maintaining some semblance of balance in our lives. As I am writing, it just came to me that Spirit, mind, and body is three, like the Trinity. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so. May the Blessed Trinity guide you as you strive to order and live your life with Him as the Center! Happy Advent and Blessed Christmas! Happy, healthy New Year 2022! In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am, Sister Mary S. Mary C. Chapman, IHM, Ed.D. smaryihm@gmail.com
