Life Liberty and the Pursuit of...Joy Of Course! (#SelfCareSummer)

Before I began my journey with #VBHasJoy, I was a proud and passionate teacher of history for 15 years. I loved making connections with life and historical events and more importantly I loved facilitating the space and place for students to find their DNA in our history. Although I'm not a parent that will push my passions on my son, I know that he will know a little about history and all things joy. I thought today would be a perfect day to begin some summer writing about freedom, pursuit of your well being and the joy of serving from a full vessel.

Life

This post is an introductory post-I'll write a few of these all summer to ensure you know how much I care about educator well-being and joy-which means I care about you.  Your life has a purpose and It's a gift to be allowed to serve students, schools and the communities around them. I firmly believe that teaching, leading and supporting education takes every adult serving balanced, rested and filled with joy. I know that's easier said than done-but I'm here to support your journey. It's a delicate, daily balance so starting it with intent this summer is a recipe for success. If you're a new leader starting on that golden day (July 1st), please read this blog and know your well being, balance and joy will be a key piece to your school's culture.

Liberty

Freedom is priceless and you have it; the freedom to sleep, eat healthy, make connections, and live mindfully. It doesn't mean you will not have to fight to keep your freedom either. History tells us that fighting for freedom is worth it and I say it applies to your self care and balance too.  Starting this summer and continuing during the school, you have the liberty to advocate for your joy. Say no if it means your "yes"; prioritize your plate to show what you value. It's so important for our schools. It's so important for you.

Pursuit of Joy (#SelfCareSummer)

Pursuit of happiness and joy is a personalized pathway not without some battles. #SelfCareSummer is my way of letting you know I'm a soldier for educator well being, balance and joy because I love our students. Please use this hashtag with intent this summer as you share with our twitter family the way you are taking care of you. As we get closer to starting the new school year, we'll share how we will use what we learn from each other to help others in our buildings. I'm dreaming big with you and for you! Enjoy your summer!

Joyfully Yours

Akilah 

Joy Doesn't Take up Space (What's on Your Plate?)

Lunch is always the first one to go. Sleep comes comes in a tie for some or a close second. Exercise scoots in at third. I'm referring to things we skip or push to the side when a new school year starts. If you think of a plate as symbolizing life's journey and balance, the items I mentioned above should always be on your plate. What do you pile on your plate that brings you joy? 

Blue is a strong and calm color. When I think of blue, I think water, beaches, vacations and relaxing environments. Well-being and balance are strong words that really speak to this color and the joy journey. In our homes and workplace cultures, we have so many items that can start to pile up on our plate. Survival mode kicks in and we immediately move some personal things to the side. 
 Life can throw you curve balls. I come from a family of baseball players, so excuse me if the terminology falls into my writings. It's a delicate balance to keep your balance and joy and I fall into this trap too. Now, I am being intentional starting a new year (2017) about advocating for my balance. Inbox filled with emails with 15 minutes to before I go home? It can wait but I can't. Triple booked on meetings so you skip lunch or dinner? They can wait but your health can't. There are time when I need to get up from the table and metaphorically clean my plate to make room for joy. When challenges fall on your plate, how will your rise from the table to clean your plate to make room for Joy?

Music can be a great way to balance your plate. I have a soundtrack for my joy. My musical preferences are colorful and reflect how I want to feel or am feeling at that moment. Jazz and spiritual music is rooted in my soul. Pop, R and B and some rap give me energy when I need it. I have specific playlists and stations that instantly bring me to peace and calm. In fact, right now it's playing as I write for you. What music can you intentionally play to bring you balance and joy?

It's a new Year and I'm so honored to continue this journey. It's so much bigger than me but at the same time it's transforming me as I walk this journey with #VBHasJoy, #JoyAmbassadors, #VBAdminHasJoy and now #VB5STAROAHasJoy. I want us to start this new year with intentional words, thoughts, people and practices that honor balance, wellbeing and joy. Doing this ensures that you can serve from a full vessel and create, design and cultivate equitable, joyful learning environments and school cultures where all students and adults can not just survive but thrive. Isn't that just so...#Joyful? I think so but I'm a little biased! 2017 is going to be a great one. Love you all and let's do the work that needed for all students...through the lens and armor of #JOY. 

Try a Little Tenderness: The role of Kindness

"Who were you kind to today?" "Who or what are you grateful for today?"  I always ask my son the same two questions everyday as we debrief about our day in school and work. I know there are other questions that a parents should ask (How was school? What did you learn today? Do you have homework?)  Don't worry, I don't forget those questions either but I feel the other two set the tone for the kind of young man I want him to be in this world and for this world.

What's your definition of kindness? I think immediately compassion, empathy, love, friendliness and joy. Kindness is an essential element of a joyful learning environment. I can't imagine an equitable joyful learning environment without tenderness, empathy and kindness for others feelings. How can you teach and model kindness in your classrooms and schools? 

Kindness matters. Our children were the recipients this season of seeing an election rife with negativity, hostility and unkind words. As a parent and educator, you wish that you could shield your child from it but it permeated the schools, classrooms and our children's hearts and minds. The day after the election, it was very important for me to make sure that my son was planting seeds of kindness. How do you intentionally plant seeds of kindness throughout your day?

So, how did he answer the question? Anyone who's had the pleasure of meeting my son knows this was definitely a real answer. "Who were you kind to today?"  Answer: "You." My mouth was agape. He continued, "You were up late watching the election, so I made a point of getting on "green" today at school to make you smile." Like I said,if you know my son, getting on "green" for behavior was very special.Not only did it make my day, his answer inspired me to write this post. What role does kindness play in your home? 

Our children are returning to school this week after a weekend of hearing more opinions and facts about a world they didn't create but live in. Be intentional with the role of kindness in our learning environments and schools. Unpack kindness with them. Let them see adults being kind to each other and give them the space and place to show and be given kindness. Try a little tenderness this week and watch what blossoms.  Please tweet out how you are planting seeds of kindness this week with #kindnessmatters. Let's spread and share the good news!


Resources to Help with Kindness Lessons:

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756105

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-kindness-the-kind-campaign-lisa-dabbs

http://www.scholastic.com/smp/pdfs/livestrong/livestrong5_wksht4.pdf

In the Name of JOY...Thank You!

     Hi PLN family, colleagues, friends and new readers. Thank You. I am so grateful you're taking time out of your busy schedule to read my heart...put on paper. Wasn't that easy? It takes so little time to give thanks and express gratitude. In fact, I believe that gratitude is a word that should a part of every one's vocabulary. In honor of #JoyAmbassadors and #VBHasJoy, I wanted to unpack #gratitude through the lens of my life. My singular goal in this post is to make sure gratitude is a word that is stuck in your mind and heart like your favorite song. 

I have a confession. I didn't know that my dreams were blanketed by daily gratitude. I always thought dreams were connected to people, experiences, even failure. I sat down the other day and realized that my dream to have equitable, joyful learning environments for every child (not some children) was weaved into be thankful for people I didn't even know yet. Who would of thought #JoyAmbassadors would be the farmers planting intentional seeds of joy for all children. Who would of thought I would not only see the phenomenal growth, but that it was spread to me. I've got love all over me. I'm filled with so much gratitude for my growing PLN that supports me, the JoyAmbassadors that inspire and anyone I haven't named but you are a part of of this joy journey.  Thank you. I'm grateful for you and you fill my with joy. Question: How can you tap into gratitude to achieve your dreams? How can unpack dreams & gratitude in your learning environment? 

Gratitude wakes me and lulls me to sleep; I don't count sheep to fall asleep, I count my blessings and I'm very intentional about giving thanks for all I have each day. Gratitude is so colorful too. It's like taking a box of colored pencils or crayons across the dullest, darkest day. Imagine #gratitude as part of your armor you have to put on daily to combat any stress that comes your way. My journey to eradicate gaps and fill them with equity, empathy, inclusion  and diversity is paved with gratitude for the ones who are with me and paved the way before me.  The instant you tap into gratitude, you're day in being colored with memories, people, places and moments that can bring you #joy. Question: What color is your #gratitude? 

#ThisisWhyIWrite. It's yet another way to express gratitude for all the things and people that grace my joy journey. I am thankful for you and hope my words, thoughts and actions inspire you to be more, love more and be more thankful for all your beautiful gifts that can be a game changer for someone today.  You are such a special gift to me and know that students are #grateful for you. Oops...I forget to tell you once more-thank you:)

Shades of Joy (What Color is Your Journey?)

 This blog series is to start sharing my JOY journey. I'm inspired by all the #JoyAmbassadors who have began this journey. Through my favorites colors, I will begin to color in my journey. I hope this inspires others to share the colors of their journey and their lives.

 What color are you? What color attracts you?  What color reminds you of love? What color reminds you of a win in your life?  Every moment in your life is filled with color-taking time to reflect on your color is an important part of the journey; it's an essential part of joy.

Living a life filled with joy entails starting with you. You have to be filled with color (life) and full of passion to give it to others. You can't give from an empty vessel. Tapping into your color is...dare I say it...revolutionary. Some people live their whole life coloring in the lines and using colors that are "appropriate" or "politically correct". It's one thing to have a uniform you have to wear to work but it's another to forget to take it off. Let people see you when you're relaxed, free and joyful.  What's your color? When was the last time you wore it?  When was the last time you shared it with the world?

Color makes me feel joy. My favorite season, fall, is painted with colors of orange and browns. My home has splashes of color that reflect elements and shades of me. Watch me walk towards you and see my colors; I wear color for you and me. People tell me all the time that when I wear orange, yellow or a salmon color that I energize them; my complexion pops when I wear orange too. 

Orange and the family of colors associated with it is the color the most represents me now.  Orange represents how I want my day to be every day I enter the workplace. Orange reflects my passion to create schools and learning environments that are equitably filled with love, hope and dreams for all students.  My work in my current position is in color. Orange is an energy color; I am known by many in my workplace as a person that always has a smile and nice colors; they remember me because of both. Orange is my  armor too. The revolution is in color for me. Joy and happiness is important armor needed for all adults involved in the work that needs to be done so all our students can thrive, not just survive. Equity is in color. Have you ever seen a revolution or transformation happen without color? 

Orange reflects my culture, too.  My mother is African American and my father is Afro-Cuban.  They met in college in New York.  Orange represents the color of New York, Miami and Cuba; the color of the warm ethnic colors and language you hear.  As a black woman, I see orange and its hue to reflect the diversity of people too. Shades of black, brown and orange light up my family album.

Joy is in the journey we call life but did you know it is color too? As you plant seeds of joy in your workplace, home and everywhere in between, be mindful of the colors that you leave in your footsteps on this journey. Take time to notice that the people, places, books, events and work that come from this joy journey are in color. They are beautiful shades of love, kindness, passion, and gratitude. It is the colors during this beautiful journey that will be tattooed on hearts and minds. 

Reference:

Zuniga Interiors. (2015, August 31). Zuniga Interiors: The Color Orange. Retrieved from Zuniga Interiors : http://zunigainteriors.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html