What You Are Not…

Dear Teacher,

I have written to you a lot about what you are as a teacher.  You are a world-changer.  You are a superhero.  You are a live-saver.  You are a future-molder…

You are tired.  You are stressed.  You are over-worked.  You are overwhelmed.  You are beat-up.  You are burned out.

You are a teacher.

Today I want to do something a little different.  I want to mention something that you are not.  It is something that you need to hear and be reminded of each and every day.

You, Teacher, are not alone. 

Since last Friday, I have received more feedback than I ever gotten about the blog.  Goodness No!, Be The Shark, and Superheroes and Alter-Egos have really resounded with teachers.  There have been so many messages of “thanks” and “I needed to hear that.”  The common theme seems to be that what I am saying is what you all are going through.

The funny part is that with all three of these posts, I truly was writing to myself.  I was speaking to what I am feeling and going through.  I was trying to remind myself to remember why I do what I do in all of the busyness and stress of teaching.  I was talking to me and letting you listen in.

Teachers from all over the world have said, “That is me, too.  I am going through those things.  I am having those thoughts.  That is how I feel.  Thank you for the reminders of why I teach and what is important!”

You know what this means?

We are not alone.

No matter how you feel at your school, in your grade level, in your subject area, or whatever your teaching situation, you are not on your own.  What you are going through is common.  What you are feeling is not odd.  You don’t have to feel lonely as a teacher because the teachers around you aren’t feeling the same way.  Other teachers ARE going through what you are going through.  The teachers you work with probably are, too, they are just hiding it well.

You are not alone.

Do not be ashamed of feeling tired and overwhelmed.  Don’t be embarrassed by the burnout.  Don’t feel bad when you mess up, lose your cool, or just want to give up.  You are not the only one.  You can get through it.  You can get past it.  You can get back to who you are and why you love to teach.

We know what you feel like because we feel it to…you are not alone because the whole world of teachers is with you.

Feel like giving up?  You are not alone.

Burned out?  Beat up?  Beat down?  You are not alone.

Stressed?  Overwhelmed?  Exhausted?  You are not alone.

Feeling isolated and lonely in what you are experiencing in teacherhood?  You most definitely are not isolated and alone…we are right there with you.

Feel like you are the only one who feels the way you do?  You aren’t.  You are not alone.

Have I said it enough?  You are not alone.

“So what?  I am not alone.  I get it.  Now what?”

Knowing you are not alone is a great place to start.  It reminds you that other people have experienced, are experiencing, and will experience what you are experiencing.  This thought alone gives you hope.  Hope leads to perseverance.  Perseverance keeps you going.  Going and pushing on lets you get through what you are going through.  Getting through gives you perspective and helps you keep going next time you get on this cycle.  AND…all of this helps you to remember why you teach and keeps you on that teaching path…no matter what the world and life and teaching throws at you.

So…know you are not alone and let this give you hope.

You can make it.  You can get through.  You can push on.  You can.  You can.  You can.  You can because you are not alone!

You are awesome!  You will keep going.  You are making a difference and you will keep making a difference.  You are amazing and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  Remember this and keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher