I love the idea of keeping it simple and focusing on the essentials because the start of a new school year always feels overwhelming to me too. I like to remind myself of the three class mindsets that I have on my whiteboard: be kind, be brave, and be curious. This is what I hope for my students and myself. If we can stick to these three essentials, then some real growth is possible.
I love everything about this post, Mary. I've been in the same place with my garden; when I began growing food, I decided I wanted to grow the ingredients for a good tomato sauce. Not so much because that was the most important thing to me, but because I knew I could grow those ingredients AND tomato sauce is a base for so many dishes I love. Garlic has confounded me, so I don't try to grow that. I decided it's OK to get help from those who can do what I can't. Wishing you success in guiding staff to stay focused on 5 priorities. I know that's an easy thing to get excited about in August, and a tough thing to keep in practice come November or so, when the honeymoon is so far over and winter is settling in. But I think you're right; our kids need us to do a few things well more than a lot of things we're just jumping through hoops on. (Your words reminded me of the book Focus by Mike Schmoker, which is old now but I remember thinking made lots of sense.) Wishing you a good school year with lots of success, however you and your students come to define it.
I love this. Reminds me of so many times Bryan and I instinctively evaluated priorities when life felt overwhelming. May need to do that again, soon! 😬
Thank you also for the book recommendations. I put the audio of Living Resistance and Gifts of Imperfection on hold via my Libby app, and I discovered Brené Brown has a book called, The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting! Sounds like something I’d like to read as I write my parenting memoir.
Speaking of which, congratulations on continuing to move your memoir forward! I am coming out of a busy season and look forward to getting back into mine.
I bet you guys are amazing parents, but yes we are all so imperfect right? I finally returned my borrowed copy of Brene’s book so I should probably get my own or read another one, and thank you! Good luck with the writing.
I loved this Mary. There is so much in this post. I will go back to it several times. I am interested in the class your mentioned by Claire Conen, and I want to re-read what each person you mentioned was their five essential things. And I want to create my own list also.
Thanks for putting such a thought provoking piece together.
Mary! I love your essential ingredients. Thanks for the Victor Frankl list of 4 essentials! I have saved those and want to connect with them this week. His book is one of the most important books I read. I also love the list for your book. I am so excited for this book—and grateful for your honesty in your process…That made me laugh about Siri’s response to finding your agent!!
And thanks so much for sharing about my Writing for Healing class! ♥️ If anyone wants to learn more about the class/has questions, feel free to message me on Substack or email me: clairecoenen@gmail.com.
Loved this. Resonated with the short and simple. I tend to overwhelm myself with long lists of things. I also loved the cooking suggestion. I just received some very large and ripe tomatoes from a friend and had not thought about roasting big slices with garlic and herbs. I make a recipe called Granma's Summer Spaghetti so this is a new version of what I already have in my recipe collection. I love roasting veggies so look forward to making this for supper tonight. And I also loved that you let yourself be heard on your recording editing and redoing yourself. I don't usually find podcasters who are willing to be that disclosing. I will listen again as I take my walk this morning. Thanks. Louise in Ashland, OR
This post is exactly what I needed before returning to work tomorrow. I love how beautifully you weave multiple strands of thought together. That’s my favorite kind of writing. Good luck with your real estate and/or literary agent search. 🙂
With back to school next week, I am feeling entirely overwhelmed, but I’m trying to keep things simple by letting this week just be our last week of summer and I’ll deal with back to school when it’s back to school.
Thank you for this, Mary! Might borrow some of it and credit you in a future writing prompt....all the best on a new school year and the agent-hunting. What a step!
Love this post Mary. So thoughtful and yet so simple about the five essential things pared down to use in so many areas. These things so resonate with me as I also have a tendency to try to do everything at once all the time. So love to read your thoughts on gardening and cooking. Makes me hungry every time. I want to take cooking lessons from you….
I love the idea of keeping it simple and focusing on the essentials because the start of a new school year always feels overwhelming to me too. I like to remind myself of the three class mindsets that I have on my whiteboard: be kind, be brave, and be curious. This is what I hope for my students and myself. If we can stick to these three essentials, then some real growth is possible.
I love those goals, Tera!
I love them too!
I love everything about this post, Mary. I've been in the same place with my garden; when I began growing food, I decided I wanted to grow the ingredients for a good tomato sauce. Not so much because that was the most important thing to me, but because I knew I could grow those ingredients AND tomato sauce is a base for so many dishes I love. Garlic has confounded me, so I don't try to grow that. I decided it's OK to get help from those who can do what I can't. Wishing you success in guiding staff to stay focused on 5 priorities. I know that's an easy thing to get excited about in August, and a tough thing to keep in practice come November or so, when the honeymoon is so far over and winter is settling in. But I think you're right; our kids need us to do a few things well more than a lot of things we're just jumping through hoops on. (Your words reminded me of the book Focus by Mike Schmoker, which is old now but I remember thinking made lots of sense.) Wishing you a good school year with lots of success, however you and your students come to define it.
Thank you Rita! I agree on it being okay to get help.
I love this. Reminds me of so many times Bryan and I instinctively evaluated priorities when life felt overwhelming. May need to do that again, soon! 😬
Thank you also for the book recommendations. I put the audio of Living Resistance and Gifts of Imperfection on hold via my Libby app, and I discovered Brené Brown has a book called, The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting! Sounds like something I’d like to read as I write my parenting memoir.
Speaking of which, congratulations on continuing to move your memoir forward! I am coming out of a busy season and look forward to getting back into mine.
I bet you guys are amazing parents, but yes we are all so imperfect right? I finally returned my borrowed copy of Brene’s book so I should probably get my own or read another one, and thank you! Good luck with the writing.
Excellent post, thought provoking.
Yay! Thank you!
I loved this Mary. There is so much in this post. I will go back to it several times. I am interested in the class your mentioned by Claire Conen, and I want to re-read what each person you mentioned was their five essential things. And I want to create my own list also.
Thanks for putting such a thought provoking piece together.
Claire is great, and you can message her directly from here.
Annie, happy to chat with you/answer any questions about the class. 💗
Mary! I love your essential ingredients. Thanks for the Victor Frankl list of 4 essentials! I have saved those and want to connect with them this week. His book is one of the most important books I read. I also love the list for your book. I am so excited for this book—and grateful for your honesty in your process…That made me laugh about Siri’s response to finding your agent!!
And thanks so much for sharing about my Writing for Healing class! ♥️ If anyone wants to learn more about the class/has questions, feel free to message me on Substack or email me: clairecoenen@gmail.com.
You are so welcome. I have had a couple people express genuine interest so I hope you get some pop folks in your class.
Loved this. Resonated with the short and simple. I tend to overwhelm myself with long lists of things. I also loved the cooking suggestion. I just received some very large and ripe tomatoes from a friend and had not thought about roasting big slices with garlic and herbs. I make a recipe called Granma's Summer Spaghetti so this is a new version of what I already have in my recipe collection. I love roasting veggies so look forward to making this for supper tonight. And I also loved that you let yourself be heard on your recording editing and redoing yourself. I don't usually find podcasters who are willing to be that disclosing. I will listen again as I take my walk this morning. Thanks. Louise in Ashland, OR
What a nice comment Louise, thank you! I love hearing that people enjoy the audio.
This post is exactly what I needed before returning to work tomorrow. I love how beautifully you weave multiple strands of thought together. That’s my favorite kind of writing. Good luck with your real estate and/or literary agent search. 🙂
I don’t have any tips on my book, but I’m looking at a condo downtown this afternoon. 😂
I’m so glad to hear these words were what you needed for the return. I hope you had a great first day back!
With back to school next week, I am feeling entirely overwhelmed, but I’m trying to keep things simple by letting this week just be our last week of summer and I’ll deal with back to school when it’s back to school.
Yes! Wise!
Thank you for this, Mary! Might borrow some of it and credit you in a future writing prompt....all the best on a new school year and the agent-hunting. What a step!
I love that idea and can’t wait to see what you make of it.
Love this post Mary. So thoughtful and yet so simple about the five essential things pared down to use in so many areas. These things so resonate with me as I also have a tendency to try to do everything at once all the time. So love to read your thoughts on gardening and cooking. Makes me hungry every time. I want to take cooking lessons from you….
My husband is the cook in our family but I have fun when I dabble and I’d love to cook with you, maybe on our writing retreat.