yoga to the rescue

2020 has been quite the year. People you know, or you yourself, have lost loved ones, been sick, have friends that are sick and/or in the hospital, stressed to the max at work and at home, etc. I could go on and on.

We all have different ways to deal with stress from becoming more withdrawn, drinking, eating, etc. I have pretty much down all of those and still do. I won’t lie: being a special education teacher during a pandemic has been the most stressful school year since my very first year teaching. That year, I had taken the teaching job with absolutely NO experience. None. That year was beyond anxiety-filled…..cue to this year and I think this year has been worse or they are tied.

I have learned a lot in the past 17 years of being a special education teacher, but the way to being a good teacher is to always keep learning. So I am taking my stress and using it for good. I have been in the process of adding a certification to my teaching license and am in a yoga teacher training. It has been great to work towards something that I have always wanted to do.

My mother’s death this Spring made me realize that I should not put my dreams on hold. I must chase them, because one day it will be too late to go after them. I refuse to have any regrets in life. Yes, I have done things that I can admit were the wrong decisions and I should have chosen different actions. However, I am who I am because of the life I have led. You can choose to grow from mistakes or be swallowed up by them.

I have always loved yoga and have always been drawn to that dream of one day being a yoga teacher. Can you think of anything better? I cannot. To be a full time writer and a yoga teacher?! One day people. One day. Until then, I will just keep being happy with where I am and happy to work towards what I want in life.

I have just finished my YTT program and am so happy that I have completed it. I have a lot of work to do because starting out as a teacher, whether it is special education or yoga, you need practice. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it is a great way to improve and learn.

Don’t let this covid year cause you to put your dreams on hold. Chase them in a different way if you must, but never give up on your dreams. Sometimes they can be what keeps you going when you feel like stress is pulling you down.

Tomorrow is a new day… let’s make it one day closer to your dream too.