Educators on a mountain under the stars reflecting on their growth

‘Tis the Season to Reflect!

December 11, 20231 min read

As we approach the end of the semester and enter the holiday season, it's essential to take a moment to acknowledge your hard work and dedication. Most of us have been tirelessly providing our services at school to benefit others, and now it's time to focus on rejuvenating ourselves during the holidays.

I urge you to leave behind your school-related concerns and fully enjoy your well-deserved break.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Your presence and the work you do have a significant impact on someone's life every single day. I am proud to connect with each of you during the school year.

In this final Monday Ideas for 2023, I encourage you to indulge in a bit of self-reflection by using the solution-focused guiding questions below.

Try to see yourself through the eyes of those around you:

  1. What would your fellow educators say you excelled at this fall?

  2. What feedback might students give about the ways you supported them?

  3. How do you think parents would describe the positive influence you had on them?

  4. When you were at your best, what do you believe others observed about you?

Even on the toughest days this fall, when you might have felt stuck or overwhelmed by your responsibilities, remember that your mere presence created a positive impact. Whether you entered a classroom, listened to a young person, or mediated a challenging situation, you sparked a shift in thinking and inspired new actions.

In other words, dear colleague, you rock!

I look forward to reconnecting with you in January 2024 with fresh Monday Ideas and the SF Connection, starting on January 9, 2024.

May the solution force be with you and those you love this holiday season!

Linda Metcalf is the best-selling author of Counseling Toward Solutions and 10 other books.

Linda is a former middle school teacher, all-level certified school counselor, licensed professional counselor supervisor, and licensed marriage and family therapist in the State of Texas. She is a Professor at Texas Wesleyan University.

Dr Linda Metcalf

Linda Metcalf is the best-selling author of Counseling Toward Solutions and 10 other books. Linda is a former middle school teacher, all-level certified school counselor, licensed professional counselor supervisor, and licensed marriage and family therapist in the State of Texas. She is a Professor at Texas Wesleyan University.

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