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What teaching qualities made you go into the teaching profession? Was it the thrill of watching a kid learn a new skill? Was it empathy, patience, creativity? As the days and weeks and years go on, and the job gets harder, we sometimes forget why we got into teaching in the first place. Whether you’re teaching 5th graders or you’re teaching three year-olds or even adults, this job is difficult, and it doesn’t seem to get easier. Sometimes we need a reminder of the teaching qualities and the teaching goals that got us in the door.

What are the things that happen daily near me that make me complain or get discouraged?

What do we focus on to get us through each day when those teaching goals seem to be muddied by the daily grind? Will you commit to spending some time daily looking for joy with me?

Where have you found joy and beauty today? Did you find it in the tiny flowers, in the waves crashing into the sand, in the sunset, in the tiny grains of sand, in a conversation with a friend, in a moment with a student or coworker? Did you see beauty in the hard moments or in the turmoil? Were you reminded of the teaching qualities it takes to persevere through this job?

A photo like this one often uses trees to frame calm waters, but as you know, teaching (or life) isn’t always calm! I often have a day that is full of rough “waters.”

Let’s slow down and find the joy in each moment. It’s a choice and we need each other to see the joy in some moments. I want to look for the joy daily near me. Will you look with me and name the blessings as we continue through this journey of life? Don’t give up! You’ve been called to this!