A Much-Needed Spring Break

~ wordancerblog

This has been one long winter for me. I am grieving the loss of my beautiful mother-in-law, Anne, in January, school has been busy and stress, and I got the flu two weeks ago and am still recovering.  January and February always seem so long and cold and dreary to me, but this year they have been especially brutal.  I have no energy and am limping my way towards spring.  I know it will be here eventually, but I need it to come quicker than it is scheduled to arrive. Thank goodness for spring break.  Thank goodness I have the next two weeks to recover and regroup.  I desperately need two weeks to bide my time until spring arrives.  I am taking seven steps get back in health again.

Wake up late.

When I’m working, I get up super-early and I don’t stop until very late in the evening.  I am always on the move.  These next two weeks, I have nowhere I have to be.  My husband and I are taking a road trip south, and I can wake up late and let the day stretch out before me.

Eat nourishing food slowly.

I am always rushing, slugging down coffee, eating on the run all through the day.  I tell myself to eat healthy but try as I might, I continue to reach for the cookies and salty snacks in the faculty room.  These next two weeks will be mindful eating, choosing only foods that nourish, not those sugary foods that rob my energy.

Read and finish Storm Pegs: A Life Made in Shetland by Jen Hadfield

I’m listening to this book on Audible, which is read by the author who is a poet who moved to Shetland from Manchester, England. Hadfield describes the rugged beauty of the land she now calls home.  I love reading memoirs and learning about new wild places.

Write every day.

This is the fourth year that I’ve taken the Slice of Life Writing Challenge. This year I’m writing 31 poems with the theme of nourishment.  I’m having fun writing about food and remembering times eating with family and friends.

Take camera walks with my husband

My husband is a photographer who makes abstract art from both natural and urban scenes.  I love going out with him on long walks in all kinds of locations.  We walk along and though we are in the same place, we take very different photographs.  It’s fun to find new images and play with the camera.

Sketch and play

The week before spring break, I offered my colleagues an afternoon Art Spa where we got together and made mixed-media collages.  It was so much fun to sit, chat, snack, and create with my friends.  I want to make sure I make time in the day to doodle and draw.  I don’t want to focus on making a work of art.  I want to focus on just keeping my pencil moving – not thinking – just playing with the images that come to mind.

Learn to enjoy my time again

I allowed the winter to seep into my mind and bones. I know it is not healthy.  I let myself become too tense – always rushing never stopping to breathe. I vow to slow down these next two weeks, to pay attention to what’s important, and to enjoy the time I have with my husband in the beautiful places to which we will be traveling.I hope that in the next fourteen days, I can make a significant and lasting change.  I know that being mindful of my own well-being is paramount. I hope that when I return to work in a couple of weeks that I’m rested, renewed, and ready for spring.

Many thanks to Stacey Shubitz and all the writers at Two Writing Teachers for the annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge.

10 thoughts on “A Much-Needed Spring Break”

  1. I don’t know how much longer you are teaching, but from reading your post I can tell you now–you are going to LOVE retirement. I remember those early mornings, late evenings, working really from sunup to sundown. Never getting to breathe. Thanks for the reminder which makes me appreciate these retirement days even more.

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  2. Elizabeth, the structure of this post is wonderful! I love that each “What I’m Going to Do” is followed by a lovely, warm explanation and absolutely makes me understand that rueful, “I allowed winter to seep into my mind and bones.” Also, I would struggle with the invitation to Sketch and Play if it meant the sitting, chatting, and snacking—while I could watch everyone sketch until I felt comfortable enough to try it. May these 14 days be just what you need in every way. Safe travels!

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  4. Your plan for recovery is so thoughtful and reflective. It makes me think that we should all plan our rest so well. Enjoy your time. May it be truly restorative. (Also, those flower, dahlias?, are gorgeous!)

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  6. I’m sorry you were sick. Thank goodness you’re on the mend and taking steps for a strong full recovery. Just seeing those pansies makes me feel better! And zinnias!! (A favorite of mine).

    “The week before spring break, I offered my colleagues an afternoon Art Spa where we got together and made mixed-media collages.” I LOVE this idea! I’ve been wanting to do something like this.

    Is your Spring Break always two weeks long?

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    1. Thanks, Stephanie. The Art Spa was so much fun. Ten colleagues joined and everyone was supportive, and we laughed a lot. It was a great morale lifter. I wrote an article about using art as a restorative teaching practice which will be published online on Choice Literacy sometime in the spring. My break is always 2 weeks long, and I get 2 weeks in the winter too. The perks of private school and how I’m able to be teaching 46 years! I’m trying to go 4 more years to 50. Will see if I have the stamina to make it!

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      1. Pushing for FIFTY years teaching. Incredible. I will look for your article! Congratulations on this publication. I can’t wait to read it!

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  8. I’m glad you are feeling better, and that you are taking the time and steps you need to feel better physically and spiritually. Between teaching, winter, and everything else in life, things really can take a toll.

    The paragraph you wrote about how winter “seeped into your bones” resonated deeply with me. I’m trying to get to a mental space where I have compassion for myself, knowing that winter is a time for my body to pull back and do less, but the problem is…well, similar to what you mentioned. It *should* be when I slow down, but somehow I don’t. So, spring break (coming up!) will be that time for me, maybe just a little bit. At least I hope!

    Here’s hoping you’re also able to take some of the spirit of your steps and keep them going into that final push of the school year!

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