Burnout As A Teacher

Burnout as a Teacher Burnout,

It turns out,

Is a teacher.

Not the kind I would have chosen.

It's abrupt,

Unglamorous,

Unrelenting.

But it doesn't lie.

Burnout tells the truth about what's no longer working.

And in my case,

About the ways I've abandoned myself in the name of holding everything else together.

About the relentless depletion of energy when I ignore my own needs.

So lately,

As the burnout is really settling in,

I'm starting to listen.

Not trying to fix or rush or rise.

Just listening.

Listening to the signals from my body from the places I've ignored for much too long.

Listening to the small voice that says,

You don't have to push right now.

You can allow yourself to pause.

Rest has become a practice of trust.

Trusting that not everything will fall apart while I take the time to rest.

While I take the time to pause and pull myself back together.

Trusting it's okay.

Everything will be okay.

And taking care of self is important too.