[Burn Bright, Not Out Newsletter] Quick Check-in and Reflections
Hello,
As many of you are starting to return to work for the new school year, I wanted to check in and share some reflections with you all.
I’m writing to you from the LA airport, where my husband and I are eagerly awaiting our flight to Fiji. Apart from taking some time to rejuvenate before the next school year begins, I’ll also be working as a consultant during our time there. It’s a beautiful opportunity, and I’m genuinely grateful for the chance to travel overseas for work.
Recently, I came across an inspiring reflection framework shared by Tina Arenas, the incredible Early Childhood music teacher at the American School of Dubai. It struck a chord with me, and I thought I’d use the same format to share some of my own reflections:
Habits that Grounded Me:
-Starting each school day with coffee and yoga with my husband.
-Spending quality time with family as I worked from home, cherishing those off-blocks with my teenagers.
-Committing to 15 minutes of guided meditation every day to center myself.
-Practicing earthing or grounding almost daily to connect with nature.
Professional Celebrations:
-Taking the leap into authorship and entrepreneurship instead of seeking a job in a school, believing in myself.
-Testing, validating, and growing my business ideas through unwavering action and perseverance.
-Expanding my audience on social media and email, and I’m grateful to all of you for being a part of it.
-Feel honored to have consulted on literacy instruction at the Carol Morgan School in the Dominican Republic for 24 days (THANK YOU!)
-Completing the manuscript for my book and preparing it for the editors, a significant milestone.
Challenges:
-Embracing the responsibility of making every business decision, every day, though the freedoms that came with it were worth it.
-Navigating through the uncharted waters of prepping for presentations, sessions, lab sites, and more, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.
-Not making a full-time teaching salary, paid out 12 months a year
-Supporting my sister through her breast cancer diagnosis, witnessing her strength throughout her Chemo journey.
-Facing my own breast cancer scare, undergoing surgery, and dealing with the complexities of the US healthcare system.
Priorities for Next School Year:
-Continuing to prioritize life before work, maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
-Aiming to positively impact more teachers’ well-being with my book and Wealth and Well-being Collective membership.
-Continuing my consulting work at the Carol Morgan School, with 20 more days ahead.
Please hit reply to this email and share your thoughts.
I’d love to hear from you. What were your personal celebrations and challenges over the past school year?
Take care and kind regards,
Sybil
PS: I’ll be vacationing in Fiji next week, so you won’t hear from me during that time. Enjoy your days ahead!