Back to New School

Oh yeah, it's that time, honey.  School supply sales, back to school sports physicals, form filling out - bring it on back to school has begun for some kids and is quickly approaching for others.  It's a glorious time of year.  Not for the obvious reasons of getting these kids out of the house and back to school, but it's glorious because it's new.  It's a new year.  New grade.  New class.  New teachers.  New pencils.  New tablets.  New opportunities.  New challenges.  New everything.

The ability to start a new is a great gift.  Ignoring the mass marketing, though - you can still celebrate the joy and blessing of a new school year without breaking the bank, don't get it twisted.  But, the adverstising campaigns know that the shiny new backpack, the pristine new school supplies and yes the crisp new skinny jeans and sparkling new Jordans speak to us.  Your kids don't need hundreds of dollars of new stuff to start school.  You can leverage the new school year by incorporating something new in your family's life this school year.

This summer has been a blessing because after camp and overseas travel, my son has not had anything scheduled.  He, like many of your kids I'm sure, has an intense school year schedule.  Full day at school and then choir practice two nights a week coupled with homework and chores.  There is a lot I'm looking forward to this school year - getting back to a jam packed schedule is not one of them.

In thinking about the upcoming school year, one of things I want to do better is to be prepared.  I am so that mom asking what homework was due either late at night or first thing in the morning.   Or the chick putting money on kid's lunch account on my smartphone during the train ride into the work.  Chaotic, crazy, fly by the seat of our pants school year.

This year I'm looking at more organization, peace and zen in our family's life.  Planning, planning, planning.  I'm committed to a new habit of taking time before going to bed to planning breakfast (chopping fruit for smoothies) and figuring out what I'm wearing in the morning.  I'm also going to take time when I get home from work to check in with my kid and look at what is going on in his school life.  Hopefully these new habits will help me better navigate school pitch-ins, poster board science assignments and all the other stuff that comes with Back to School.  I'll check in say December/January and let you know how we've fared.

Here's to the New School Year!   What new things are on tap for you and your students?

Lisa Coffman, Alexandria, VA.

ARE YOU TRULY READY FOR WHAT'S NEXT

Some times we think the biggest challenges we face is what is the next. The challenge of  the next job, the next man, the next woman, the next place. When in reality, if we take a step back and look most of us will discover that the biggest challenges we truly face is of being ready for what's next.

How often have we been offered an opportunity and discovered that we were not in a position to take advantage of it. We procrastinate. We allow things that are not important to become the main focus of our attention. We blame everyone and everything for us having missed some amazing opportunities. If the truth be told we are not truly ready for what is next. If we are not careful, we will spend more time talking and gripping about the job we hate, the boyfriend we should leave or the weight we should loose with none of these things bringing us any closer or allowing us to move on if  when the opportunity presents itself.

How much more productive would you be if you took that same energy getting ready for what you want to happen. Instead of spending time complaining about your current job, how about updating your resume, dusting off your cover letter, or getting out and networking to find out where the next great opportunity may be. How about the next time you are tempted to complain about your weight and how nothing fits you get up and take a 30 minute walk or you choose to eat a healthy salad instead of the fries.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your self is to be ready even when you have no idea when and if your next opportunity will arise. This is what some of us would call faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Stop making excuses and get ready for what you want to happen. Have faith that your moment will come and prepare for it like it's just around the corner.

Yolanda Askew