Month: July 2020

Spending Time With Adult Children

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I so love spending time with my adult children. Every moment I am with them is precious to me. I’m also fortunate that our daughter has chosen a partner who is kind, compassionate and such a perfect fit for her.

The times we get to be together brings much joy and happiness to my life. Our children have created a ritual in which they cook for us on all birthdays , mother’s day and father’s day. We love this so much. They cook for us at other times as well. They drop in and decide they’d like to create a meal for us. How lucky are we? I treasure these moments.

This summer we are so fortunate to have our daughter around more than usual . Both our children have grown up to be amazing adults who are caring, loving, good human beings. What more could we ask for? Spending time with our adult children is just simply splendid.

Twitter Life

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Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

When I first joined twitter , it was such a lovely space. At least that’s the way I viewed it. People in my PLN were always willing to jump in and help. Connections were amazing. I felt I was able to reach out and my questions were answered. Twitter doesn’t always feel that way today. I still love the connections I have made and for the most part when I reach out eventually someone helps.

I do like is when someone reaches out to help like @oercommons did today when I asked a question of my PLN and they so readily jumped in to assist.

I love that you can connect with people from all over the world and people will collaborate on projects even when there is no money involved. They do it just to help.

Twitter is still my go to place especially for everything educational. My PLN is amazing and Twitter offers the best professional development ever. The resources I find on twitter are exceptional. I just wish we had a little of old twitter back when it seemed as if the world was just a bit closer and kinder.

Each Day A New Opportunity

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@sspellmancann taken on my walk today

Each day we have a new opportunity to look at our life from a new perspective. We are never sure what life will bring us as is evident from this pandemic and all that happens to people we love and know. No one gets through life without bumps along the way. No matter what challenges we may encounter , how we perceive them is up to us.

As I walk, I notice the world around me and have time to reflect on how I will deal with life. Today is my opportunity to devour all the goodness that life has to offer and so I will.

10 Acts of Self Care for School Counsellors

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  1. Accept that you can’t do it all. There are only so many hours in the day and you deserve to take time for yourself. Make sure you take your lunch break every day unless an emergency comes up.
  2. Breathing is important for you too. Take time before each student you see to breathe.
  3. Connect with other School Counsellors. they understand you and the complexities of what you do.
  4. Dedicate time to play whatever that means for you , paint, sing, dance, doodle. Decompressing is a must for School Counsellors.
  5. Exercise every day. Finding some small way to exercise is one of the best self care tips that you will recommend to others, so you can fit this into your schedule too. Walking everyday clears my mind.
  6. Friendships make the world a better place. Do fun things with friends as much as possible.
  7. Gratitude helps, think of two things you are grateful for today and write them down.
  8. Hope is everything. Think of ways you can keep a hopeful attitude and journal them.
  9. Integrate positive self talk into your daily life.
  10. Just be you. There is so much pressure to perform and do so many tasks. Know that you have the counselling skills that help others and by just being you, you will make a difference.

Self Care is essential on an ongoing basis. Thanks for all you do! for more ideas click HERE.

Take Time

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When I go on my walks I like to toon out the world, but pay attention to nature. This is today’s pic. So go ahead take out the music earpieces and notice the world around you. Take time to breathe and take in all the wonders of the sights and sounds that pass you by.

Love and Louisbourg

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34 years ago today. I was fortunate to marry a man I respect in Louisbourg , Nova Scotia. He is the best human being I know. He has always encouraged me to be who I am and treats all those he meets with kindness. Our children have been the recipients of his unwavering love. He is the role model I wished for , for our children.

As Leo Buscaglia says , “too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or a small act of caring ,all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

The many moments of caring are the reason we have shared 34 years together.

Walking

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After not having walked for 14 days , it has been great to get out the last couple of days. Two years ago I set a goal to walk every single day from July 1st to July 1st and I met my goal. Last year and this year I was unable to walk every single day due to unfortunate circumstances. I would have been very disappointed in not being able to reach my goal had I set that goal for this year. Sometimes goals are like that, things get in the way, but we need to keep moving forward. This year I made a goal of writing in my blog every single day. I just need to take each day and do the best I can. Really it’s just about leaving something behind that my children can hopefully read someday and tell our future grandchildren a bit about their grandmother.

I also write in this blog to help School Counsellors, but this year it’s going to be a bit more personal.

Walking is healing for me. I miss it I am unable to walk, so if you like to walk #walkalongwithme . I’ve been at this for awhile now and I have no intention of stopping.

Walking … I hope you will join me.

The Simple Pleasures

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There are many simple pleasures in life, living life at a slower pace is one. When in Cape Breton life seems to slow down even in the best of times.

I start walking a bit slower when I get off of the plane during my yearly venture to enjoy the summers in beautiful Cape Breton.

A few of my favourite simple pleasures are :

  1. Getting up early looking out at the water and enjoying my first cup of tea.
  2. Watching the boats go by.
  3. Seeing kids water skiing or being pulled on a tube while shouting with glee.
  4. Reading a good book or magazine while soaking in the sun.
  5. Swimming in the Mira and taking a walk along the shore of any beach in Nova Scotia.
  6. Spending an evening with our kids one in their 20’s the other in their 30’s.
  7. Enjoying a meal cooked by our adult children.
  8. Eating outside on a warm summer eve.
  9. Spending time with friends anytime, anyway.
  10. Appreciating all in life that I have to be grateful for.

I love being around our children who are now young adults. Yesterday I got to spend time with my daughter. We cooked together, played crazy eights, and Yahtzee thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. What simpler pleasure could there be than that?

Helpful Resource for Substitute Teachers

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Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com

As I am a retired School Counsellor, I get called to come in to cover for School Counsellors. For the past three years I have happily done so and I’m guessing this year will be no exception. This year will be much different though.

Last year I pivoted in and worked from home. Because of my ability to use technology and my collaborative kills with other school counsellors who newly pivoted in, it wasn’t such a difficult task for me, but for others I am guessing it was much more difficult.

There are so many things to know. I believe this form will be helpful for those who are substitute teaching in anyway. Please use and modify to your liking.share with others if you think it might be helpful.

In later posts i will share many resources that will help School Counsellors specifically.