This weekend, I participated in the No Kings protest with my two children. It was an important lesson on civic engagement, community support, and speaking up for the rights of all people. As an immigrant in this country, it has been difficult to follow the news over the last few months and witness the ongoing tactics to dehumanize our friends and neighbors. Being in community with others who were also standing up against authoritarianism strengthened my commitment to growing hearts that can be caring and compassionate, and yet resilient to face the challenges of this moment.

In a recent newsletter, john a. powell from The Othering and Belonging Institute reminds us of something Gandhi understood deeply:

“The path we choose in moments of crisis shapes not just our immediate response, but the kind of society we become.” 

As I think about the summer break ahead, when we will all be enjoying some downtime with our families and a much-needed break from the routines of the school year, I am considering how rest and having the ability to choose how we spend our time can help us start building the kind of society that we want for our own children and future generations.

This period of rest isn’t just about personal renewal; it’s a vital opportunity to recharge our capacity to envision and build. When we have the space to reflect and choose how we invest our energy, we gain clarity on the values we wish to embody and instill. Imagine the collective power when educators, refreshed and re-centered, return ready to cultivate learning environments that truly reflect the just, compassionate, and equitable future we hope to create.

As you enter this period of valuable downtime, consider how this rest and the ability to choose how you spend your time directly contribute to building the kind of society we all envision. Use the HEART in Mind model to help you reflect:

H – Honor Your Emotions: How can truly honoring your emotional needs and allowing for deep emotional rest this summer impact your resilience and compassion?
E – Elect Your Responses: How might mindfully choosing activities for rejuvenation during this break empower you to return with renewed capacity?
A – Apply Empathy: How can stepping back and tending to your own well-being this summer deepen your empathy, preparing you to better understand and respond to your students?
R – Reignite Your Relationships: What intentional efforts will you make this summer to reignite and strengthen relationships – personal and professional – that can become part of the supportive, collaborative networks essential for building a thriving society?
T – Transform with Purpose: How can this time of chosen rest clarify or renew your personal purpose, guiding your actions in the next school year towards creating the kind of future you desire for children?

I hope these questions can support you as you rest, reflect, and meet the challenges of this moment.

Looking for new learning this summer?

If you are, check out these two opportunities that I have coming up:

📕 BOOK 
I am currently offering a complimentary 30-minute virtual Q&A session with you and your team when you place a bulk order of Teaching with the HEART in Mind before June 30th. This is a chance to spend any budget you have left before the end of the fiscal year, and get value to engage educators in the fall. The Q&A session can be scheduled starting in August.

👩🏼‍💻 COURSE
 If you are looking to strengthen your social and emotional skills this summer, Growing Your HEART Skills may be just the right thing for you! This transformative self-paced course is specifically designed to develop the social and emotional competencies of educators and foster a community of care. By participating in this course, you can gain invaluable insights and practical tools to enhance your own emotional intelligence. If you are not sure if this adult SEL program is right for you, send me a note or ask me how to organize a community of practice using this course. See below for more details.

I’ll be taking a break from the newsletter in July. I’ll be back in August with some exciting news and new opportunities to engage with me in growing HEARTs!

Wishing you a rejuvenating and inspiring summer.

Photo by Ivan Calderon

Mastering SEL skills plays a pivotal role in effectively managing stress, fostering productive conversations, making informed decisions, and overall, experiencing a sense of fulfillment and contentment in life.

Growing Your HEART Skills is an adult SEL program meticulously developed to help educators cultivate and practice these vital skills using the HEART in Mind model.

Whether utilized as a standalone resource, community of practice, or seamlessly integrated into your school-based professional development plans, this program equips educators with the tools and techniques necessary to live a purposeful, compassionate, and joyful life.

Contact us today to learn more about best practices for implementation and pricing!