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To All You Working Women in Education! #LetGo

I ran across this video today on Facebook, and it struck a chord.  These are beautiful, older women with a powerful message.

Today's women pride themselves on being able to hold a job, have a family, friends and if dedicated enough, a workout schedule.  It seems that the "busy" syndrome is something that is fashionable to be.  I love how the women in this video talk about pressure and perfection.  These are two words synonymous with women in their twenties and thirties today.  Young moms strive to "do it all", but at what price?

I was one of those moms - working in the classroom day in, day out, and coaching volleyball for three months of the year.  My schedule was chaotic, but I was determined to not let it get me down.  I had a young family at home, a husband who also had a busy schedule and relied HEAVILY on before and after care at my girls' schools.  It seemed that every year the insanity increased and the pressure to keep up was directly proportional.

We CHOOSE to be busy, we CHOOSE to work long hours, and we CHOOSE to try to keep up with everyone around us.  I love the hashtag on this video #LetGo.  We, as women, will definitely burn out at the rate we are going today.  We quite often gripe about the older generations being resistant to change, and we talk about how times have changed and they don't know what it's like to be young today.  They do know what it's like to have lived, and they do know what should be valued in life.

Listen to these women in the video.  We can't change everything in our life, but if you can take time to bring a little peace into your life, a little kindness every day, I bet you will find a difference.  Take the time to #LetGo of something - maybe you don't need to take that marking home tonight - your students can wait another day.  Maybe you can close your classroom door at lunch - take a moment for yourself.  Perhaps you can try to leave work before 4pm, and go with a friend for coffee before going home.  How will you #LetGo?

#BeWellEDU

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