'Being an Adult Means...

...You Can Do Anything!'

Well, it has been a while since I have posted on the blog. My goal was to have a weekly newsletter (which I managed for January) and to finish off the month with a lengthier blog post that everyone can access, but alas, I blame being a teacher for everything and having no time for anything lol!

It has been a busy few weeks. I have been a class teacher for 13 years or so and over the last few weeks I was dealing with some challenges that I hadn't experienced before. I really had to dig deep and my own wellbeing was impacted massively; I gave over far, far too much of myself to try and sort out a huge variety problems professionally and personally, and I was teetering dangerously on the edge of burnout.

I spent time talking over some of this with my coach who reminded me that we can't give 100% all of the time, sometimes we have to be at 85% in work to let ourselves breathe and that is what I've been trying to do. She also reminded me that if I want my business to grow - I have to think of it as a plant, I need to water it and nurture it for it to grow! So, I'm hopeful March will have much more space for my plan(t)s than the last few weeks have.

This week, I asked the children in my class to finish this sentence for me 'Being a grown up means...'. Some of their answers were really funny. It means you can 'be in charge a little bit', it means 'you can work for Elon Musk', it means 'you get to work hard' (don't we know it!) and it means you 'get to drive a limo'.

One answer struck me - 'Being an adult means that you can do anything'.

We teach children that they can grow up to be anything they want to be. I wonder how many of them actually be the thing they really want to be? I wonder how many of us are doing the 'anything' that we dreamed of as little whippersnappers? I feel like I've got growing pains all over again. I know there's more impact to be made out with my classroom. More I can offer the world and be of greater service. And although she might have meant it in the 'eating popcorn for breakfast' type of way, the little child who wrote this really taught me a lesson I'd long forgotten; I can do anything I set my mind to.

Indulge me in doing this little visualisation. Imagine you have a money tree that grows in your garden. It replenishes everyday and always has enough money leaves to cover all the bills, pay for food and all the outgoings you have now with some left over. Would you stay in your current job? What work would you do? What business or hobby would you start? What thoughts and feelings arise for you when you think about doing some different work or business?

I would REALLY love to hear some of your reflections, do feel free to reply.

Ashley x