Natalie Bunner

Thought:

What is meaningful work without courage? How can we grow in kindness, truth, mercy, generosity and honesty without the PROOF of courage? It is easy to say we possess these qualities but, until they are tested and met with bravery, they are simply words. There is no honor when courage is absent. Step into your present with the courage to do the hard things. Defend what is right. Stand up for your fellow man. Lean into courage and you will always be able to walk in dignity.

Tip:

Many of us lead people everyday, in some capacity. Whether we are parenting our kids or managing groups of people professionally, we are leading others. Thus, it is important to remember that our followers assess how we respond to stress, resistance and disappointment and tend to emulate our behaviors. Brene Brown, one of the leading social workers/researchers on valuable topics such as shame, vulnerability and courage, explores the behaviors of those exhibiting daring leadership:

• Have difficult conversations:  Courageous leaders have the challenging, sometimes emotional conversations, even when they don’t want to.
• Embrace fears and feelings: Courageous leaders understand they need to spend time attending to the fears and feelings of those who follow them or spend a significant amount of time dealing with the impact of these feelings and fears. These leaders understand that they need to embrace what is driving the fears of their people.
• Show people how to re-set: Courageous leaders encourage people to make mistakes, reset, and bounce back. In fact, these leaders would rather hire someone who is not perfect but has the ability to bounce back and learn from mistakes.
• Focus on the root cause: Courageous leaders focus on problem-solving and getting to the root cause of issues. Although it’s easy to find a quick fix, a courageous leader stays in the problem to determine the cause. Once the cause is found, they go into problem-solving mode.

Thanks:

I want to express genuine gratitude for the three years I have spent at Willow Charter Academy. Many amazing relationships were forged in the hallways and classrooms of that building. Things were not perfect but that was not a requirement to keep me coming back, year after year. It was my love for the students and the great work we did as a team. Whether it was working late nights to get a job done, convening and collaborating on best practices to ensure optimal growth in a student or participating in holiday potlucks, we worked as a team. So it is with profound sadness to announce that I was required to resign from my position as school social worker at Willow Charter Academy. It boiled down to doing what was right even though it wasn’t the popular option. Although my goal to find solutions that would allow me to continue to work with the students of WCA was not realized, I am forever thankful for the opportunity to work alongside some wonderful people over the years. I am proud to know I left my position in a significantly better place than I found it. 😊 Willow Charter teachers and staff, remember that you are highly valuable, both as individuals and as a team, and should always be treated with the utmost professional respect. You guys are truly amazing! Just know, this is not goodbye. This is simply “until we meet again”. ♥️

Thought:

In that order: check systemic processes, acknowledge what is broken or intentionally exclusive, and do the work to fix it. It’s common to want to jump ahead in the journey to self-discovery but you will be missing all of the pertinent lessons that will prepare you along the way. It’s the journey that will refine you, grow you. Focus on that; focus on mindful movement and take one step at a time towards healing.

Tip:

It’s been a rough few weeks and there were times when I felt my thoughts and actions become more propelled by past experiences and worrying about the future than living and responding in the present. Working through professional challenges and processing the complex feelings related to the loss of #georgefloyd and several others, I found myself struggling to stay in the here and now.

What stood out to be in the picture above was the statement: “Listen to your inner voice on the inside and speak it on the outside”. I realized that I wasn’t exploring my current thoughts with anyone and they were beginning to meld with old, unresolved thoughts. Thankfully, I have amazing people in my life to process with who helps bring me back to center.

Thanks:

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen people step up with ferocious courage as they become transparent with their neighbors and lean into true allyship. They are putting their ‘whataboutisms’ aside and, instead, are saying, “I’m here, listening. I’m holding space for you to just BE.” To you who have been there for me, I offer gratitude. I am thankful for you and your vulnerability as I gives me the courage to be open with you.

Thought:

Yang, renowned meditation teacher and psychotherapist, identifies how true mindfulness enriches internal growth, our relationships with others and the health of our communities. May we diligently strive to be a possible contributor to our world through mindful integrity.

Tip:

As we enter into our summer break, consider taking the time to apply more mindful exercises into our day. Mindfulness allows us space to emotionally rest, refuel and refocus. That provided space is critical as it is only available when we can be honest about where we are in the moment. By being truthful with ourselves, showing grace and leaning into the people, places, and things that bring us fulfillment, we can learn to live a more abundant life.

Thanks:

It takes a lot of courage to live bold, brave and strong. Although it is not always the easiest thing to do, living lion-hearted can be quite the adventure. Everyone is not capable of experiencing boldness, bravery and strength right now. And, that’s okay. We, the “Live Out Loud” folx, got you! We may be a bit too colorful and bright for some people, but I’ll say this: We will continue to shine on! And, we’ll leave the light on for you.

Thought:

Why is checking in with yourself important? Proactive self-assessment allows us to deal with any challenges before they become overwhelming. Take the time to care for yourself. You will be glad you did!

Tip:

“This is trauma. This is a collective adverse childhood experience (ACE) that has directly or indirectly impacted everyone. ACEs are traumatic events that occur before the age of eighteen and include all types of abuse and neglect, parental mental illness, substance use, domestic violence, divorce, even incarceration. It’s important to understand these experiences because they can affect a student’s attention, decision-making ability, how they learn, and even how they respond to stress.”

This thought-provoking article allows us the opportunity to explore what we, as educators, can do to help our kids socially and emotionally upon their return to school. Definitely worth the read!

Thanks:

You’re making it! You are resilient! Just remember to take one moment at a time and know that all great accomplishments starts with one good decision. You can do this!

Thought:

Mindful Minute: Am I simply surviving or am I thriving? How do I know? Am I content where I am, emotionally and relationally? What is my next step toward contentment?

Tip:

Contrary to the general consensus, Mindfulness is not always a static experience. Moving in mindfulness is just as powerful a path in life. What are some acts of intentionality that are helping you remain balanced and at peace?

Thanks:

You know how much bravery it takes to live your life out loud and with intention. Shower yourself with gratitude today!

Thought:

I remember my Grade 1 teacher, Ms. Webb. She was a young, vibrant educator who always came up with fun ways to teach English lessons. Because of her continual effort to engage us with new ideas and encourage our love for discovery, I can still remember her as “my teacher”, decades later! Teachers, what an awesome superpower to have!

Tip:

Early elementary educators, daycare workers and parents! This online conference is for YOU! Transforming Challenging Behavior Online Conference starts this week and it’s FREE! A host of early childhood professionals will be exploring some of the ineffective behaviors you may experience with children in your care and identify possible solutions that can assist you in teaching self-regulation to your child! Click the picture for the link!

Thanks:

You are still writing lesson plans. Your anchor charts are draped in your living room. You are reaching out to your students to make sure they’re okay. You are updating your Google Classroom so your students can continue to learn. You are putting on birthday parades for little boys and girls. Zoom calls are created so that your students can get one more chance to learn together. With every challenge, you still step up to the plate and handle business. Why? Because you are TEACHERS; that’s what you do. So, as a parent of school age children, I want to say: T H A N K Y O U! You deserve more than a week of praise! You guys are awesome and we appreciate all you do to ensure that our scholars keep learning!

Thought:

We can bemoan the past and stress about the future or be can be HERE NOW. Remember, taking one moment at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time is all we are effectively capable of. So let’s focus on the beauty of the present.

Tip:

Self-care looks different to everyone but the outcome should be the same. We should feel regulated, fulfilled and content when participating in self-care activities. What are your favorite self-care experiences?

Thanks:

Countless stories are coming in about teachers, support staff and administrators who are going above and beyond to help our kids transition during this chaotic time. We thank you from the bottom of my heart for every note, Zoom meeting, parade and phone call that expresses your love for our children! You are the real MVPs!! 

Thoughts:

Everyone is anxious about putting the Covid-19 quarantine experience behind them and get back to ‘normal’. However, I wonder what we can learn DURING this time. Are we existing in the Fear Zone? How is living in our respective zones serving us and our families? How can we continue to evolve to a place of mindful growth?

Tip:

It is important for us to find times to refuel and reset. Many of us struggle to self-care; we feel guilty for ‘wasting time’ or convince ourselves that we don’t have time. Yet, it’s those moments of self-care that actually improve our effectiveness. What are some things that helps you feel back to balance?

Thanks:

Take the time this week to Thank the Earth. Let’s show gratitude to the Earth by throwing our temporary masks and gloves in the trash can. Recycle. Share our resources and avoid hoarding out of fear. And, most importantly, show respect to your fellow man by practicing social distancing and protecting those in the more vulnerable members of our community.