On the Eve of Returning to Work

Ahhhh....

I feel like I can let out a deep breath....💨

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.....💪

I feel ready. 💚

Tomorrow I will go back to work as an elementary teacher. I am a mix of emotions....happy, excited, nervous, anxious.....It kind of reminds me of the first day of school, and honestly, it kind of is for me. It has been just over four months on my leave of absence. 🙋

I have had some really good dreams about going back, which in my past, usually predict how things will go.

On this stormy night (we are under a wind warning 💨 and blizzard warning 🌨), I am thinking that tomorrow could very well be a "snow day" where buses are cancelled but teachers go to work. Any students that can get driven to school can come too. My own kids will be going with me tomorrow. 🏫

I feel good about this week and am looking forward to it being a good week. Thankfully, it is a slow gradual schedule. 👐 Meaning that this week, I am "part time" and may leave early if need be. The teacher that has been in for me will be there all week too. That is kind of a relief because I can observe, take some notes, and piggy back off what he has already been doing. He may or may not have piggy backed off what I was already doing back in October. Of course, there has been a lot of growth that would be expected with all classes.

I am looking forward to getting back into a routine and not wearing my pyjamas until noon. I have made so much progress throughout this journey. I probably still have a way to go, but I have also come SOOOO far!!! I am proud of myself and proud of the progress I have made. Mental illness in any form is not a laughing matter. It should be taken seriously and not a matter of bruising it off.

So on the eve of my return to work, I am feeling confident and ready to tackle this week!!! 💗💗 I will remember all the strategies I have learned....grounding, muscle tension and relaxation, deep breathing. 🙏

To be continued....😃