New App - A Passion Project

Without further ado, I'd like to welcome you to my newest passion project, Life Tune-up!

Here's my problem.  I always want to care for myself, but I don't always make the time to do so.  That means, everything gets done for everyone else and everything else and then, I'm too exhausted to focus on me.   I'm like a car needing a tune-up, but I keep putting it off and the mileage just keeps accumulating.

Solution:  I need a Life Tune-Up.  So, I created one.  And since I already don't have enough time, I made sure this tune-up is super time friendly.

Why is this important?  Because, "You can't pour from an empty cup."   You.  Me.  All of us.  It's time to thoughtfully fill-up our cups and then, go conquer the world (get stuff done, be fantastic parents, family members, colleagues...).  Follow our dreams.  Self-care.  And not feel depleted.

Details:  I've created a 21-day experience (called a "challenge") through the Obii app where you and I (plus, whomever wants to join us) will take 21-days to tune up our lives in a meaningful, coachy, and time-effective way.  Each day during the three week challenge, your phone/tablet will deliver new content right to you via the Obii app.  Your job each day is to watch the 1-5 minute video I made for you (and yes, it's me in the video - the gift of gab).   Take whatever you learn from that day's video and reflect on it in a downloadable journal I created.  There's a chance each day to share your biggest takeaways in our community - all via the Obii app. The app is pretty to look at, easy to use and fun.

Dates:  The dates for the upcoming challenge are May 4th-25th.

UPDATE: The Life Tune-up will begin June 8th.  Use the info below to register....

Code:  earlybirdsummer
Link to registerhttps://app.obii.io/store?p=245

Want to join me?  Check in with yourself and see if you need (or maybe just want) a Life Tune-up.  I would love to virtually hang out with you while we self-care together.  Here is the link to registerhttps://app.obii.io/store?p=245.  Use this code for a discounted rate:  earlybirdsummer

And in case there is some little voice inside of you telling you differently, you are worth this - the time, the money, the self-care, the abundance, the everything!

Yep, you are -

Jen


PS - Life Tune-Up will take 5-10 minutes a day for three weeks in a row.  That's it!  And, it might be shorter some days and on one day longer as I have an interesting activity planned for us that is about 15 minutes that one day.

You're Speaking My Language, Mr. Port

Remember when this book chose me?  Well, it's totally speaking my language for 2014.  I bet it speaks the language of many businesses, schools, and families.  

I wonder where your passion will take you.

Have a fantastic weekend - keep being your passionate self.

Jen

PS - I am semi-glad Heart Week is over.  Things on this blog were getting a little too cutesy for me. Back to the regularly scheduled program from here forward....

Lara Lessons: Theories on Thursday

Who knew I'd like blogging so much that I am in my 15th week of Upcycled Education?  Actually, if my fifth grade teacher, Mr. Sparkman, knew there would one day be something called "blogging," I bet he would say I'd make a great blogger.  I do like to talk.  The gift of gab.

P, little O and Jen at a bike fundraising
event for autism research. 

My graduate class just ended.  Actually, my undergraduate classes just ended, too.  One of my star graduate students emailed a thank you to me.  She thanked me for my "joyful way of approaching the world...."  I was already emotional before her email arrived in my inbox.  Now, I think I've reread it over ten times.  I wonder if students know what impact they have on us, teachers.  Their words, their behaviors, their being.  Interesting to note, I never met my graduate students in person.  The class was entirely online.  Could she really "get" me without meeting me in person?   Do you, fabulous blog reader, get me from this blog?

Today is usually our Theories on Thursday day.  Since I've blogged about everyone else's theories, I thought I'd take a shot at my own. I shall dub my theory, though more philosophical, Lara Lessons.  If you know someone at LARABAR, please ask them if they'd like to sponsor me.  I need sustenance on my bike rides ....and for blogging.

Lara Lesson #1:  I echo Dr. James Comer's famous quote from the 90s, "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship."  Teachers, work on your relationships with students first, no matter what the pacing guide says.

Lara Lesson #2:  I'm going to sound like a bumper sticker here:  Be the change you want to see in the world.  The attitude and way of life you project is the attitude and way of life your students emulate.  This is very FISH philosophy, no?

Lara Lesson #3:  Be like IKEA.  Unboring.  If you are slightly bored (let's say "x"), then your students are probably 10x.  That's about the extent of mathematics for this theory. 

Lara Lesson #4:  Find balance.  Too much sun and you get sunburned.  Too much water rots the roots.  "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.  Know when to walk away, know when to run...."  I just solidified my membership as a GenXer quoting Kenny Rogers.  Proud.  Teaching takes energy, fortitude and awareness.  Give of yourself, but make certain you save some of yourself - your time, energy and passion - for your non-school moments.  It's just like that announcement on the airplane, "Put on your oxygen mask first before assisting small children...."

Lara Lesson #5:  Remember E. Paul Torrance's work.  He studied creativity for decades at the University of Georgia.   His famous words, "....fall in love with something...."  Secret trick:  Let your students know about your something.  Passion is admirable and contagious.  I bet you can guess which topics I am passionate about from my blog posts.  Passion kindly brings joy.

Joy.  How grateful I am for this blog, my teaching experiences, P and little O, my supportive friends, family, students and colleagues, Photoshop (ha!) and you, fabulous blog reader.

Always,
Jen