Yesterday at school the staff had a retreat day. We went to a place out of town in the hills. A Sister from the Marist order came to speak to us and draw our attention to the big picture. She asked some great questions and we recalled our intentions as Marist teachers. Our school motto that I love “Strong Minds, Compassionate Hearts”, is one I repeat often to myself and students. I feel it is a grounded and worthy motto. She called us to always remember amidst all the daily annoyances and battles (that she listed and obviously knew having taught for a long time) that ‘each person is an individual, a person with a name, with dignity, as a child of God’.

We often notice amongst ourselves how out of line we are in these ideals and intentions. It’s really challenging to keep it in mind all the time. I can easily see how others don’t do it or just as ineffectively beat myself up for all the recollections of my own shortcomings. I want to realign with that intention and keep at it, without becoming disheartened or cynical. Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist brothers wrote that you must love children to do this work, and I do. That is why I am happy working in a Marist school and feel it is aligned to who I am.

I was tired beyond explanation and not in the mood to be there. I felt too tired to retreat and struggled to remain focussed. I was too cranky to socialise or be with my fellow staff members. I wanted the retreat to work it’s magic on me, but I didn’t see how it could.

Even as I left I felt the day could have been better spent chipping away at my to do list. Yet after a good nights sleep I can see some of it seeped in regardless of the weariness. I realised I haven’t been taking very good care of myself this week. I haven’t exercised, slept, eaten properly. I’ve forgotten to take my vitamins. It has created a perfect storm and as the week has gone on it’s just been getting worse. This morning I am going to get back on track with it all. I am going to have an epsom salt bath(inspiring by reading this)  after I exercise. I recall overhearing someone asking after a seriously ill collegue and thinking I need to put my troubles into perspective. I enjoyed seeing the large show of autumn in the trees around and my skin still feels the tingle of the crisp air up there.

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