2023 Reflection on Rest

Unfortunately, before and during the holiday break, I was down with COVID, followed by a horrible cold. The cold was most unwelcome as COVID was hard enough, but I hadn’t experienced a cold in almost three years. This unfortunate health situation caused me to slow down and rest, and I must admit, as much as I need rest, it makes me uncomfortable. When resting, I feel like I should be doing something productive. Recently I received a book from a friend entitled, Rest is Resistance, A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey. I am not recommending this book, as I haven’t read enough of it to recommend it, but I found one of her questions thought-provoking, “What would it be like to live in a well-rested world?”

As the new year approaches, and we head back to school again on January 3rd, my thoughts are marinating on the above-mentioned question. What would it mean for ourselves, our children, and our community if we were better rested? What would it look like if we could pace ourselves, slow down, listen, and better manage our reactions and expectations of ourselves and others? What would it feel like, in this new year, if we could partner and collaborate on the important work that needs to be done in and outside our school community? When we work together and move in the direction of our north star, the FSS mission, our collective impact is much greater than when we work in silos. I believe in the mantra that many hands make light work, which creates space for rest.

In January, we will have math work to complete, technology visioning, curriculum to work on, service and community engagement ideas to implement, admissions and enrollment management to leverage, and fundraising and stewarding to do. There are assessments to be completed, learning recommendations to make, field trips to be had, board committee meetings and retreats await, parent engagement opportunities and graduation to be planned, and various issues to be worked out. As we think about all of these things that hold so much importance, let’s not forget that if we are going to thrive, resting should not be an afterthought but an essential practice that will help us to be more caring and considerate human beings.

Wishing you rest in the new year!

In partnership,

Kim