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S2: E57 Sunday Sip: Consider Yourself Hugged

Season Two
Episode 57
Consider Yourself Hugged

Hello friends and welcome to Sunday Sip on Afternoon Ti.  Each Sunday for the remainder of the year I plan to share a single idea, thought, or meaningful take-away in hopes that you’ll be encouraged and inspired as you prepare to enter the next new week of teaching. 
Consider this episode a virtual hug from me to you.  We’ve made it through a few months of school already and you might be feeling like you need a hug.  Someone to tell you that it’s going to be okay. That what you’re giving day in and day out matters.  That you matter. One of my all-time favorite administrators that I ever worked under was Linda Humphrey.  She was warm, compassionate, and a wonderful leader. I began working with her after a really hard year of teaching and transition. She brought joy back to teaching for me.  And she always ended her emails with CYH - consider yourself hugged. I knew she meant it too. She was a hugger. She hugged students as they entered the school and hugged teachers who were giving their best.  One of her many strengths was how she set the tone for the school and brought so much care to each day.
There are benefits to hugs including feeling closer to the person you’re embracing.  According to studies shared in an article on hugging in Psychology Today, hugs can lower your risk of catching a cold, reduce your blood pressure, and lighten your mood even on bad days.  Giving and receiving a hug can show support for someone else. If you know that a person is open to hugging or you have a close friendship/relationship with someone and words are lacking, sometimes giving a hug can say what needs to be said.  It’s a way to say ‘You’re amazing,’ I’m proud of you, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through, I’m here, or other emotions to someone else to show that your care.
At the end of the day yesterday, I had my last fifth grade class with students who were switching fine arts classes beginning on Monday for the new trimester.  At the end of class a student came over and immediately gave me a side hug and said Thanks Mrs. Grant. This was so unexpected and I loved watching them catch up to their friends and walk with them.  It was a simple gesture and completely appropriate way for them to say thank you - simple and kind. It made me realize that I had made a difference with this student when honestly I wasn’t sure how they were doing.  They were so quiet and sometimes seeming unengaged during lessons. But this simple gesture made my day and they walked away smiling too.
So friends - consider yourself hugged today.  You matter more than you’ll ever know. We’ve got a few weeks until Thanksgiving.  Many of us are exhausted - I slept almost 13 hours last night and plan to still take a nap to recoup later today.  Make time to refill yourself and give what you have to your students. You’re amazing and you matter. Consider yourself hugged.

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