This shattered me.

 
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Volume 13

I recently came across a tweet that just shattered me. It was from an educator that was sitting in her car debating whether she should go in and teach her class or just quit right then and there. After twenty minutes in the car, she decided to turn in her badge and keys. Sadly this educator is not alone. It’s the beginning of October and educators across the country are not ok. My heart breaks for them, and I feel helpless.

What gets me through these times is connecting with inspiring educators who are rolling up their sleeves to do whatever it takes to help others. They inspire me when I feel like I have too much to do and not enough time. Teachers do so much every single day.

Despite everything they do, many teachers struggle with self compassion. They demonstrate boundless compassion for others but offer less to themselves. Perhaps this is why I feel like I have so much in common with educators, despite never being a K-12 educator myself. I’ve recently learned that beyond increasing compassion for others, self compassion can also increase mindfulness, life satisfaction, and decrease depression, anxiety, and stress (source). What if we turned our inner critics into our best friends? What if that voice in our heads constantly supported us and provided comfort and guidance in the most challenging times? Can we ever just give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend?

Part of self compassion for me, is being ok with not being ok at times. It’s my way of recognizing and appreciating that part of being human is experiencing struggle, pain, and loss. Having challenges, failing, and succeeding happen but so does learning, accepting, and moving forward. For all of you Ted Lasso fans out there, he recently tweeted something that helped vocalize my grief in a self-compassionate way.

This school year -- heck, this time in life -- is incredibly challenging. Please be kind to yourself above everything else. I know it’s easier said than done, but as James Clear says in his book, Atomic Habits, “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger.”

 

PS: Everyone is struggling in some way right now. Take a moment to reach out to someone and just let them know you care. Let this short story from Winnie the Pooh be your inspiration.

The EdTech Marketer's 2021 Planner

Deliver timely and valuable content to your audience in Q4. This planner includes events, holidays, famous birthdays, and conferences that most align with education and learning -- all within an easy, downloadable calendar format. Download the free planner >>

Psst! Our 2022 EdTech Marketer's Planner is coming soon.

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How to Foster a Meaningful & Engaged Education Community

Tuesday, October 12, 2021, from 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM PDT.

Learn the differences between engagement, audience, and community, understand the primary purposes of brand communities, and identify community-building activities you can do at each stage of your community's lifecycle. Register >>

 

In honor of International Podcast Day last week, we asked our team, clients, and referral partners for the podcast they just couldn't stop listening to.

Culture

  1. Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell
    Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. Recommended by Rebecca Sadwick, Founder, Strategica Partners

  2. Meditative Story
    Combines extraordinary human stories with meditation prompts embedded into the storylines — all surrounded by breathtaking music. Recommended by Annie Teich, CEO, The Teich Group

  3. Coffee and Books
    Host Marc Lamont Hill chats with authors and prominent public figures who share the backstory behind their latest book. Recommended by Derrick Tillman-Kelly, Director of the UIA Fellows Program and Network Engagement, University Innovation Alliance

  4. Dolly Parton’s America
    In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? Recommended by Porter Palmer, Director of Joy, LCG

  5. The Friendship Onion
    Billy Boyd and Dom Monaghan as they take a look back at their time on The Lord of the Rings. Recommended by Anna Fields, Project Manager, LCG

  6. Sway and Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
    Recode’s Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics. Recommended by Dr. Monica Burns, Educator, Author, Speaker & EdTech Consultant, Class Tech Tips

  7. 1619
    In August of 1619, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia. On the 400th anniversary of this fateful moment, it is time to tell the story. Recommended by Porter Palmer, Director of Joy, LCG

Relationships

  1. The Michelle Obama Podcast
    The former First Lady diving deep into conversations with loved ones—family, friends, and colleagues—on the relationships in our lives that make us who we are. Recommended by Daylene Long, Founder, Catapult X

  2. 10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris
    Dan Harris talks with eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the odd celebrity about mental health, enlightenment or even the science of anxiety. Recommended by Annie Teich, CEO, The Teich Group

  3. Trailercast with Elyse Snipes
    Elyse shares stories of hope, grief and everyday struggle inspired by her work as a therapist and her own life experiences. Recommended by Katie Test Davis

Entertainment

  1. Conan O’Brian Needs a Friend
    Over the years and despite thousands of interviews, Conan has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests. So, he started a podcast to do just that. Recommended by Lily Jones, Social Media Lead, LCG

  2. Solvable
    Solvable is a true-crime podcast that seeks to find the answers to unsolved mysteries. Recommended by Salleha Chaudhry

Shameless plug — All Things Marketing and Education is our biweekly podcast that hosts experts in EdTech, Marketing and everything in between. Check out our first two episodes >>