Good Morning Y’all,

Let’s flip the script, shall we?
Summer isn’t just an escape. It’s an invitation.
An open door. A wide-open sky. A sacred window to step out of survival mode and into something deeper, better, and more life-giving.

If we’re being perfectly honest with ourselve… we’ve spent months living on bells, behavior charts, and burnout. We’ve earned the rest, yes. But what if we didn’t just rest this summer?

What if we reset?
What if we reignite?
What if we revived the best parts of ourselves?
Let’s take a deeper dive into these questions and more!

As alwyas, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

Summer isn’t just about laying low. It’s about rising up.
Yes, we need rest… deep, soul-filling rest… but let’s not stop there. This season is a rare window when the pace slows down just enough for us to pause, reflect, and realign. It’s a time to reconnect with who we are outside the classroom, to rediscover what brings us joy, and to reignite the purpose that drives us. If we approach it with intention, this summer won’t just refill our tanks, it’ll refocus our hearts, reframe our vision, and renew our strength. Let’s not waste it.

Here are 5 ways we can make this the summer that changes everything:

🧠 1. Set a Summer Motto

(Example: “Rest Well. Dream Big. Return Better.”)

We don’t need a 47-step plan for summer. But we do need a mindset that centers us.
Pick a motto. Something short, sticky, and meaningful.

Here are a few ideas:

• “Peace Over Pressure.”

• “Presence Over Perfection.”

• “Move. Breathe. Laugh. Repeat.”

• “Grow Where God Plants You.”

Write it on sticky-notes and post it on your bathroom mirror, on the fridge, inside the pantry door, and on your front door so you’ll see it when you take those first frew steps into society. Make it your phone lock screen so you see it right before you cruise the socials. Say it out loud when you wake up. What I’m trying to say is… let it shape your summer.

🪣 2. Create a Summer Bucket List That Brings You Joy

Not a list full of chores or productivity goals.
I’m talking about a joy list.

Things that spark Life. Laughter. Adventure. Rest.
Fill a notebook page or your Notes app with ideas like:

• Make s’mores over a fire pit

• Go to a concert

• Take a midweek nap with zero guilt

• Visit a town you’ve never been to

• Catch fireflies with your kids

• Read a novel just for fun

You’re not just checking boxes. You’re collecting memories.

🔥 3. Get Uncomfortable in One Area
(Challenge Yourself!)

I know. I know. I know. We said this would be fun.
But hear me out y’all: sometimes the most freeing thing we can do is prove to ourselves we can do hard things.

Pick one thing this summer that stretches you:

• Start a fitness routine (even if it’s just walking daily)

• Say yes to something that scares you

• Speak up where you’ve been silent

• Join that small group you’ve been avoiding

• Learn something new just because

Get uncomfortable on purpose. Growth doesn’t happen in our comfort zone. And revival doesn’t happen without movement.

🕰️ 4. Schedule “Unscheduled” Time
(Permission to Be Bored)

We don’t need to fill every second with productivity.
Some of the best ideas, prayers, insights, and healing come from quiet space.

Block off entire afternoons or mornings with nothing on the calendar.

• No social media.

• No chores.

• No pressure to perform.

Just be. Let the silence speak. Let the peace stir something new in your heart.

When we’re bored, we often bump into clarity.

🎯 5. Picture Your Comeback Story for Fall

Imagine it.
The first day back. A lighter, brighter version of yourself walks into that classroom.

• Peaceful, not panicked.

• Clear-eyed, not exhausted.

• Confident, not just compliant.

• A teacher on a mission… not just a teacher on a contract.

That’s what this summer can build.
But it won’t happen by accident. It starts now… with a choice to write a new story over the next couple of months.

🚀 Bottom Line, Y’all…

This summer isn’t a pit stop.
It’s a launchpad.

Let’s set our sights higher.
Let’s breathe deeper.
Let’s dream bigger.

We’re not just trying to “recover” from this past year.
We’re preparing to revive something powerful inside us… for our students, our families, and our calling.

Let’s make this our best summer ever.

~Mitch

🎵 May’s Teacher Tunes TuesdayPlaylist: Summer Fun! 🎶 

☀️We've almost made it! 🎉 This playlist is packed with good vibes, sunny feels, and a big splash of motivation to help you power through the final weeks of school. Whether you're grading papers, planning your last lessons, or daydreaming about beach days with family and friends, these tunes will lift your spirits and get you summer-ready. 🌴

🎯Finish strong. Celebrate big. You deserve it!🎯

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