Back to School

September is in the books, school is back in session (for the most part), and I have been thinking about the experience of being a student in the world today. With so much uncertainty, ambiguity, and fear going around, I can only imagine its impact on students of all ages. Navigating our formidable years is already challenging enough without additional pressure! 

I hope that as parents, mentors, friends, and leaders, we can be there for our students to give them the emotional support to navigate these times and help them to realize that they are not alone. We are all riding this wave together, and we can support them to make it through stronger as we continue on our journey. I was reminded of something I wrote a while back that I wanted to share: 

Peaks and valleys are just a natural part of the human experience. If you've been on the peaks, you also know you can end up in the valleys when things get tough. And yet we'd never appreciate peaks if it wasn't for the valleys. So, it's a natural part of being human. But how do we keep from getting stuck in the valleys for longer than we need to? 

It comes down to this. The valleys are here to teach us. When we've learned what we need to, we naturally find our way to the next peak. 

When a surfer wipes out during a big wave, they know the last thing they should do is struggle or panic because it exhausts and depletes them. Yet, when they relax and fully surrender to the experience, they get their bearings and naturally start floating to the surface. 

Moving through the peaks and valleys of life is like that. I can't tell you how many times something has failed during a big project. And yet being able to fully relax into the uncomfortable valley of that experience and trust that the path would appear was the difference that made the difference; Every single time. 

So, I share this to remind you, there is always a path. There's always a path. Keep surfing. 

Stay safe and healthy!