Signs

I'm constantly on the lookout for signs of bears, especially this time of the year when I hike.  That said, signs are often hard to spot for bears. Despite their lumbering sizes, bears are grazers, quietly hiding in brush, often within in plain sight, if only we could see the signs.

I think that also might be true of us, especially as to how we are doing as persons in community with others. As a recent blog post pointed out, teacher burn-out, including in the ASP community, threatens to undo the work that we do for others. Foster, S., Semester Nearing an End, so Exhaustion is Increasing (Nov. 7, 2021).

What to do about it?

Take care of yourself, take care of others, be caring of others, be caring of yourself.  

And, feel free when you see the signs, in yourself or others, to unplug.  We don't have to be all things to all people.  Frankly, we can't.  And, if your law school is asking that of you, then they really aren't respecting you as a person either or your students either.  So feel free to unplug. That's part of the human experience.

That's when this sign caught my attention, placed in our law school's student affairs office by Amber Davis, assistant director of student affairs.  I especially like this sign because, notice carefully, it is sitting in a chair, resting and yet speaking.

Sometimes it is in our moments of quiet that we can do the best for others and for ourselves.

So give yourself a break (and a big hug), even if for just a few minutes.  (Scott Johns).