My incredible husband gifted me my “Strength for the Journey” pendant about six months ago; it was a gift from one of his customers – Lesley – who is the heartbeat/owner/founder of Traveling Pendants. From the start, I loved the entire premise of this company – what it embodied, what it stood for, its mission. At the time though, I shortsightedly thought I was ‘good-to-go’ in the strength department. I now realize how naive that was.
My personal life is pretty seamless. I have a small band of incomparable family and friends who are for the most part stress-free; I know that I am very fortunate in that respect. I am, however, about to start my 16th year as a high school teacher and to be honest, sometimes it feels like it gets harder every year.
On the surface, my profession is not supposed to be about the mental health of my students, but as the years go by, I realize that at the basest of levels, my career is all about support and feeling supported. I think all of us teachers at one time or another feel like we’re going to be just like Michelle Pfeiffer in “Dangerous Minds” and create radical life changes for every kid that walks through our door. It is now crystal clear that although the growth of all of my students is the goal, I often have more of an effect personally on a handful of these teens and that effect can be transformative and profound.
This pendant for me is a reminder that although I am just one person, I am mighty.
Beth
Beth