Endings

So as a teacher, this time of year is both crazy, sad, and happy all rolled into one!!! It’s the end of an era with the current class ‘family’, some students are moving to new schools, while others have graduated and are on to new adventures.

It’s not just in teaching, however, that endings take place and no matter what phase of life you are in, endings are emotional for so many different reasons. As a kid, well and as an adult too, I always smiled when my Dad picked out a new book to read; you see, he would always read the ending first because if it was sad, he didn’t want to read it! And yet, as I look back, I realize that in some ways he was so accurate in wanting to seek out those happy endings! You see, even though we are not always promised sunshine and roses, endings do not have to be all gloom and doom either for life is what we make of it each and every day.

Life is forever evolving and if it was to stay still, it would become stagnant and uninspiring. Life should be about living every day to the fullest; it should be about embracing all that is thrown in our paths; and ultimately it should be about cherishing every moment because you never know when it could be your last. That’s not to say that all ‘endings’ are happy and I know first hand that when my Dad died, it didn’t matter how I looked at it, there was no new dream that could make losing him easier. And, I also learned that while time is not a great healer when it comes to loss, what has helped has been to look for the silver linings that I can carry forward with me.

No matter where my students go next year, the one thing that will forever remain true is the piece of my heart that they stole! The impact they have on me, or the way they touch my life, shapes me into the person I am today. Now don’t get me wrong, I have to admit I may not like every person I get to know, AND that is ok. The reality is, whether we remain in touch or not, I am a better person because I met them and every person I meet teaches me something I needed to learn … even if it is months or years later that I can recognize this!

So today, if you are embracing a phase of your life that is ending, I want you to remember this: the word end actually means Explore New Dreams and my hope and wish is that wherever your current ending is leading, it is filled with even greater joy and happiness than you could ever imagine!

Here’s to SHINING bright in all you do and the new adventures that await!!