| You’re enough. Just like you are. Your email and social media are probably filled with calls to Make 2026 your year! and announcing a New Year, New You! This isn’t one of those emails. I think you’re pretty great just the way you are. I think we’re all pretty great just the way we are, and this month I want to celebrate that and suggest that you take a minute to think about how you got to be so amazing. One of the easiest ways to figure that out is to ask yourself, what makes you feel amazing? What reminds you of how wonderful you are? For me, it’s music. Music was a centerpiece of my growing up (one of my earliest memories is my dad waking me up with a rousing rendition of This Land is Your Land, accompanied on the banjo). I sang in all the choirs- church, show, jazz, and madrigal- not to mention my decades-long solo Car and Shower tour. Music brings me back to the times that I felt powerful and challenged— just the way I want to feel heading into a brand new year. This month I’m sharing a playlist I curated just for us, just for January, just to remind us what an absolute GIFT we are. (You can also find it on YouTube) I’m also sharing a few articles about how music helps with stress and— just in case music isn’t your thing— a couple of pieces about how adults benefit from finding the things that made them happy as children. What songs would you add? Just hit reply to let me know!  Sign up for Connections: Tools, News, and Inspiration for Teachers Like You and receive these little letters (plus a lot more) straight to your inbox every month! |
Ideas to Connect With This Month
- How Music Resonates in the Brain– Harvard Medicine
- Experience a “sound bath” and let the music carry you away– UNR Counseling
- The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-Being– APA
- What Made You Happy as a Kid is the Key to Your Success!– Medium
- 8 Reasons Thinking Like a Child Will Make You Happier- MentalFloss