If you could only comprehend what I dealt with over the past 6-8 weeks you would easily understand why I chose the word recovery for my word for 2025. Pain…frustration…exhilaration…joy…comfort…more frustration…emotions…a roller coaster ride.
Right before Thanksgiving I ended up with what I assumed was a pulled muscle after doing some heavy lifting. I went through the day just thinking I pulled something and took some medicine thinking it would just relax and go away. After a day or so, I ended up in Urgent Care and taking a couple of days off of work because of the pain and to get better. Right after Thanksgiving, I ended up in the emergency room because the pain was that bad. The pulled muscle ended up being a slipped disc that was pinching a nerve and causing me excruciating pain. I was prescribed medication and rest to help me recover. I was out of work for the week following Thanksgiving. Later that week I started physical therapy.
Physical therapy showed me that I somehow am able to move my body in ways I never imagined. I was doing exercises that contorted my body in strange ways…but even though there was pain, it actually felt good. Even though it was feeling good I still needed time. With the advice of my physical therapist and my physician, I was directed to not go into work the following week as well. This means I was out of the classroom for 3 weeks. For a teacher, well at least for me, 3 weeks feels like an eternity!
During that 3 weeks, I continued to make plans, keep in touch with my colleagues, and do whatever I could to make this situation “normal” for everyone, especially my students. This definitely was not an easy task, but it was one that I took seriously. I am so thankful for my colleagues that took on an additional role, especially during that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break that is never easy! They truly helped make my recovery easier.
I will never forget returning to the classroom the week before break. I came back to support and care that I didn’t truly expect. There was an understanding from my colleagues and students that was very special. They made my return much easier than I anticipated and it felt great being back!
So, why did I choose the word recovery. Well, for me it was pretty easy to decide. Recovery is a challenge. It provides you with highs and lows. Recovery changes how you have to deal with situations. This is exactly what I encountered for over a month!
While I was recovering, I really had to slow down. I had to slow down so much that I barely did anything…and that was extremely difficult for me to do. I sometimes felt helpless while at the same time I learned that sometimes I cannot attempt to do everything. Sometimes I need to let things go and know that it will be okay. This recovery process did that for me and it is something that I need to continue into this year.
Recovery is also a time for reflection. I need to reflect on the actions I took that led me to the situation that I am in. I need to continue to reflect on where I am and find ways to improve what I have done and to understand what has and hasn’t worked well. I need to look at ways to grow from what has been successful and build upon those moments.
Recovery is a journey. Recovery is a challenge. Recovery is going to make me stronger even though I have those moments of being agitated, frustrated, and feeling like I won’t be able to get better. I have come a long way on my recovery journey so far, but there is still a long way to go. I need to stick with the checkpoints, trust those around me to give me guidance, and to let go of parts of the process that I just don’t need to do. I need to take the time to recover and to recover my own time.
Take time for your own recovery this year!
Cottos Corner for Education 