Shut down, reset, and start again but make sure you first stop, reflect so you are ready.
The title of my blog is inspired by movement and that title came to my mind during one of my runs a few years ago.
I have started training again for an upcoming run, a famous one that you might know, it’s called the Angkor Wat International Marathon which this year happens to be the 25th year.
On Saturday I ran 16km, not a very fast pace, 6m per km or even a bit slower, and had to stop two times, one of them to buy some water because it was quite steamy outside. During one of these two stops, I decided to stretch a bit to recover my breath and then, this man walked by me, and smiled at me with his thumb up. Cambodian people are really kind, they always smile at you but this time, there was something else, he was empowering me, and I was grateful for that.
On Sunday I went running again, and this time I decided to try a new route, crossing the river on a big bridge to get to an island in the Mekong river. I just happened to see someone how was struggling on his run, and, somehow, I remember how the man from the day before had empowered me with a simple “thumb up” so I did the same. I got a beautiful smile from that runner, so now, I was on a mission, I decided to inspire others. I saw two more runners and I got two more smiles, which was refreshing, I wonder if they would do the same for others.
As I was running, I started to feel stronger and more positive, yes, I know, physical activity help you to get that feeling, but somehow, before I felt more tired, and I realized why.
As teachers, this pandemic is slowly draining us, we have been feeling more and more tired and with new duties and responsibilities, working harder, even if we try smarter, and with less energy.
Today I came to realize the importance of stopping, reflecting and deleting what is not need it in our brain and I encourage you to do the same. Find the time to do it, you will appreciate the effort.
Then, you’ll be ready to shut down, reset and start fresh!
Good luck!
By the way, today’s run resulted in 10km, jumping in a ferry that waited for me while I sped up to make sure I made it on time, a light rain and a better speed.
inspiredbymovement 
Chica! I love your post. It reminded of all the things I miss about working alongside you every day in Phnom Penh. You don’t just talk the talk, you truly embrace the process of walking the walk, too…or in this case running the run!
I enjoyed connecting your theme of shut down, reset and start fresh to my own life at the moment in deepest, darkest Africa. Like you I am feeling exhausted, overtired, and that awful ennui that seems to be enveloping so many of us teachers as we try our hardest to meet the needs of leaners on campus, online, close by and thousands of miles away.
I think I will shutdown my laptop early tonight, and reset with an earlier night than usual so that I can start fresh with my daily swim at 4:45am…yes, that’s how I’m rolling these days!
Thanks for the pep talk from afar, I preferred the ones we shared in the butterfly garden but I’ll take what I can nowadays!
Keep on sharing, Leti!
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Thanks for your response, Paula. It makes me happy to think that you will be resetting and starting fresh. So important to acknowledge that, make some changes and remember what really matters.
I keep going to the butterfly garden from time to time. Always a calm place to unplug and be mindful.
Big hugs,
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