Mental Health Day

Every once in a while, maybe three times a year, I have to take a mental health day. Last night I went to bed at 9:00 and still couldn't get out of bed this morning. I couldn't face the oppositional defiant kids at school. I couldn't face the paperwork, and the responsibility of managing about 6 Behavior Plans, all while seeing about 60 students today and tomorrow. I couldn't face the fact that I had to go early to team meeting at one school during my other school's time, then run over to the other school. And yesterday I remembered I was the chair of the Anti-Bullying Committee at one of my schools. It was The Straw! I got out of bed, yes I did, got dressed.......and then crawled back in bed, fully clothed. I slept until 11:00.

So if I am going to take a mental health day I should do things that will make me feel more mentally healthy. I'll Brainstorm. Sleep. Exercise. Go outdoors. Meditate. Clean. Make bread. Why am I making list of things to do on mental health day?

I did go outside today to throw away some rotten tomatoes and heard some geese trumpeting their way South for the winter. I stood there until they came into sight, then watched about 100 beautiful birds flying in V-formation and cheering each other on as they flew into the South wind, a sure sign of a storm. The sound of geese isn't particularly pleasant, so then why is it so calming and healing to hear them honking at each other? It is one of the things I love about my home; it is in the path of migrating geese. They look and sound beautiful to me. And they make me want to fly south for the winter.