mental strength

for the past year i have been dragging my body out of bed at 5:00 in the morning three times a week to go to a spinning class (riding a stationary bike like you are really riding up to Snowbowl). it is a great workout and a great start to my day. i usually arrive at school hyper and bouncing around my classroom. my students look at me like i am crazy, especially on mondays.

yesterday during the middle of the fifth time around of an eight minute ride, the instructor said something that i am still thinking about today. she asked (really she yelled it breathlessly) "how is your mental strength?" She continued with "not just right now, but during the day, during work, during your time with loved ones...how is your mental strength?"

that really got me thinking. how is my mental endurance? when i am at school, i can tell when i am fatigued physically and mentally because words come out of my mouth that i don't mean. i get mentally tired of dealing with things and so i become cranky or frustrated more easily.

this morning when i woke up, i asked my mind how it was feeling today. groggily it replied, well okay but i've been better. these are strange months for me. january and february last for a long time. there are fewer breaks at school. the stress of state tests that determine if you actually taught something this year gets overwhelming at times. the kids and i are cooped up inside more because it is too cold for outside recess. these are long months. i think i have always felt that way, even as a kid.

so this morning after i checked in with my brain, i made a mental list of all the things that keep my mind from giving in to the doldrums of repetition and monotony. i am reading a good book, i am writing more, i am staying active during the days, i am eating good food, i am sleeping well at night, and i get to see some family soon. i laugh almost everyday. my mind felt better already.

it is hard to extract one piece of me from the rest. so when i am mentally strong, i tend to be physically, spiritually, and emotionally stronger. i tend to persevere and hold out a little bit longer. and my students seem to notice it too.

the question is... how do i relate that to my students? how do i motivate them or help them to remain mentally strong? especially during these times of testing and monotonous tasks.

i will think on it.