three weeks.

I'm three weeks into student teaching - eek! I constantly find myself feeling clueless, overwhelmed, concerned, working, planning, writing, thinking, and trying to keep the feelings of stress at bay. It's not been an easy few weeks. I am sure at some point, I'll process through that and write about it.

For now, I am clinging to sweet moments with the people who 'get it'. I am holding tight to the silly moments of laughter and hilarious moments of encouragement. I am making room for food that comforts the soul. If you're student teaching, or stressed about life, or working hard, or human ... please, seek out laughter. Spend time with people who make you feel comfortable and loved and known. Spend time building one another up. Make room for encouragement. The energy that you spend feeling tired or stressed or complaining could be used seeking comfort, seeking laughter, seeking moments of sanity.

This week, I am finding comfort in Ryan Gosling, the sweet words of a good friend, and Pinterest.

"Maybe I know this job is for me not because it comes easily or without difficulties, but because I am willing to work through the hardships to become the best teacher I can be. Maybe there's nothing wrong with me ... maybe I am so exhausted because I am thinking and working and processing and trying to improve every moment of everyday and maybe, just maybe, that commitment, that drive that propels me to spend every moment thinking about becoming a better teacher, makes me exactly the kind of teacher this world needs." - Living Out of My Box

What does your semester look like? Or rather, what does your life look like? And how are you seeking out encouragement in the midst of stress?