I’ve been noticeably quiet on social media lately. No blog posts, no podcasts, no new content. And you know what? I don’t feel the slightest bit bad about it.
In June, I made a conscious decision to step back and decompress. It’s been a tough year filled with significant changes, both personally and professionally. Normally, such a decision would have been accompanied by a fear of missing out (FOMO), the anxiety of falling behind, and concerns about losing engagement from my peers and friends.. But this time, I embraced the break wholeheartedly. What was meant to be a month of downtime extended into July.
During this period, I was busy in other ways. But I wasn’t following my usual routine of writing, engaging on LinkedIn or other platforms, or chasing the latest trends. Interestingly, I had zero interest in these activities and found this detachment quite enlightening.
But now, I’m back. I’m energized and eager to re-engage with all of you, to dive back into the conversations and connections I’ve missed. This hiatus taught me an important lesson: stepping away is essential. It allows us to work on ourselves so that we can show up as better versions of ourselves for others, both personally and professionally.
Someone who embodies this balance beautifully is Loni Bergqvist. While she doesn’t explicitly voice this message, her journey and insightful posts on PBL and authentic learning always resonates with me. Loni also shares the human side of life—the importance of slowing down, staying present, and cherishing the small moments. Her work serves as a reminder of the importance of self-care and presence.
As we approach a new school year, it’s vital to ask ourselves:
How are we showing up for ourselves?
How are we filling our cups?
It’s a concept we hear often, but truly embracing it can transform our approach to work and life.
Whether we’re discussing engagement, the anxious generation, AI, or technology, we must remember that the core ingredient is humanity.
I’ve been exploring the idea of “human pedagogy.” It’s about centering our educational practices around the human experience. Amidst mandates and legislation that often feel restrictive, our humanity remains our most valuable asset. This concept has been at the forefront of my mind, especially as I’ve been teaching AI classes and participating in incredible learning experiences at places like LEGO headquarters. My travels and upcoming keynotes have all reinforced the same thread: the importance of the human element in education.
So, this is my long-winded way of saying it was crucial for me to step back and focus on myself. I still have work to do, but I’m excited to reconnect with all of you and continue this journey. Let’s embrace our humanity and strive to be better versions of ourselves so we can help others do the same.
I am back and ready to nerd out once again.
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