The inward focus of self-care is often achieved by outward action. Give yourself/others regular recognition/praise Be kind, especially to those who get on your nerves Don’t ruminate on negatives, try to disconnect. Clear your head before sleep with short meditation clips

There should be public galleries in every junior infant class, for the first month of the new school year. This would enable parents to see the how teachers patiently encourage and transform the motley crew of the first day, into organised, multi lingual & enthusiastic learners.

Workplace cliques are toxic fraternities. They include a leader and a controlled group of yes people. The leader usually makes the metaphorical snowballs, to be thrown by clique members, causing frustration, rejection, disruption & stress for all, both in and outside of cliques.

Avoiding the words ‘always’ & ‘never’ in conflict situations is advisable. “ you’re always criticising/finding fault” or “ you never think of anyone but yourself”, are definitive statements that aggravate the situation and result in retaliation and escalation of the conflict.

Progressive leaders do not allow their personal views or preferred methodologies to dominate the practices in a workplace. They encourage/welcome the voicing of alternative opinions. Their self-esteem is not threatened by making concessions/ changes to previously held convictions

Escalating a conflict/disagreement to the status of an international incident, is a compulsion for some. It prolongs arguments & causes seething resentment. Defusing on the other hand is a meditative skill for problem solving & perspective taking. It minimises rumination/anger.

Resilience, described as bouncing back from adversity, is very ambitious . Crawling back may be more accurate, but getting back irrespective of the issue is what resilience is. Putting problems on a crises scale 10 being war/death/natural disaster, helps with perspective.

Introspecting, a practice of regular reflection, on our behaviours/ attitudes and how they impact in ourselves & others, would be a useful New Year’s resolution. Changing the focus from “if only, he/she” to “if only, I” is a good starting point.

An unexamined life isn’t worth living (Socrates, 450 BC), may be a bit harsh!! but two steps of doing and one step of stopping and asking, “how am I doing” is vital in getting to know ourselves. Those who sail through life without ever questioning themselves make poor partners.

Great to see those who were trapped for so long, by intransigence, intolerance and indeed hatred, emerge, and despite many obstacles, begin to work together, for the common good. Perseverance, fairness, honesty and sincerity will determine the success of the initiative. 🤞

Very upsetting to see the expression of differing opinions/views articulated in such angry/abusive language, on this and other forums. Not once have I encountered this trend coming from my colleagues in education. Can they say the same in relation to their daily experiences?

Down through the years, school staff have given discretionary effort, so beneficial to the success, confidence, safety & personal development of students. The maintenance of this effort however, is contingent of staff being valued, appreciated and treated with respect/ fairness.

Workaholics frequently: •praise their own high level of commitment •exaggerate their indispensability •feel frustrated, angry, used and abused by others Perhaps future admissions of workaholism should be met with “Oh dear, and what are you going to do about it”

Our blind self, prevents us from seeing what we do badly and/or well. Good to have a trusted other who answers honestly, when we ask, “how did I handle that situation” Getting to know ourselves is central to good work/ home relationships, but unfortunately some never even try.

In the context of the ever increasing challenges that school staff face, a degree of positive humour/ laughter in the classroom is essential. It: lessens stress creates a warm atmosphere promotes inclusion defuses anger relieves boredom enhances classroom experiences for all.

Parents are regarded by schools as partners in ed. & have always been afforded opportunities, through formal & informal channels, to discuss relevant issues. A recent trend, where school staff are being regularly contacted by email, after school hours, seems excessive to me?

Ireland’s tricoloured flag has long been loved & respected at home in Ireland, & also around the world, due mainly to the inclusion/contribution of those who emigrated from Ireland. So sad to see the flag now being used to represent/encourage rejection and exclusion.