Alexander Palmer Leonard Log 1

My learning journey has been about healing and making room for imagining. I received the fellowship at a time I needed to take a step back from my role in education and focus on me and my family and healing. I was burned out. Being able to take a few months to rest and reconnect with myself and others has allowed me to make room for my personal and professional growth. I’ve been able to focus on self care and figuring out what that even means for me. I’ve been able to imagine what balance can look and feel like.
When I first received the fellowship I had made the decision to leave my role as a counselor at a Minneapolis High School and also leave a very successful program within the school that I helped create. That process required me to let go of what I had known to embrace the unknown. Recognizing I was burned out, the fellowship allowed me to take a sabbatical and I really wanted to use that time to disconnect from the grind culture I had been a part of in public education. The work that I am trying to lean into as a somatic healer requires me to slow down, to reconnect with my body and the things that bring me restoration and healing. It took a few months to really notice my mind beginning to slow down, my pace of life and stress level begin to change. I was able to be more present for my wife and children and to reconnect with them in ways I had been unable to previously. Being able to see my kids off to school everyday has been a blessing I’m truly grateful for.
In respect to personal learnings, I’ve been able to explore, discover and reconnect with myself. I’ve had time and capacity to figure out what I need and tend to it. I guess most importantly, the resources allowed me to reclaim my capacity, imagine, and implement those imaginings. So I have been able to travel to conferences, and travel for personal experiences. I have been to both coasts and made connections with educators, expanding my network and my knowledge. I have met monthly with local educators. I discovered I enjoy acupuncture. I took a personal retreat. Whatever I have felt like would be able to assist in my growth, I have been able to do.
In closing, I guess I would offer this to new fellows: you’ve done a lot of amazing things to get this point. If you didn’t you wouldn’t be here. There were times in the beginning I felt nervous. I listened to other fellows who were still in shock and expressed feeling undeserving. Doubts and fears are a part of the process. But, move through those feelings. Map out your plan, make sure it includes a healthy amount of focus on you and your time for self reflection, and go at your pace. Trust yourself. No one from the foundation will be over your shoulder demanding things. If you need structure, create it for yourself. If you don’t, enjoy the freedom to explore. In that respect it is a time to be selfish. Truly do what you need to for yourself. For me doing that has really proven to be what the learning journey is all about. Having the resources to do things that I am really passionate about, rediscovering and reclaiming that spark. Now that I have reconnected with it, I’m ready to do everything I planned to, and I hope your journey allows you to do the same.