Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope you are all well and having a good week so far. Did you all have a good weekend? It has been so wonderful today to hear many of you talking about the Friends of Highclare School fireworks display on Friday night and how much you enjoyed it. A huge thank you to all of those involved in the organising, setting up, running of stalls and clearing away. These events take so much planning and preparation, so if you were involved in anyway, either on the night or before or after – thank you so much and congratulations to the FOHS on yet another successful bonfire night. Same again next year?!
My weekend was a bit of a mixed bag really. All weekend I have felt really out of sorts – a bit blue and a bit dejected, which isn’t like me at all. I haven’t really wanted to do anything, go anywhere or see anyone – again, not like me at all. I think, well I know as Mr Bennett has told me several times(!), that I have been a big old grumpy pants this weekend and I don’t like it. I am usually Mrs Positive and I love going out and seeing people. I love an adult beverage with friends and I love being out and about. All I have wanted to do over the past few days is stay at home and be alone and be quiet. I have also felt really guilty about feeling like this. I have done so many wonderful things this weekend – I went out for a meal with my dad, I went Christmas shopping with Mr Bennett, we saw friends and I spent most of Sunday with Amelie and Arthur playing, chilling out and going to their school bonfire night. I have had such a good weekend, doing all of the things that I love but I have just felt blurgh the whole time. Not ill, not really tired, just not me. . . I have tried very hard not to let other people know that I have been feeling like this, and once I have been out and doing things, I have thoroughly enjoyed them but I don’t feel like I gave everything the best form of me that I possible could. I have been asking myself continuously– was I that grumpy with Mr Bennett (he will say yes!)? Did I play enough with Arthur and Amelie? Did I speak to as many people as I could at the bonfire party? Did I chat to my dad and engage with him as much as I could have done when we were out? Did I shrug off my brother when he tried to talk to me about work? If I give myself and good talking too and I am honest, the answer to all of these questions is yes and I am sure if you ask my brother if he noticed that I avoided his question, he probably didn’t but I have felt guilty about it all weekend.
Yesterday morning, on the way to work, sat in endless traffic on the motorway and in the dark, again I was feeling despondent. I just wanted to be at home and in bed avoiding the world – again soooo unlike me. I love my job, I love school and I love being around the Prep School family each day. So, as my mum used to tell me, I gave myself a really good talking to in the car, put on my positive pants and decide to start the day again when I stepped out of the car in the car park. I took each thing as it came and I tried not to overthink the day or think about the weekend in a negative light. I made myself recall all of the fun that I had had this weekend, all the times that I had laughed or smiled since Friday and I counted up five things that I was grateful for over the weekend. As I made my way into school, I felt my mood lift. I rang Mr Bennett and apologised for being bad tempered. I text my dad to thank him for a lovely meal. I sent my sister in law the pictures I had taken at the bonfire and again thanked her for inviting us. My mood was made even better thanks to two staff members, they who know who they are, who had thought of me and delivered a surprise on my desk before 9am. These random acts of kindness we so kind and thoughtful and made me feel special.
So why am I telling you all of this? Good question! I just wanted to show to you all that it is ok not to be ok. It happens to us all and that really is ok. We all have days when we don’t feel ourselves, when we don’t have our usual gusto for life but again, its ok. Our friends and family still love us – grumpy pants or not! I also wanted to say that these days and these feelings don’t last forever – for some, they may last longer than others but brighter days are always on the horizon so don’t give up hope. . . your rainbow is on its way.
Quote of the week: “If you feel that you are losing everything, remember that the trees lose their leaves each year and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.”
Well-being tasks for this week: This month is New November and all of these tasks are based on new beginnings and fresh starts – each day is a new day. These tasks are good for all ages.
Tuesday 8 November – Plan a new activity that you want to try this week
Wednesday 9 November – When you feel you cannot do something, try adding the word “yet”
Thursday 10 November – Be curious – learn something new
Friday 11 November – Chose a different route to and from school – what differences do you notice
Saturday 12 November – Find something new to care about
Sunday 13 November – Do something playful outdoors
Monday 14 November– Find a new way to support a cause that you care about
Jokes of the week:
*What do you call a dinosaur that writes books?
A Brontesaurus
*What do planets like to read?
Comet books!
*What does a librarian take fishing?
Bookworms
*What is Bigfoot’s favourite book?
Hairy Potter
*What king of medieval England was famous because he spent so many nights at his Round Table writing books?
King Author!
Sleeps til Santa: 46 days
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5 things that I am grateful for or looking forward to this week:
Can you try this simple exercise in gratitude and positivity?
- I am looking forward to the Year 2 Remembrance assemblies.
- I am looking forward to film night on Friday night.
- I am looking forward to going to Norfolk this weekend.
- I am grateful for random acts of kindness.
- I am grateful for friends – old and new.
Have a lovely week and enjoy whatever you may be up to – big or small – everything we do helps us to make memories.
With much love,
Mrs Bennett
