In November of 2009, I attended a North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) seminar Stress, Health, and Learning. The slideshow below documents just a few of the most memorable moments of the week long seminar. While I learned a great deal about how to take care of myself to produce optimal results in my daily life, I took home so much more that cannot be documented in photographs. During the seminar, I learned about stress; what it is, what it tells our bodies, and how we cope with stress. Because stress is such an omnipresent part of our lives, the seminar focused on teaching us how to deal with stress. Moreover, I learned about becoming a more confident person.
As part of a stress busting activity, I participated in a rappelling
session down Salt Rock. Despite the misty weather, the mountains were
stunningly beautiful, the perfect backdrop for a rappel down a
mountain. The rappel experience was designed to teach us that we can do anything with the support of our friends. I met many dear friends as a result of this seminar; friendships that I wouldn't trade for the world. When I strapped on my gear to rappel down Salt Rock, I knew that I had the support and encouragement of a large group of friends. To combat stress, I need my friends around me.
Brian Biro, a former swim coach and motivational speaker, joined us at NCCAT. Brian was truly an inspiration! He taught me that the only thing holding me back is me. I can do anything. During Brian's time, we wrote a word on a plank of wood. This one word was the source of our stress. My word was "confidence." My lack of confidence held me back from pursuing a number of opportunities in my life, from moving out of state to selling artwork to accepting a job. Brian taught me that I could break through my confidence issues. The wooden plank was simply a metaphor for our problems: tough, unbending, a solid barrier. Summoning all of my energy into one quick strike broke the board. I broke through my problem. Without that barrier in front of me, I am free. My new found confidence has allowed me to pursue my love of jewelry making, a skill I learned at Appalachian State. My jewelry is now featured in local stores and soon I will have a website to sell my work online.
Patti Digh is the author of the book, Life is a Verb. I had to opportunity to eat dinner with Patti and discuss the virtues of a good pen. It must be balanced, have good ink flow, a removable cap, and it must be a fine point. Nothing else will suffice. After dinner, I had the pleasure of listening to Patti read a few passages from her book. She made the point that life is to be lived fully, completely, and in the moment. When she asked for people to sign up to contribute art to her new book, I did. After all, I had a belly full of newfound confidence bursting to prove myself; however, there was no guarantee that my work would be chosen to be featured in her book. I am proud to say that in September, I will receive a copy of her new book, Four Word Self Help, featuring my artwork for a chapter titled Stand up for Something. The image is featured in the slideshow below.
The most monumental change came with the dawning of a new day. Each morning, immediately after waking, I participated in a morning Qi Gong exercise. I learned to control my breathing, slow my movements, and become more in tune to the world around me. It was life altering meditation. I continued to practice the Qi Gong I learned at NCCAT for the two months following the seminar. In January, 2010, I pursued an interest in Tai Chi, a meditative martial art from China and the "parent" of Qi Gong. I found a teacher, Yu Ling, an expert in Yang Style Tai Chi who taught me the first 24 movements of the art. Unfortunately, Yu Ling's class was cancelled; however, I continue to practice these movements and have purchased a book and DVD that will take me through the next movements. Waking each morning and meditating through slow, controlled movements has not only awakened a deeper sense of self, but it has had a profound impact on my overall physical and emotional health.
My NCCAT experience was a time of personal growth and awareness. Additionally, I experienced a flood of creative and professional growth. I came home with the tools and understanding necessary to combat stress and grow in self-confidence. As a result, I have gained the confidence to present my art to various galleries and shops. The NCCAT seminar was a milestone in my life as an educator. I am so thankful every day for the time I had to share with my friends and the wonderful growth opportunities offered by the staff at NCCAT. I am a better educator and human being as a result of my time there. In the future, I would like to use some of the lessons I learned about stress, confidence, and well being (perhaps Qi Gong breathing exercises) in my classroom to promote a healthy, trusting atmosphere among students.
