Last week, it was a clear day as I skimmed my kayak across the small river near my house. It was the first day of my Thanksgiving Break and I had no plans to take it for granted. The weather was perfect, the water was cold, and my notifications were turned off.

My four-year-old daughter sat near the bow, peacefully dragging a stick through the yellowing duckweed. The cyprus trees were at their peak leaf change and their reflection off the water haloed her in gold. All this to say—it was one of those moments.

We all know what kind of moment I’m talking about—one of those rare slivers of time where you understand with greatest clarity what’s really important. It’s no surprise they often happen on our days off. Clarity requires a sense of having your head above the water (see what I did there?) and it’s a rare day when that can happen as you are pulled from task-to-task at work.

Chances are, you too had some kind of moment of clarity in the past week. It might have been small and seemingly trivial—a realization that you really could cook deviled eggs anytime you want, or big—a new approach to a problem you didn’t even realize was simmering in your brain. Whatever it was, these moments of clarity are precious opportunities to change course, even slightly.

As we enter the liminal calendar space between Thanksgiving and the holidays, we challenge you to capitalize on a recent moment of clarity by trying for something different. For our team, this was a December Resolution to get us through to the new year. For you, it might be something different, but in any case, we wish you clarity and opportunity as we move into the last month of the year.

How do you make new families feel welcome in your district?

(Respond back with your answer to be in our next edition of SchoolCEO!)

2. As a school leader, caring for yourself may feel borderline selfish. But effective self-care practices don’t actually take much time. - Read Leading From a Full Cup: Self-Care for School Leaders

1. "Here’s the problem: New goals don’t deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is not an outcome, it is a process. For this reason, all of your energy should go into building better rituals, not chasing better results.

Rituals are what turn behaviors into habits. In the words of Tony Schwartz, 'A ritual is a highly precise behavior you do at a specific time so that it becomes automatic over time and no longer requires much conscious intention or energy.'

If you want a new habit, you have to fall in love with a new ritual.”

- From James Clear on 5 Common Reasons Habits Fail

2. “Vacations are not just about indulgence or escapism; they have a profound impact on our brain chemistry and behavior. By triggering the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, brain-cations boost our mood, reduce stress, and improve cognitive function. Additionally, the novelty and creativity experienced during vacations have lasting effects on our neuroplasticity and ability to think creatively. Remember that a vacation is not only a well-deserved break but an opportunity to nurture your brain, unlock your creative potential, and foster personal growth and health…” - From Psychology Today on Why Vacations Are So Good for the Brain

3. The story of Marc Randolph, the former CEO and cofounder of Netflix and why—in a moment of clarity—he decided to step down from CEO. "Marc’s story can be shortened like this: He discovered his limitations, and it helped him recognize his strength." - Read How to Become Incredibly Valuable

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