Talk About Feelings
Everyone needs to do it.
Especially now.
Especially boys, according to this article. Especially middle school boys.
Yes, talking about feelings is something that happens in therapy. And school is not therapy.
But when people bring to school bodies filled to overflowing with unmanageable, undigested feeling; when people are still living through unprecedented pandemic disruption; when people realize they are trying to make the totally abnormal normal, well then:
adjustments must be made.
We must talk about feelings.
Students must talk about feelings. With people who will listen and not take them personally.
And adults must talk about feelings. Teachers. Administrators. Parents.
To not talk about feelings is to
ignore vital information about your reality
risk emotional buildup that will eventually erupt
pack toxins into your body that, if not purged, can end up hurting you
necessitate inappropriate and irresponsible acting out
trap yourself into doing the impossible — which is, ultimately, impossible
Remember, feelings are crucial indicators of our well being, of our organismic balance. And they are inextricable from our thinking, our cognition. If we are to make sense of our experiences over the past 2+ years; if we are to make intelligent decisions about how to move forward from here; if we are to retain teachers and administrators in this all-important profession,