1. Car was looking like this…. it was raining…. drove away…
Car was looking like this….it was raining…..drove away….and one leaf was stuck

2. It was causing a small smear in my eye’s view…..

3. It was causing me to be quite dysregulated…
It was causing me to be quite dysregulated…..even though if I crouched down or sat up straighter the view was fine. It was clear….I decided that I should stop the car and get out to fix the problem.

4. I removed the leaf and drove away with a clear view….

5. It caused me to reflect how that leaf although small and only blocking a very small piece of my view can cause us to focus on the problem or the negative things in our way or lives. How we choose to see that leaf or challenge is a big deal….for us at the academy and in our daily lives. Sometimes we focus on that little smudge so much that it becomes all we think about….all that we see….

6. We become polarized or zoned in on the problems and negativity and do not see the majestic reality of wow that took some ingenuity and can we just appreciate for a moment that our little leaf is not a 30lb turkey…..

7. Sometimes we think we have to figure everything out on our own and we forget to ask for help, to admit our plan is not the best idea and we are not using self care or self awareness to be proactive…we are simply surviving.

8. We need each other…..we are a school family not a school of individuals doing their own thing. Learn from each other and be vulnerable enough to ask for help when you need it. Lastly do not get sucked into your own negative self talk that you are not enough or do not have the ability to make a difference in this program.

9. There will be times where you may feel like this……I have been there
There will be times where you may feel like this……I have been there. We say it all the time….you can not make the stuff up that happens in our sites. But what we have is each other and common purpose and a foundation that is built on something that we can all be proud of. And we can laugh…..because laughter is medicine for the soul.

10. We are always looking ahead and believing that we are doing what we can, the best way we know how, with good intentions and loving hearts. Our students deserve to be made known and I am proud to be beside each of you doing just that.

11. Mission/Vision of Lakes Country Academy
LAKES COUNTRY MISSION STATEMENT
Lakes Country Academy exists to serve students with educational and behavioral challenges by providing transformational support and skills (through evidence based practices) in a highly individualized environment.
LAKES COUNTRY ACADEMY VISION STATEMENT
Every student has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential as individuals in order to contribute to all aspects of their community.