IGNITE Our Seasonal Celebration

By Shayla A

This is the time of CELEBRATION!  This is the time to celebrate ALL the wins this past season has brought you and your team!  This is the time to celebrate what has come to fruition from dreaming and setting goals, from accomplishing and being successful!  This Girls on the Run season is coming to an end.  Your team celebration may have already happened or will happen soon.  Celebrating creates connection.  Connection creates feelings of acceptance and success.  Celebrating finalizes seasons in our life and prepares us for the next season that is on the horizon.  In this episode of IGNITE, we will discuss the importance of celebrating in each of our seasons with the needed self-care every volunteer deserves.  It is time to celebrate YOU and your AMAZINGNESS!

Everything in life changes as we move forward every day that we wake up.  We cannot stop change from happening, but we can adjust to the change.  Jimi Hendrix said it best, “In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first.”  This rings so true for us GOTR coaches.  I have spent numerous minutes before practices “getting my head together” before walking in front of my team.  I have needed my assistant coach or friend to help me with this a few times, as well.  Gifting myself (and team) a few moments of solitude, a good short cry, or a good belly laugh is important to how we accept change that is about to happen.  Appropriate self-care is important as we move forward through the changes in our seasons.  We are talking about the various kinds of seasons that create our life story.  We are talking about the weather seasons, situation seasons, life seasons, GOTR seasons, people seasons.  The list is extensive and is dependent on you and your perspective.  We go through dark seasons, peaceful seasons, chaotic seasons, joyful seasons, depressive seasons.  Our self-care should change as our seasons change.  If our brain is changing with each new circumstance, relationship, position, or attitude, then the self-care we administer should also adapt.  There are three ways to ensure that our self-care is giving us exactly what we need in the season that we are in:

• Be AWARE-- Become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, mood, and energy.  Meditate a few moments on what your body needs to feel balanced in the moment.  Take notice if your thoughts are racing or if they are slow and lethargic.  Acknowledge your mood or perception of the activities going on around you.  Meditate on the type of energy you are giving to others and yourself.  

• Be REFLECTIVE-- Take your awareness another step further and ask yourself, “What do I need to keep moving forward in this season I am in?”  Do your thoughts need a new road or outlook to escape or to learn?  Does your body need a good stretch, a quick run, better sleep, less exercise, or more healthy foods?  Does your mood need a pick-me-up or stay reserved?  Is the energy you are feeling comfortable, encouraging, motivating, stagnant, or depressive?

• Be RESPONSIVE-- Move forward by gifting yourself a revised self-care plan.  Make this self-care plan in response to your current season, mood, thoughts, and feelings.  Your self-care plan needs to change as your season changes, as your mood changes, as your needs change.  Your self-care plan is as fluid and ever-changing as life itself!  Move with it as much as it moves with you!

It is so important as volunteers for us to practice nourishing self-care every day.  It can be challenging to practice nourishing self-care most days when we have other responsibilities that feel more important.  We maintenance our cars, clean our living/working spaces, and feed pets, children, and plants.  As volunteers who come home 2 hours later, read over curriculum during lunch, and give good energy to our GOTR girls, it is crucial to keep replenishing our own buckets.  We have many reasons why we volunteer our time, energy, and love to our GOTR teams.  Volunteering as a GOTR coach can be a season of joy and triumph or challenge and opposition.  How we approach ourselves is the most important first step to a successful volunteer experience, regardless of the season we are in.  How we nourish ourselves is the most important first step to becoming a veteran GOTR coach.  Volunteering reduces stress with meaningful connections.  Volunteering combats depression as it keeps the mind distracted with positive activities.  Volunteering also increases our confidence by learning new skills and gaining a sense of pride in our efforts.  

During this season of celebration, CELEBRATE YOURSELF with more self-care time, space, and effort.  Make yourself #1 for a few extra minutes or hours.  Create new connections with yourself as you are more self aware, reflective, and responsive in this season.  Build confidence and belief in yourself as you move mountains to many more seasons! 

Shayla A is the Coach Mentor for Girls on the Run Greater Kansas City.  Her background comes from the classroom, coaching, day treatment schools, wellness, and advocating for children with special needs.  She enjoys empowering and advocating for girls and coaches in every challenge and celebration.  Connect with her for support and assistance this season via call, text, or email.  shaylaaranda@gmail.com | 816-284-9770  

RESOURCE LIST TO IGNITE OUR SEASONAL CELEBRATION:

You Owe You by Eric Thomas

Who I Am by Susan Verde

Feelings: A Story in Seasons by Manjit Thapp

The Light Within You by Namita Moolani Mehra

TO WATCH A VIDEO ON HOW TO IGNITE OUR SEASONAL CELEBRATION:https://youtu.be/Gkh7ihpUEnA