I recently submitted my first lengthy paper toward my Masters Degree. An analysis of Amazon as an organization, the paper led me to read, digest and determine the efficacy and integrity of Amazon's mission statement and vision statement. In researching I found that one of the tenants of Amazonian (yes, they really refer to themselves that way) philosophy is the belief that every day is Day 1. Day 1 is code for never lose your drive for greatness. It is a reference to always, ALWAYS, giving more than 100% in order to stay hungry. In the minds of Amazon leadership, Day 2 is the first day of mediocrity, and so the company must never move off of Day 1.
Think about Day 1:
Day 1 of a baby entering your family - intense
Day 1 of pandemic related rules and regulations - surreal
Day 1 of a marriage - exciting
Day 1 of a divorce - mind numbing
Day 1 of a new position - energizing
Day 1 of a new house - overwhelming
Day 1 of continued life after the death of a loved one - devastating
Day 1 is unbearable, scary, mindboggling.
Day 1 is not something you would want to do everyday. Your body would not be able to handle it. The stress of Day 1 would be dangerously intense if it were to be sustained and repeated without rest. And that is what I found when I researched Amazon employees. High blood pressure, feelings of depression and an overwhelming sense of never being good enough. Those conditions are not sustainable.
Well guess what, teachers and parents...
This school year shall henceforth be known as "The Year of Day Ones". I have lost count of how many Sunday nights I have been restless with stress and angst over the next morning being the first. The first day back remotely. The first day back with hybrid. The first day back after a break, so its all remote again. The first day for my children. The first day for Cohort A. The first day for Cohort B. The first day of combining cohorts. Day 1. Day 1. Day 1. Over and over again. This level of Day-1-ness is not natural. It is not healthy. It is taking its toll on teachers and parents and students. We were not meant to maintain a high level of consistent stress. We are creatures of habit. We thrive on the known and routine. We need days 2 through 180. We need to create the middle days of habit and routine for ourselves and our students. At this point, this is quite literally a matter of self-care and social-emotional maintenance.
Wear those comfy clothes. Chit chat with your students.
Put your hair up. Sport the sneakers.
Sit in a room full of students and just look at them for a moment of joy, and smile.
Create the comfort of having survived Day 1 and settling in to just being. I suppose I am channeling my inner-hippie that so many folks see in me, but it has to be said...if in this series of Day 1's you can't find peace then create it.
