Bridge Builders Ed

The week before Christmas break, I fell asleep in the parking lot twice. Why? My 6-month-old has a knack for keeping me up at night. His current hobby is screaming as if something is terribly wrong, only to flash a big smile when I arrive, as if to say, “You do what I say, peasant.” Between these midnight wake-up calls and a never-ending to-do list, I found myself pulling into the school parking lot, dozing off, and waking up to the sound of kids running into the building. Was this sustainable? Absolutely not. But what can you do? I started relying on 5-hour energy drinks and trying to catch up on sleep over the weekends because that’s working mom life.

It was encouraging to know I was doing everything I could for my family and my students. But what about me? I was getting through my to-do list, the baby was fed, cuddled, and clean, but I felt myself withering away.

Ask for help? Take a breather? Use one of my personal days? That’s not something I do. I thought I had to do it all alone, believing I was weak if I didn’t. It sounds a little crazy, right? Yet how often do we tell ourselves we don’t need help while actually causing ourselves harm?

In my personal studies, I’ve been reflecting on Ahimsa—the practice of nonviolence in yoga. In Western culture, Ahimsa is often summed up as “treat others the way you want to be treated,” but in its true Eastern context, it’s much deeper. Nonviolence isn’t just about not hurting others; it’s also about showing yourself the same compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness you hope to bring into the world.

Whether I want to admit it or not, I caused myself real harm that week before break. I didn’t pray for guidance, which is my personal anchor. I didn’t seek wisdom or accept help. Instead, I let my physical and mental health suffer and, truthfully, I know it affected the way I treated others through my impatience and exhaustion.

So, ask for help. Seek advice. Lean on those who’ve walked this path before. Let’s make a point to support each other not just in 2026 but starting now.