Hi, Vanessa

Just like so many others, our schedule now that school has started is slightly different than it was during the summer.  Do you ever have one of those moments where you make a big ol' awkward error? That's how I felt when I realized I had sent all those newsletter last week with the title "Standard Newsletter Template"  

This reminds me of a lesson I learned in middle school from one of the adults in my life:

"When you lay an egg in public, all you can really do is to stand back and admire it." 
I absolutely use templates to help keep the formatting uniform and save some time.  I am just a little embarrassed that the title wasn't something a little more recognizable.  I thank you for your patience. 

Yesterday, the last of the podcast 'summer movie episodes' dropped.  We look through the lens of 2010's Knight and Day."  This movie is just an enjoyable romp, and it was one of my Dad's favorites. I rarely heard him laugh much at movies, but this was one of the few exceptions.  Feel free to enjoy the super-trailer on Youtube to get an idea of how bananas it is.

When, Exactly is 'Someday'?

In this week’s podcast, we closed out our Summer Movie Series with the 2010 film Knight and Day.  As mentioned, my dad loved this movie. He loved the theme song, and all the implausible situations in it. It’s a wild spy comedy starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz - with enough plot holes and tranquilizers to knock out a horse - but hidden inside all the chaos are some powerful metaphors about career transitions, especially for teachers.

At the very beginning, June, our heroine, is telling this regular-sized, dark, and handsome stranger whom she has just met about all the things that she wants to do someday. 

Tom Cruise as Roy Miller (our hero/anti-hero – the movie isn’t sure yet.) replies, “Someday is a dangerous word. It’s really just code for never.”

Teachers say “someday” all the time in regards to their own happiness and wellness:

  • I’ll leave after testing season.
  • Next year will be better.
  • I just need to finish my certification.
  • I'll schedule that appointment during (insert season here) break.

But burnout doesn’t heal on its own. And the longer we wait, the more we normalize survival over living.

In the film, Diaz’s character June goes from underprepared to unstoppable. She adapts, protects others, and eventually even rescues the spy who started it all. Teachers do this every day—you pivot in chaos, stand in the gap for others, and downplay your own superpowers.

So let me ask:
What would your life look like if today was your “someday”?

Roy Miller, Red Flags, and Calm in Chaos

Tom Cruise’s character Roy may be over-the-top, but he’s got something to model for teachers: flexibility and calm under pressure.

There’s a moment in the movie where June bolts too early during a “go on three” countdown. Instead of scolding her, Roy simply says, “What number did you want to go on?”

That’s clarity. That’s calm. And it’s exactly what educators need when navigating career pivots—especially in workplaces that look safe, but turn out to be toxic.

Here are some red flags to look for in your next role:

  1. Micromanagement and favoritism
  2. Poor communication
  3. High turnover or silent meetings
  4. Rules valued over people
  5. Gossip and exclusion
  6. Ignored feedback
  7. Physical stress symptoms (headaches, insomnia, anxiety)

If someone promises “security” without backing it up? Pay attention.

Want to hear more?  Check out the full podcast episode here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feel like you're stuck in indecision? The DECIDE Workshop helps you weigh the emotional and practical factors that keep you frozen—and make a real plan.  There is a suggested price of $99, but if money is tight, you can just pay what you can. No judgement. 

Upcoming Dates:

  • September 1   FULL!
  • September 27

Reserve your seat here →

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