This morning I had the opportunity to sponsor the Coffee and Collaboration treats for the FISDCares meeting; my friend Brandie made these sugar cookies bookies for the event!
Aren’t my covers cute as cookies? And get this; they taste even better than they look!
With sponsorship came the chance to talk for a few minutes about the role of the school counselor, perfectly timed for National School Counseling Week 2025. I started by asking the volunteers to fold their hands, then switch the position of your thumbs. I heard nervous laughter, then I challenged them to cross their arms, then cross them the other way. Groans and giggles … wait, what? And it perfectly illustrated getting uncomfortable, something I shared with them that the school counselors get to help us do every day, in order that we can thrive.
We then went into how school counselors have the blessing of coaching us through uncomfortable conversations, about feelings around trauma, grief, loss, and death, for example. I asked them to imagine writing their obituary: What do they want it to say? Then, I advised that they write it, then do just that: Live life backward.
Express gratitude. Show empathy. Mobilize compassion. Spread kindness. Show up. Be present. Smile. Serve. Hope. Pray. Love. Live generously. Apologize. Forgive. Give grace. Listen with intention. Hold space. Make the call. Write a text or email. Send that card. Eat the bookie!
How will you unwrap the present today?
Barbara Gruener 