Treasure, Transform, Compost

'Tis the New Year and the opportunity to once again create space for reflection, rejuvenation, and intention setting.  Just before the school break, our faculty was offered mentorship from Elana Margolis, a longtime Waldorf teacher and Jewish ritualist.  During one Faculty Meeting, Ms. Margolis offered a wonderful framework to use in consideration of the festival life at our school which can also be used when approaching any tradition, cycle, or repeated pattern in our lives. Treasure, Transform, Compost.

What elements do we want to Treasure - the meaningful, delightful, beautiful, and relevant pieces.

What elements do we want to Transform - the aspects that might have meaning but the outward expression doesn’t quite fit or the time has never quite worked or the people involved could be adjusted.

What elements do we want to Compost - all of the things we can let go of.

This framework can be brought to large, community rituals like school festivals or family holidays but can also be useful in day-to-day life.  

Consider your bedtime routine.
Perhaps you decide that cuddling up to read a story is a treasure, worth keeping.
But maybe something in the bathtime-teethbrushing part needs some transforming since it always creates a fuss.  What can be changed to make that more easeful?
And lastly, maybe we compost the foot rub.  It’s nice but saves you some energy after a long day.

Or consider your “home from work” routine.
Treasure that moment you head straight to the bedroom to take off your work clothes and put on cozy sweats and slippers.
Transform that next moment into a time to make a cup of tea and sit down for 10 minutes rather than heading straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Compost your phone!  Putting it away for at least an hour when arriving home.

It can often feel overwhelming at this time of year to feel as though we need to set some grand intentions or change some lifelong habits so maybe just considering some more dynamic shifts in one ritual or simply posing these questions without seeking the answers is enough.  

I treasure this community, hope to transform some stress and dis-ease, and wish to compost divisiveness.  I hope you’ll join me.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.