These Are the Days

Last week, I had the chance to meet up with two former colleagues, Janet and Kaye. We once shared more than just classrooms at Meridian Elementary School—we shared laughter, challenges, and many unforgettable moments that shaped our teaching journeys. Life has taken us in different directions since then, but as fate would have it, our paths crossed again. We all happened to be on break at the same time, in the same place, and naturally, we couldn’t pass up the chance to meet.

The moment we sat down together, it felt as if no time had passed. We dove into stories about students who surprised us, staff gatherings that brought us closer, and those small, magical moments that make teaching so meaningful. Over and over, we found ourselves saying, “Those were the days.”

And, as I drove home, I had a realization: Years from now, I’ll probably be saying the exact same thing about today.

These are the days.

The ones filled with lesson plans and laughter, unexpected challenges, and tiny victories. The days that feel impossibly long but are gone in a blink. The days we’ll look back on, shaking our heads, smiling, and saying, “Remember when…?”

So, when your plate is overflowing, when the to-do list feels endless, when you’re exhausted at the end of a long school day—take a breath and remember. These just might be the days you’ll miss the most.