Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! It's been a while, and in this episode, I talk about why I'm back behind the mic and how this podcast still fits into my life right now. I share my love for that quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year's—a rare bit of downtime to slow down, read, and reflect—and how a short piece called "Float" from Mike Travisano's Refuge and Small Things really hit home as I was preparing to head back to school. January can feel heavy for a lot of educators and students, when the break is over and the finish line feels far away. Today's message is a simple reminder: when life feels overwhelming, and you can't see the shore, sometimes the best thing you can do is lean back, breathe, and remember—you float.