By. Meredith Biesinger
October has begun, and I love everything about this month. I love the weather, the food, football, and fall activities; it’s a fun time of year.
October is also meaningful for me as it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many women in my life have battled this disease, and many continue to do so. Several schools honor their teachers and loved ones who have fought this nasty disease by having a “Pink Out Day,” where all the students and staff wear pink in honor of their teachers and their loved ones who have had breast cancer. It’s an emotional and overwhelming sight to see hundreds of students come to school in pink to show their love for their teacher, mother, grandmother, or aunt.
There are over 4,492,114 teachers currently employed in the United States. 74.3% of all teachers are women, and the average age of an employed teacher is 42 years old.
Because teaching and education are much more female-based professions, October reminds us to be grateful for our health and care for ourselves.
Best Health Practices for Teachers
- Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water.
- Exercise, find something you like to do, and do that 3-5 times a week. Your mind and body will thank you!
- Listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, go to the doctor.
- Be sure to stay on top of all of your annual exams.
- Practice self-care. Countless studies show that stress is the culprit for a lot of diseases. It’s impossible never to be stressed, especially as a teacher, but it’s essential to recognize and have an outlet for yourself.
In addition to taking good care of yourself and wearing the color pink in October, there are other ways to support this great cause, such as shopping brands that donate a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer awareness or research, like Vera Bradley.
Known for gorgeous quilted bags and pouches, Vera Bradley has always ensured that you can carry your belongings in style. For Breast Cancer Awareness month, the brand will donate 100 percent of proceeds from the Charity Pouch bag to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. Additionally, 20 percent of the purchase price from pieces in the brand’s Happiness Returns Pink, and Rose Toile collections will be donated to the foundation, too.
There also tend to be several 5Ks, and fun runs this time of year for breast cancer awareness. Look for those and other events in your local community. As teachers, we always wear comfortable shoes and a smile, but in October? In October, we wear pink.