Nathaniel Atherton, Primary Principal
14 February 2025
Across cultures and history, the strongest structures are not the ones that resist force, but the ones that adapt, flex, and recover. Ancient Japanese sword makers, for example, perfected the art of layering steel—creating blades that were both sharp and flexible. The same is true for us: resilience isn’t about rigidity, but about finding strength through renewal.
In the IB, balance is a key attribute of the Learner Profile, reminding us that well-being comes from nurturing our intellectual, emotional, and physical selves. At the same time, being resilient is one of our school’s four core values, an essential quality that allows us to navigate challenges, adapt to change, and emerge stronger.
But in today’s fast-paced world, resilience isn’t just about pushing through challenges—it’s about how well we recover from them. Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, in his talk on anti-fragility (linked below), explains that real well-being isn’t about avoiding stress but about ensuring we recover from it. His key point is worth remembering:
"The problem is not the stress; it's the lack of recovery."
This is where Simon Sinek’s insights become particularly relevant. In his recent interview (linked below), he explains how technology has blurred the line between work and rest. Many people today don’t take true breaks—they simply shift their work from the office to another location. The result? Instead of actually resting, we stay in a cycle of low-level work mode, checking emails, staying available, and never fully unplugging.
That’s why, as we head into ski break, I encourage you to be intentional about rest.
- Truly disconnect from work and school.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Do things that bring you joy—outside of your workplace.
- Give yourself permission to recover.
For our older students preparing for exams, this is especially important—meaningful rest will ultimately help you approach the final stretch of the year with greater focus and energy.
Wishing everyone a restful, balanced, and truly restorative break.
▶ Watch Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar’s talk on anti-fragility: Click here
▶ Watch Simon Sinek on why we need real rest: Click here
Kind regards,
Nathaniel Atherton
Primary Principal