This is not a manual. It's a quiet act of rebellion.

Letters to a Young Teacher is a poetic and piercing exchange between two educators-a seasoned guide and a young teacher navigating burnout, grief, and the quiet longing to feel again.

What begins as an honest back-and-forth becomes something else entirely: a reckoning with perfectionism, a gentle rebellion against performative strength, and a soft return to joy.

This is a book for those who hold others while quietly falling apart. For the ones who wear calm faces while screaming on the inside. For teachers, mentors, coaches-and anyone who leads without always knowing how to hold themselves.

These letters don't preach. They breathe. They carry tools that don't demand. Stories that regulate the body. And language that grants permission-to feel again, to rest, to reclaim wonder.

You'll find somatic practices layered into prose. Nervous system insights woven with wit and clarity. And a companionship that speaks to the heart of every leader who's ever asked: What if I'm not okay?

You don't need fixing to be of value. You just need presence. And the courage to begin again.

Paul O'Neill is the author of Back into Delight and the Neuro-Resilience Skills series. He helps leaders stay clear, calm, and connected-so their teams can move as one.

Francinne Kaye Gacilo is an educator and coach who brings the heart of a teacher to every role-from classroom care to digital transformation.