What if you consciously decide to take a leave from your job in education for a year? How does that work, exactly or better yet how does it feel? Frankly, a little nerve-racking but, come late August it feels absolutely fine!
On my third consecutive weekend trip up to Camp Cloud this month, I caught a promo of NPR's Ted Talk Hour on an upcoming show on school suffocating creativity. Yes, it's that time of year when the focus of many shows on NPR are all around schools and the problems and joys facing those in the field. Immediate relief flooded over me again, as I thought about how good it feels not to be trudging back through the school doors to face my colleagues forced cheery greetings and our superficial chit chat about our wonderful but, all too short, summers. Navigating the halls already thick with tension
and nervous energy (aka dread) would make my stomach churn. And yet, everyone determinedly paints on their their everything is fine and we're so happy to be here face. ---FINE, a fellow teacher from another district informed me, means: fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional (I felt an immediate kinship to this woman). They were the first true words I had heard spoken that early fall day!
So . . . here I am feeling FINE, minus the churning stomach, and it feels so good!
I love this entry! I think you need to share your blog with a bigger circle!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen. I think I'll stick to my audience of one (especially after your navel gazing comment)!
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