Catching up with old friends

Honestly, if you thought of my brain as a glass of milk, I will tell you that 3/4 of that glass has been devoted to teaching for the past 34 years. Whether right or not, that great investment did not leave room for much else. The last quarter of the glass was devoted to family and a few friends, but for the majority of the time, I really didn't have enough time or capacity to invest in other people and matters as I would have liked to. 

Could I have devoted more time to other matters? I don't think so. As an educator, I truly wanted to do a very good job, and to do the kind of job that matched my mission and vision, it took lots and lots of time. Do I think all educators should devote 3/4 of their time to teaching? Not at all. We are all called in different ways, and we have to answer those calls in the most balanced and truthful ways that we can. There's no perfect equation when it comes to how you spend your time, but there are some guiding principals. 

All work and no play makes a person dull

You have to make time to do things that are not education-related. If you spend too much time devoted to your job as an educator, it truly will make you dull. But to be a good teacher, it does take a significant investment.

Acknowledge the commitment

As a young teacher, I don't think I acknowledged the commitment necessary to do the job well. If I had to do it over again, I'd feel less guilt and be more upfront with family members and friends about the commitment good teaching is. 

Keep the balance

I was good about keeping the school-family balance for the most part. I always put family first even if I did spend the lion's share of my time on teaching-related tasks. I wish I had been a little more thoughtful about commitments to neighbors and friends. Too often I tried to do more than was humanly possible and that backfired. It's better to acknowledge how busy you are and do what you can with confidence and intention.

Fortunately I've stayed in touch with lots of friends through social media and traditional events. I hope to reconnect with some who have the time to take a nice walk outdoors or get involved in local adventures or pursuits. I hope to connect with some new groups too that share my new found interests. I don't want to spend time that's obligatory in areas that don't fit who I am or what I can do well--I'd rather play to my strengths and interests these days. 

It will be good to catch up with new friends and revisit what it means to live a loving life. Onward.