I never really liked the advice, Live each day. I couldn't grasp that message--a message rooted in the present. Instead my sights were set on the future with these questions: Where am I going? What am I doing? Where do I want to be? Looking back, I understand why I couldn't simply live each day because, in truth, each day was quite difficult--I needed the vision to pull me forward, energize me, and give me the impetus to live each day well.
Now with a schedule that is far more reasonable and much less stressful, I'm ready to embrace that advice, live each day. That advice makes sense to me now because I approach each day with an open mind, a reasonable schedule, and a host of meaningful, enjoyable activities and pursuits. The too-busy schedule that had too much oppression woven within the day is over.
Do I regret the too-busy schedule of teaching? I must say I don't miss the oppression woven into teachijng days. In my opinion, elementary school teachers have too many bosses, too little authority over their days, and mostly unreasonable schedules. The work is positive, the mission good, and the children/families/colleagues wonderful, but in truth, teachers today are tasked with too much responsibility and too little support. Often educators put their physical and financial health in jeopardy in order to serve their students well. It's good work, but I don't believe that work has to include the extensive sacrifice of time, energy, finances, and good health that teaching often demands--I believe that the public can better support schools and teachers, and that improved support will result in better conditions for student learning too. Afterall, educators are mentors to students, and when educators are relegated to insufficient supports, unreasonable work conditions, and low salaries, that doesn't create the best possible mentors for students.
That said, I am proud of the work I did. I rose to the expectations, but I can see now that it's good that I made a change now before the work schedule and demands met an irreversible impact to my health and happiness. Over time, too much oppression can have devastating affects on your health.
So now, I am ready to live each day with healthy food, activity, and contribution. As an advocate, I'll find ways to promote happy, healthy lives in any way I can as a happy, healthy life is a good life--the kind of life I'd like everyone to enjoy. Onward.