As an educator and parent, my service to others was almost 24-7. Like many educators and parents, I was working around the clock to serve students and my children well. In some ways, this work was too taxing, and in other ways it was a just right level of service and care.
Now as a retired educator and a parent of young adult children, my service schedule has changed, and I'm working on creating that just right balance of good service to those I love and the community that I live in. The transition to new service work is taking time since new endeavor requires learning and adjustment. I find myself thinking about the best ways to put the life puzzle pieces together to make time and space for good service--natural, positive ways to support myself and others.
What takes priority?
Teamwork
Finding supportive teams for this new chapter has been a focus. Fortunately I have found a number of supportive teams for the work I'm doing at home and elsewhere. One question that helps me with this teamwork is to ask, What can I do? That generally opens the conversation up to learning more about helping out in positive ways.
Listen
In many ways, this chapter is a chapter of responding more than leading. I'm stepping back, being present, and ready to help out as needed in a number of areas.
Matching my skills, ability, time, and interest with service work
I'm discerning about where I'll invest my time and energy. I don't want to take on jobs and tasks that are not a good match for my time, energy, and interest, but instead match my time, interest, and energy well with what I am doing--the more I do that, the better I can serve.
Positive routine
As with parenting and teaching, a positive weekly routine truly is a good way to tackle service work--if I can be available at similar times in similar ways, I find that my service is better.
Patience
I can see way ahead of where I'm at, but I have to have patience with myself and others as it will take time to get to the place I can see--a place of deep, good service. Also, there's a number of laborious jobs to do in order to get to the place where I want to go--I simply have to do the jobs with patience and perseverance.
We all hold dreams and vision for our lives, and to achieve those pursuits requires reflection and consistency. We can do this.