For the last several weeks I’ve been feeling constrained by things and people around me. Union meetings. Cuts in education. Students. All of these create a suffocating cloud of stress and worry.
It is easy to drown in such circumstances, give in to depression or despair, to feel and become a victim. Some people do get overwhelmed by such things, but each and everyone of us needs to look at it. What are we contributing to the mess? What is external and simply is, no matter what we do? What can we change? What can we not change?
Well, I cannot change the financial mess that is the state of California. I cannot change its impact on education. I know my students will move on. I don’t have any idea what the union has in store for us, if they even understand what it is that my small coterie of educators do. That I might be able to impact. But if the final rule is that my hours are cut, well, such is life, pick up, move on.
This realization hit me as I was driving in to work the other morning. What can I do if there are more free hours in the week? Can we make it on less money? Should I look for an additional job? Do I want to? (No!) If I do look for another job, what would I look for? Shall I work in another area? I am beginning to take action by considering options.
The proverbial “window of opportunity” is here.
Open it.
Look out.
Fresh air.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 