UMC20230319 - Slices of pie¶
Last week I had some of my senior students give a presentation to my juniors. It was a fun way to introduce the juniors to their year project from the perspective of other students rather than a boring reading of the rubric from their teacher. One thing that I found disjointing in the matric presentation was that they mentioned that the PAT (their year project) isn't your life and you shouldn't focus all your energy on it. My initial instinct was "NO!! You need to give it everything you have". But then I continued to listen. They said that friends are important, sleep is important, and balance is important. And I thought that I was meant to be the one teaching them how to go through life!
This was such a great reminder for me to slow down, especially with all the work I am doing for the end of the term. I have felt like I am living, breathing, and eating admin. I need to be reminded that my job isn't my whole life. It is ONE part of my life. One slice of the pie. An important part, no doubt, but just a part nonetheless. Counter-intuitively, the more you balance your life, the more you will be able to give at work. Being selfish of your time and energy is sometimes what we need to do in order to recharge. Obviously, it is a balance. There are times when you have to give more than you think you have. Like the end of the term for teachers. But work can't be everything.
I hear God calling me back to rest in His presence. To recentre my scattered mind. To recalibrate my slices of pie. Are you balancing your life like you want to? Are you trying to get everything at work perfect? Are you taking on too much for too long?
Love, Cliff