I recently just read a book by Diane Dreher entitled Your Personal Renaissance. Ultimately, it is a book of practical lessons that are very applicable to the field of education. As I began reading the fourth chapter, I came upon a remarkable quote that I have since reflected on: 

Your Job is not your calling. You are always more than what you do-what matters most is the spirit in which you do it.

Although this appears to be a simple quote, it is actually filled with complexity. As a student, I have always had a difficult time understanding veteran teachers who tell me that the most important thing for me to remember is that you must have a balance between your work and your personal life. Initially, I was horrified at this proposition. Does this not seem lazy? Why would I ever want to have a balance when I know that most teachers must take their work home with them after-hours. However, today, I actually began to come to my senses. 

Today was a typical Monday. Generally, many of our students come back from the weekend tired, exhausted and somewhat cranky. Transitions are definitely difficult for many of our students and today proved to be one of those days. One of our students had a tantrum that lasted for one hour and inevitably caused most of the other students to drift off of their schedules. It is a fairly small room. Thus, distractions are difficult to deal with. I will admit that after completing my practicum this morning, I was completely exhausted, and I finally realized the significance of leaving your work-life behind if even for a couple of hours. For once, I decided not to create another batch of activities/ lesson plans as I came back to my apartment. Instead, I ate lunch and then focused on work that was completely unrelated. 

My plan most definitely worked. I regained the energy I had lost from the chaos of this morning and continued with work later in the evening. I realize that it will always be difficult for me to take a break from work in the future due to the nature of how I operate. Nevertheless, we are more than what we do. There is an entire world worth exploring that we should be open to even if it doesn't directly relate to our job. Why not go on a run if the weather is nice? As teachers, we are called to be holistic, wordly individuals. It is the spirit in which we live our lives (inside and outside of our jobs) that is truly important. Just some food for thought as this Saint Patrick's Day comes to a close.