handwritten on September 7, 2021
Ironically this is more of a book review than an actual journal entry.
But every now and again we read this piece of literature that we hope becomes our guide our reference
for the long term- for life
and this book did it for me
There were so many moments in this book where it becomes clear that our life's purpose is the actual journey and not an event or an accomplishment. It's the way our identities shift and change over time as we grapple with life's questions and things that organically happen some foreseen and some unforseen.
As humans (myself included in this) we always seek to find the answers
but what is purposeful in one season of life may become less purposeful when a new...
handwritten on September 1, 2021
Today was like time traveling
back to the beginning when
my little sneakers scuffled across the shiny floor
of my mom's brand new waxed classroom
and I watched her magic
her captivating stories that made everyone listen
and the scavenger hunts she created midday to
intrigue her students
the giggles she never snuffed out
and the time she took to appreciate the
artistic abilities and detailed creations
of every single child
sometimes a little rainstorm slows time
and brings us back to the beginning
to make us see again the reason
the real reason
why we decided to
become who we wanted to become
and be who we wanted to be
in the rain magic was found
in the most unlikely of
places
through the...
handwritten on August 21, 2021
I have been waking up and reading the same excerpt of text before I start my day. It's written almost as a prayer I think. It requires focus, reflection and an attitude of hope. It has created a renewed burning fire in my soul, and I hope it does the same for you.
Six months before he was assassinated, King spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967...this was his prayer:
I want to ask you a question, and that is: What is your life’s blueprint?
Whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint, and that blueprint serves as the pattern, as the guide, and a building is not well erected without a...
handwritten on August 11, 2021
In the days leading up to full-time teaching I generally go haywire in trying to find the perfect selection of read-aloud book for as my grandfather always called them "my little cherubs." Though in the realm of life, my third grade selection of global read alouds for them probably doesn't matter all that much, I've convinced myself that it indeed is a life-changing decision. This is probably again why I have not gotten the hang of work life balance. But then again, if your work is not actually work but a pathway or a calling, then there is no such thing as needing to have such.
And in some ways, maybe it is life-changing when thinking about language and literacy and identity development. I...
handwritten on August 8, 2021
This summer has been full of
new realizations
and new learning
continued finding of truths about the world
about dreams about perspectives and
perhaps undiscovered whimsies
full of cooking and running
eating and walking many miles
and nurturing a garden that has thrived
beyond expectations
the beginning of August is always marked with
something that feels final
but as an educator we know that
August is simply a new beginning to stir
things up and let loose
inspire and be inspired
a new year of beginning, new books
and new perspectives and new starts
an awakening of a new journey
or maybe not brand new but continued
for there is so much to fill our hearts
when we begin again
