handwritten on November 11, 2020
Well- I must say. I often take for granted the fact that I ended up teaching next to two "Veteran" teachers who certainly have raised children of their own and already (in my opinion) have earned their wings (and then some) as dedicated teachers. My mother is certainly one of these teachers- though I do not teach beside her (she's always there in spirit of course.) As all of us were scrambling around in our classroom at around 5:30 (still trying to figure out tomorrow's materials, grade, etc.) I couldn't help but smile. I was talking to one of my "mentors" from across the hall and as I was expressing concern about whether or not I'm actually accomplishing anything this year, she stopped me...
handwritten on October 25, 2020
As October comes to a restful end this year
It's a clear reminder of the importance of rest
in small cracks of uncertainty where rest feels like
it cannot be reached properly
because the soul is grounded in constant restlessness
like an autumn leaf that just will not land
unless a landing is forced upon it.
But "Autumn whispered to the wind: I fall-but always rise again."
How true
So whether you feel like the leaf that has just changed the most vibrant color of cherry red
or the leaf that seems to float through the winds of change in the wrong direction entirely
or the leaf that has fallen, cracked and dry perhaps never to be found again
in intentional rest
the soul always rises again...
handwritten on August 12, 2020
Sometimes you
arise with the
rise of the
newest day
a smell or a thought
teeming with wonder
transforming fascination
or just realization
after realization that
you experienced the sweetest
story that just
wrote something simple but
so different on
your heart with a new
sense of being a soleful
reprise of something you composed
yesterday but left unfinished
just so you could realize
the sweetest story
again
today
handwritten on August 7, 2020
I've been writing and rewriting the lettert to my parents this year which- If I am being honest is more a letter to myself or rather a letter to all of us. The more I think about the letter, the more I think about the ocean and the way it seems to swallow the world. But then the more I think about this letter, the more I think about this ocean and how it flows with such energy and sometimes a sincere calming spirit. To look out into the ocean is to see vastness but awe. As a kid, I was always in awe of the fact that I could stand looking at the ocean for hours and never see where it ended. I would squint my eyes and look ahead hoping to go beyond the end that I could not see. But how...
handwritten on July 29, 2020
In staying grounded, I have had to force myself to hit the pavement more frequently than usual. By running, my running thoughts actually take a breather and thus clarity does continue. Today I was reflecting upon the missing ingredient that is missing from online learning (besides the obvious in-person and authentic social interaction.) Having the opportunity to have taught in-person classes and live-teaching online, I have felt in my heart that something has been not quite right, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it until today. You can still create whilst instructing online. Creativity can still occur. You can still laugh and heal with your positivity. You can push forward or move...
