Joining up with Lisa-Jo Baker and a slew of amazing writers for Five Minute Friday. We write for five minutes on a given prompt. This week's prompt: Fight.
Go.
Ah, the start of the new year. A time of hope, promise, possibilities. A time to look at things from a new perspective, see things with "fresh eyes."
So why am I fighting myself on this?
I am struggling with heading back to work after an almost 2-week break. It's similar to how I felt at the beginning of the year.
For the most part, I enjoy my job. It challenges me. It frustrates me. It energizes me.
We've gone through a lot of changes with procedures since the beginning of the year, so it has been somewhat overwhelming at times. Yet, there's been a sense of unity as we've all traipsed through it all together. THAT has been nice.
Part of my job involves working with middle school students with a program called 8 to Great. This is the highlight of my day. I love this program, and I love seeing how students grasp these concepts and are so eager to apply the power of this program to their lives.
So why am I fighting going back?
Perhaps it's a feeling of isolation I feel at times. Which is ironic, I only have about 35 minutes all day long when I am not surrounded by others. But that feeling of unity I mentioned earlier? I don't always feel that.
Perhaps it's a sense of limitation. There are so many areas I would like to explore: blogging, independent business, volunteer, speaker. With my job, I feel like I'm limited in how and when I can pursue these things. Not to mention quilting, papercrafting, crocheting!
Yet, I know I'm blessed and incredibly fortunate to have my job. And as I said earlier, I do enjoy the challenges it presents, and I enjoy working with the students.
So while I struggle to stay out of my own way and not fight myself so much, my OneWord comes back to me: OPEN. I need to remember to stay open to how I can best serve others through my job, and remain open to possibilities of pursuing my other interests and opportunities as well.
STOP.
Oh, I can relate so much to this. My job really does challenge me and interests me, but I feel like it holds me back from all of the personal creative things I could do and want to do by just sapping the energy (and time) I have available.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you'll be able to find the balance this year between them. Happy New Year!
- Melissa (via five minute friday)
http://www.measi.net/measiblog/
Hi Melissa! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Balance truly is the key, isn't it? It's an ongoing prayer for me, and I will pray for you as well to find this delicate balance. Happy 2014!
DeleteAs a fellow teacher I can relate to what you are feeling. I am hoping, though, that there comes a time when things will settle down and I have the time to follow my creative pursuits. And in the meantime, I will focus on the wonderful children I am working with and enjoy my time with them.
ReplyDelete(Colline from FMF)
Oh Colline - our ministry really can be in the classroom, huh? I really do learn so much from my kids at school. Praying for you for an easy "re-entry" into the second semester for you! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here!
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