I would like to say that I'm an introvert. However, there are times that I don't feel like it.
The times that I'm tagging people, sometimes friends and sometimes acquaintances, on Twitter. The times when I'm constantly on Voxer trying to ask questions and share my thoughts. The times when I'm doing a PD and I'm bouncing around like what I'm talking about is THE most exciting thing in the world (and I mean there are times when I really do LOVE it so the bounce is completely natural). All of these times and more I'm putting myself out there and making connections and getting my name out there. I'm not always very successful, but I do it. I do it because I want to learn.
However, there are times when I can't. It takes so much of my energy to be in constant contact. And while I genuinely do enjoy it even if it's hard, I'm drained.
So I must be an introvert? Because while I enjoy the connections, it's so draining? Because there are times (few and far between) that I just have to take a break? Because the reality is that it's easier for me to chat via media than small talk in person?
And what does all this have to do with anything? Because I went back to school on Monday, just like many of you. And after 3 days of working with colleagues, chatting, PDs, laughing, planning, analyzing, meeting, etc. I want nothing more than to go home and go to bed. I don't really want to be on Voxer. I don't really want to be on Twitter. At times, I don't even want to talk to my husband.
I just want to be alone. I just need my time to decompress and do nothing. To put on a movie that I want. To do something I enjoy on my laptop, that isn't connected to others. That is tonight and that is this post. While I'm writing it...I am not on my phone and I am alone. My husband is gone, my son is alseep, and I am tunnel vision focus on the screen in front of me. It feels good.
Am I an introvert? There are parts of my that very much are. And there are parts that very much aren't. So...true to my #oneword2020 WHY do I have to be all or nothing and WHY do I have to decide. I don't.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Goodnight
It’s been a long day and I’m not able to blog. That’s a lie. I am able to blog. But I choose to sleep.
There are days we should choose sleep.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Say Thank You
I decided today that I need to teach my son to sign thank you. He said thank you for the first time on Christmas and then he said it again today at the pediatrician's office. After the excited reaction from mom, he also said it a few more times just for fun.
When we were done at the pediatrician, we went back to the front and I told Matthew, it's so important to say thank you when someone does you a favor or goes out of their way for you. Even if you have to go out of your way to say thank you. Now, going back into the office after I'd gone through the exit door isn't exactly going out of my way. However, with a toddler, that walk becomes a little longer. So we went back in and I thanked the lady behind the desk for getting us in early so we didn't have to wait. After that, we left.
No big. But it made me think about how often do we say thank you for even the smallest things that probably typically get forgotten? When was the last time you went out of your way to say thank you?
I'm not going out of my way, but I would like to say thank you to you for reading this. Thank you for taking your time away from anything else to read this.
When we were done at the pediatrician, we went back to the front and I told Matthew, it's so important to say thank you when someone does you a favor or goes out of their way for you. Even if you have to go out of your way to say thank you. Now, going back into the office after I'd gone through the exit door isn't exactly going out of my way. However, with a toddler, that walk becomes a little longer. So we went back in and I thanked the lady behind the desk for getting us in early so we didn't have to wait. After that, we left.
No big. But it made me think about how often do we say thank you for even the smallest things that probably typically get forgotten? When was the last time you went out of your way to say thank you?
I'm not going out of my way, but I would like to say thank you to you for reading this. Thank you for taking your time away from anything else to read this.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Nothing to Say
Do you ever feel that way? Maybe not that you have nothing to say, but your afraid that nobody wants to hear it.
That's how I'm feeling right now. Well, it's how I'm feeling often.
I was out and about with my son today, getting some things handled before we have to head back to school. And while we're running these errands, my mind races with all these ideas. Things I want to say, things I want to do but can't, things I want to do and can, ideas to blog about, ideas to podcast about, ideas for a book, ideas, questions, strategies, etc. And every time I think of something, my default response is, I can't do that. Nobody wants to hear what I have to say. There are so many people that already do that. There are so many people that already do that WAY better than me!
I'm a little fish in a big pond. With no real focus.
But, I just can't let that stop me.
My strategy in the classroom was everyday, if I can't make a difference in just one kids life, then I've done something good. If I make a difference for more, then I've done something great. I have to take that strategy outside the classroom too.
Here's the difference, you don't always know if what you've said, in whatever platform you said it, made a difference to anyone. So I just have to have that faith that it is.
So it's not about having nothing to say...it's about saying something that someone wants or needs to hear.
That's how I'm feeling right now. Well, it's how I'm feeling often.
I was out and about with my son today, getting some things handled before we have to head back to school. And while we're running these errands, my mind races with all these ideas. Things I want to say, things I want to do but can't, things I want to do and can, ideas to blog about, ideas to podcast about, ideas for a book, ideas, questions, strategies, etc. And every time I think of something, my default response is, I can't do that. Nobody wants to hear what I have to say. There are so many people that already do that. There are so many people that already do that WAY better than me!
I'm a little fish in a big pond. With no real focus.
But, I just can't let that stop me.
My strategy in the classroom was everyday, if I can't make a difference in just one kids life, then I've done something good. If I make a difference for more, then I've done something great. I have to take that strategy outside the classroom too.
Here's the difference, you don't always know if what you've said, in whatever platform you said it, made a difference to anyone. So I just have to have that faith that it is.
So it's not about having nothing to say...it's about saying something that someone wants or needs to hear.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
WHY
Well, it is January 1, 2020.
My family and I are settled in Florida, as well as we can be. I've got my job at my new school. I am working on my book, Balancing the EDU Life, with a multitude of talented educators with stories that move and inspire me with each word I read, staying active on Voxer with a few different PLNs, and I still have the Undrcaff3inated Podcast that I work on with Joelle and Ashley. Combine that with all the other "stuff" of life, and I'm feeling...full of life.
Of course, in my PLNs this year, #oneword2020 was a hot topic. My word is WHY. Also of course, that is not the only hot topic. My friend Melissa wanted to start #edublogyear in one of our Voxer group. I knew that I would not be able to blog 365 days. I am already juggling too many things to be able to do all of them as well as I would like to, if for no other reason than they aren't my number 1 priority...my son and my husband and my parents and my in laws are my number 1 priority.
As I sat down tonight to scroll through Twitter as my husband watched TV and my son slept peacefully, I opened up my friend Holly's blog. She is participating in the #edublogyear initiative. I read her post and I was inspired! I thought her post was insightful and interesting. I know that it took time and effort, but as I read it, it didn't seem like it was a difficult task for her to write. I began to think.
Then I thought about my #oneword2020...WHY. WHY do I have to blog every. single. day? WHY can't I do what I can do? Nobody is judging me, except perhaps myself. So WHY not?
I may not see you every day, but I'll do the best to see you some days. Cheers Melissa, Holly, and anyone else participating in #edublogyear!
My family and I are settled in Florida, as well as we can be. I've got my job at my new school. I am working on my book, Balancing the EDU Life, with a multitude of talented educators with stories that move and inspire me with each word I read, staying active on Voxer with a few different PLNs, and I still have the Undrcaff3inated Podcast that I work on with Joelle and Ashley. Combine that with all the other "stuff" of life, and I'm feeling...full of life.
Of course, in my PLNs this year, #oneword2020 was a hot topic. My word is WHY. Also of course, that is not the only hot topic. My friend Melissa wanted to start #edublogyear in one of our Voxer group. I knew that I would not be able to blog 365 days. I am already juggling too many things to be able to do all of them as well as I would like to, if for no other reason than they aren't my number 1 priority...my son and my husband and my parents and my in laws are my number 1 priority.
As I sat down tonight to scroll through Twitter as my husband watched TV and my son slept peacefully, I opened up my friend Holly's blog. She is participating in the #edublogyear initiative. I read her post and I was inspired! I thought her post was insightful and interesting. I know that it took time and effort, but as I read it, it didn't seem like it was a difficult task for her to write. I began to think.
Then I thought about my #oneword2020...WHY. WHY do I have to blog every. single. day? WHY can't I do what I can do? Nobody is judging me, except perhaps myself. So WHY not?
I may not see you every day, but I'll do the best to see you some days. Cheers Melissa, Holly, and anyone else participating in #edublogyear!
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