BEST PATH FORWARD
Posted on December 23, 2018
I originally planned on writing a post that humorously promoted The Powers That Flee and a few other of my novels but found I wanted to go a different route. The end of the year sparks a lot of introspection.
It's no secret I'm in the second half of my life and with that comes a great deal of contemplating the future, reflecting on my past, and urging myself to stay in the present. I want to leave a legacy behind, impact the world with positive acts. I also want to take care of myself both mentally and physically so I can be on this mortal plane for as long as I can. Investing in the well being of others and maintaining an upbeat outlook are crucial pillars.
This notion has always been a part of my life. Sometimes it can grow obscure and unclear when the stresses of being a 'grown-up' take hold, but I always try to maintain a grip on it. It helps that my job involves working with young, spry fifth-grade minds that remind me daily to never lose my wonder.
A recent staff training at my school shared the stats about the rise of narcissism and the decline of empathy with the students we teach. It was very eye-opening and a little grim. The sharp change in the percentages was alarming. I don't have the stats with me, but it spurred me to think about how I could be a stronger role model in these areas for my students and for my own children, who are 16 and 19 and entering a world that is far more arduous and complex than what I grew up with. The program our school is putting in place to spotlight empathy and how other people matter is a terrific move forward. I've always held that character education is just as important as academic and I'm happy to see us all reinvest and recommit to this.
This weekend, as we finished our decorating, looked back over past Christmas letters, and watched several rom-com movies from way back (my slight secret shame is I have a soft spot for romantic comedies from the eighties and nineties), I reaffirmed my connection to staying positive, working to make others happy, and reducing how much stress the antics of politicians wear away at me.
What this means is working hard in my career as a teacher to model integrity and compassion. I am excited about the lessons coming up that deal with positivity.
In my personal life, I will continue to build my family, cultivated communication in my marriage, and work to enjoy the milestones that are ahead for my two great kids.
With my writing, I want to continue to write stories that feature protagonists who are awkward and not wholly evolved. This is something I had a lot of experience with growing up. I experienced bullying and frequently feeling on the outside looking in, so I know writing coming-of-age fantasy parables is my bread and butter. I care about the underdog, about the boy or girl who struggles to find acceptance because I went through that. Granted, a lot of social frustration was self-inflicted, but I still found that my experiences made me a stronger adult in the end. I plan on continuing to showcase empathy and introspection in my writing, both in my postings and in my novels.
So while my eyesight grows diminished with each passing year my vision just keeps getting clearer and stronger.
I leave you with a drawing that sits next to me every time I write. It's an illustration done by Amy when she was five or six depicting me riding my bike with her in tow in the rickshaw. I was fortunate to bike her and Ethan to school in the rickshaw for the first four years they went to my elementary school. It's something that fills me with warmth. I still bike to work every day, rain or shine, and, while it's great to have a three-minute commute with no traffic, the best trips were the ones with my children packed in the tiny rickshaw and smiling and laughing as I pedaled.