Seven days into the post-semester glow I have that hankering for a new semester. I’m not even done yet. I have grading to do and feedback to email to several creative writers (the 5 week format for a writing workshop needs work–actually it needs less work and more focused feedback). I’m falling back into that prep mode and that creator phase where I like building cool stuff and taking advantage of the tools (tech) at my disposal and even using all the wonderful media out there in order to create something amazing for my students. Also for my kids. I am feeling a bit like a creator again, and I need to ride that wave of emotion and start doing big things with it, less the wave crashes against the shores empty and forgotten.
Flag for unnecessary darkness there.
What I am trying to say is that I am happy and I am ready to work. I don’t know what writing projects I want to work on, but I am ready to move on from the past and dive headlong into whatever awaits.
Some Thoughts:
- I’ve long marveled at my eldest’s athletic prowess, but lately I have come to see some of that as location. The last few years he’s been close with a kid who is a superstar athlete. He can hang with the kid to a certain extent, but is clearly the smaller, slower, less agile athlete. This kid has two brothers in the NFL. So that says a lot about where my kid isn’t. However, it also offers an opportunity to see the ceiling and push himself to the level this other kid is at. This is an opportunity for all of my kids to grow.
- Staying on that path, motivation is a big deal to me right now. I don’t have a tremendous amount of intrinsic motivation, but I’ve been bolstered by the Tony Robbins of the world. I use that kind of media to jumpstart my own engine and get it up to revving potential. I have to accept that I’m not that same 26 yr old kid sitting at a house party full of writers spinning tales. I’m a dad and a teacher and a coach. I’m someone different with different inputs. I have to accept where I am and use that to power forward to where I want to go.