13 Comments

I can definitely relate to this, especially getting comfortable with the unknown. I think teachers are so accustomed to (and good at!) planning for contingencies that it is difficult for us not to account for every possibility and have an idea of what's coming next. We are always one step ahead, as we must be with a classroom full of students. It takes a bit of work to undo that mode of thinking. It's not a bad thing, I don't think; it's just not always necessary, and is a difficult mode to maintain through life.

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Oh my gosh yes! We are always having to think and plan 20 steps ahead. Ok, maybe not that much, but it doesn't feel that far off sometimes.

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Oh, 3rd person talk, for sure, works. It's comedy, it's reassuring, it's everything! I've always been struck by how many teachers (in the teachers room) use it to soothe and keep themselves on task!

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You’re right, it’s such a soothing way to think about things!

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I feel you on the uncertainty!

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Very contemplative presentation and I can confirm that as I'm on my 3rd sabbatical from "that career", the pausing and lingering is key for shifting context and creating space for other perspectives to enter your consciousness.

Running around day-to-day in an entrenched paradigm and model for a system carries a ton of inertia. Inertia makes it nearly impossible to work on any shift in becoming present and conscious.

However you can, you need to find space to step away from the current context and conditions that keep you adhered to succumbing to the inertia.

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Hi Joe - thanks for the thoughtful feedback. And you're exactly right, you need to create space to help other perspectives and ideas rise to the surface.

The word inertia rings true also. Rushing about does make it impossible to make any meaningful change, let alone have the time (and space) to think about what that change may look like.

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This is a beautifully contemplative essay. Thank you💕

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Thank you Shreya! That’s really kind of you to say ☺️

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It’s lovely to watch the crowd at the station and photograph!

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Thanks Shital - I only had my phone with me but it did the job! But yes, I really like to stop and people watch at train stations too.

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A great reflective post, Sarah. And thank you for the kind mention. Enjoy Clockenflap!

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Thanks Jeffrey! Weather looks good for the weekend 🤞

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