I am on a sabbatical (this is how I am now referring to my forced non-classroom status). I have been strongly encouraged, to the point of harassment, by someone I love to take some time to just be, and to figure things out...to borrow the cliche and extremely overused status of "finding myself". But of course I can't just sit around waiting for this to happen, I am therefore going to do the following:
- I will be taking a children's writing course, in the spirit of finally finishing that book that I've been writing and see what might come next.
- Cooking classes...just a couple here and there that I think might be fun
- A sewing class...and yes I am going to finish the apron I cut out over a month ago
- Finishing all of my unfinished knitting projects...I am going to attempt to not start another one until all these other things are finished.
- Writing sunday school curriculum with Karen for church (guilty indulgent pleasure!)
- My book group...and one I have created for myself about food (Kingsolver, Pollan, Kessler, Schaeffer)
- My self discovery series (just picked up from Powell's with the credit from selling books!): Surprised by Joy- C.S. Lewis, Walking on Water- Madeline L'Engle, Title I can't remember but which sounds delicious- Thomas Merton, The Four Loves- C.S. Lewis, Plan B- Anne Lamot, and something by Catherine Marshall that I can't remember the title of...more titles to come as I discover more!
- Yoga! Yes I am finally going to do it!
- Running/Pilates/Biking...on a consistent basis once again now that I will have a schedule back in place
- Buying a bike...yes it will happen, maybe not before my consultant goes to Australia, but it will happen!
- Redecorating/purging myself of all unwanted/unused things!
I am harkening to a different me. One who lives in the moment (or at least will try to) and who will be content with where I am. Though it is not where I want to be necessarily, this whole sabbatical idea has struck a chord within me somehwere and I am now quite excited to be present for this next phase. This isn't to say that I am not still sad...bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils have been dancing through my head...walking into "my" organized classroom of someone else's stuff today nearly took my breath a way...not in the good way. But under the grief (sounds melodramatic, but that's what it's been) I have decided to embrace the time. Therefore I am starting this new chapter with fidelity (yes the f word) and felicity...I added that just for the lovely assonance in creates.
Goodbye former purpose, hello sabbatical...those of you wishing to find me will either find me not at home, curled up reading somewhere or
laying out under the stars training myself to be present in the here and now...I think I see the big dipper now!
