Feeling Neutral

I'm done. No more teaching for a while. Friday was my last day. Yet, it felt strange. Almost anticlimactic. I sat through a professional development session out of obligation; listened to Administration speak about registration procedures for a second semester that I will not be part of; received a "mention" in regards to my maternity leave; made a solo trip out for some Japanese fast-food; and spent the remainder of the afternoon clearing out personal items from my classroom. A few colleagues stopped to say goodbye and good luck. I handed in my keys and walked out the doors neither happy or sad. Just neutral. Whatever. Maybe I'll see you all later. Maybe not. Only God knows.

Interestingly enough, out of all the schools that I have taught at, this was the one I was the least attached to. Why? A combination of factors are to blame. The school was quite large and it was hard to make personal connections with staff. My classroom was located in an isolated section of the school that was devoid of a group of math/science colleagues. I wasn't highly involved in extra-curricular activities because of out-of-school commitments. And my attention was diverted from social gatherings because of significant life changes (i.e. marriage and motherhood).

I really do not know why I am writing all of this. Maybe I'm experiencing a twinge of regret. Just a bit. But, could I have changed anything? I do not think so. Life happens. Priorities are decided. And circumstances influence the outcome. Maybe next time will be different. Or maybe not.

Popular posts from this blog

Is God Good?

During "at home learning", I helped my daughter design an experiment on plants. She set up four identical pots with the same amount of soil in the same location on our deck (controlling her variables, right?). She planted two bean seeds in each pot. She watered three out of the four plants with various amounts of water (1/4 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup). The fourth plant only received whatever water naturally fell from the sky. At the end of one month, her hypothesis was partially verified. She thought the 1/4 cup water plant and 1/2 cup water plant would grow the best, which was true in the end. On the other hand, she guessed the others would not germinate at all. Interestingly enough, while the one that was drench in water (1 cup) did not germinate, the one she did not water at all actually grew! It germinated late but had the most steady growth. Is God good? I have been thinking about this question a lot these days. A global pandemic is still raging over our planet decimat...
Read more

Daunting {But Not Impossible}

I rarely watch the news. I catch up on the world's happenings -- where often the horror is reported -- via Google News. Or the brief blurb before classic rock on our favourite radio station. But very occasionally, at the end of the day, I take in the images of national and global headlines. Yesterday I watched the masses trek across Europe, searching for a safe haven away from war-torn Syria. I witnessed little kids crying as they tried to rub away tear gas sprayed by unrelenting border police. The message? You are not welcome in this country. I choked up as a father and his son fell to the ground after being tripped up by guards. The look of desperation on people's faces was heart breaking. Our country is nearing a Federal Election in October. Many voters are curious how the next Prime Minister will address the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Here is an excerpt from The Globe and Mail : Mr. Mulcair [NDP] and Mr. Trudeau [Liberal] condemn Mr. Harper [Conservative] for lacking...
Read more

Yoga: Fitness, Spiritual or Both?

Image
I've joined a step aerobics class at one of our local Leisure Centers. The last time I was enrolled in a step class was ten years ago! I have noticed a few subtle differences in the last decade. First, in the beginner class category, there is a 5:2 ratio of yoga classes to step classes. Second, the step class includes several strengthening exercises that are yoga inspired. Third, the relaxation music utilized during the final stretch session is reminiscent of sounds that gently drift out of a Hindu or Buddhist temple. Lastly, phrases such as "inhale the positive, exhale the negative" are used. I do not have a problem with my step class. It invigorates me, especially since winter temperatures and icy streets have dampened my joy of walking outdoors. However, I am fascinated how yoga has gained momentum in Western society. Yoga inspired clothing chains, such as lululemon athletica , are a testament to this fact. Also, I am wondering, is yoga a fitness activity, a spiritual ...
Read more