I’ve thought about this a lot. And yes, I think I do. I’ve had a great life, so far. And a great career. And I’m happy to be retired. I loved teaching, and it defined who I am, or was. But I’m done with that now, and I’m not sure I could ever go back into the daily grind again, even if I wanted to.
But I miss making a difference.
I’ve been out of teaching for over three years, and as this time has progressed, it has become clearer and clearer to me, that I really miss making a difference. It’s not about personal recognition, or pats on the back. At least I don’t think so. No, it’s really that I’m too young for the Lazy Boy, yet too old for the classroom. And right now, I have a good life, friends that care for me, a church that appreciates me, and a woman who loves me. Yet I still feel like something is missing--and that “something” is “making a difference.”
There’s many ways I’m trying to correct that, but one, a small (tiny?) one, is my GrayShift blog. I’m not a professional writer, and while I would love to work for the Washington Post (!) I don’t think that’s going to happen. So I put my thoughts here.
While my blogs may not sound professionally written, and not everyone agrees with them, I try to share things that I think might make a difference for the readers. Whether it’s just a story about something that might make them feel good, or something to make them challenge their own mindsets, or even a look at our political world a little differently, it is one way I’m hoping to change the world. Just a little.
So if you read these, and you feel so inclined, please share them. Note that, at least for now, there is no advertising on my blog, which is actually unusual, So I don’t make any money from them, no matter how many people read them. But the more people who read them, the more I will feel I’m helping, just a little bit. And maybe, I actually will be. Assuming people continue to read them, look for more GrayShifts in the future.
So this is how I’m trying to change the world. Maybe you have some plans for doing the same.
It’s not easy to change the world. But maybe, can do it, just a little bit.
I remember when you went away to college. You were majoring in Physics, and said you wanted to teach. I said, "You could be a rocket scientist! Why teaching?" You profoundly said, "Someone has to TEACH the rocket scientists!" So, I am not surprised that you miss being the difference. Good luck on your quest, keep us posted.
ReplyDelete