There are so many things that I see on a weekly basis that make me want to write a quick blog, but then life gets away from me and busy days happen and suddenly another month has gone by and you've heard nothing from me. It's amazing to me how many wonderful and beautiful things I see that I don't share, but give me a whopper of a bad day and the words just flow. Apparently I use this blog as a sort of therapy. Great. Sorry world!
Today, I'm not writing from that place of frustration or processing, though. I'm just writing.
The school year is officially in full swing, with mid-quarter reports emailed home and parent meetings sprinkled throughout my schedule. It's the season of figuring out if we started well and actually having time to write (and maybe even check off a few items on) a to-do list. It's the season of going deep with students and tackling issues that seem to be on a theme and variations loop. And it's the season of people beginning to think about next year and change and options.
Don't worry, I'm not thinking about change. I'm actually really thinking about consistency.
That's a word that I've been marinating on quite a bit lately.
Consistent
What does it mean for me, Bekah, to be consistent? How does that look? Is it possible? For the past five years, I've been a consistent resident of Chengdu. Compatible. Unchanging over time. I've consistently gotten up each morning and gone to work (save a few sick days sprinkled here and there). I've consistently chatted with students and gotten to know their families. My life here somehow shifted from an experiment of sorts in consistency to an actual constant in my life. The variable is no longer if this is home. It's home (well, one of them). I've had a consistent view from my living room window for more than three years. I've had consistent places that I go to think or enjoy the world around me. Chengdu and I are compatible, in agreement, and [relatively] unchanging over time.
How on earth did that happen?!?!?
Okay, this so wasn't where I thought my thoughts would take me. Go figure...
...squirrel...
Anywhosiers, another word I've been marinating on quite a bit lately is 'why.' When a students is acting out at school, I want to know why. When a friend is seeming more distant (or more engaged) than usual, I want to know why. When things aren't going quite right, I want to know why. When I'm in a funk, I want to know why.
We don't always get to know the answer to that, though.
But still I want to know.
I like knowing. It feels somehow...safer? ...more comfortable?
Consistency and why don't always go hand in hand, but today I'm going to leave you with that and call it a night.
Besides, my pizza just got here. :)
Today, I'm not writing from that place of frustration or processing, though. I'm just writing.
The school year is officially in full swing, with mid-quarter reports emailed home and parent meetings sprinkled throughout my schedule. It's the season of figuring out if we started well and actually having time to write (and maybe even check off a few items on) a to-do list. It's the season of going deep with students and tackling issues that seem to be on a theme and variations loop. And it's the season of people beginning to think about next year and change and options.
Don't worry, I'm not thinking about change. I'm actually really thinking about consistency.
That's a word that I've been marinating on quite a bit lately.
Consistent
- unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time.
- compatible or in agreement with something.
- (Thank you Google!)
What does it mean for me, Bekah, to be consistent? How does that look? Is it possible? For the past five years, I've been a consistent resident of Chengdu. Compatible. Unchanging over time. I've consistently gotten up each morning and gone to work (save a few sick days sprinkled here and there). I've consistently chatted with students and gotten to know their families. My life here somehow shifted from an experiment of sorts in consistency to an actual constant in my life. The variable is no longer if this is home. It's home (well, one of them). I've had a consistent view from my living room window for more than three years. I've had consistent places that I go to think or enjoy the world around me. Chengdu and I are compatible, in agreement, and [relatively] unchanging over time.
How on earth did that happen?!?!?
Okay, this so wasn't where I thought my thoughts would take me. Go figure...
...squirrel...
Anywhosiers, another word I've been marinating on quite a bit lately is 'why.' When a students is acting out at school, I want to know why. When a friend is seeming more distant (or more engaged) than usual, I want to know why. When things aren't going quite right, I want to know why. When I'm in a funk, I want to know why.
We don't always get to know the answer to that, though.
But still I want to know.
I like knowing. It feels somehow...safer? ...more comfortable?
Consistency and why don't always go hand in hand, but today I'm going to leave you with that and call it a night.
Besides, my pizza just got here. :)
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