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January 18, 2002
Intentionally
When I first got here, I had lots of free time. Well, it wasn't really free time, mostly just a lack of obligations, but at the end of the day I could usually count on some time to write e-mail or update this page. I didn't have to make any effort to find the time, the time just came to me. Recently, though, the time just hasn't fallen into my lap. I had no intention of slacking-off in my updates here, in fact I think about it often, but the time just doesn't come to me. As each day passed, I thought, "I should update that page. I'll do it when the time comes to me." But the time never 'came to me.' So I had to intentionally make time.
"Intentionally."
Another thing that made me think about living intentionally really caught me off guard. In my classes I noticed the students talking about things other teachers had said. The things the students we talking about were not important things. Not lessons, not homework, just mundane offhand comments or parts of conversations. They were paying attention. Those kids notice everything we do. They notice. They listen. They pay attention. Wow. I know that teachers are role models. I knew that coming oven here. I guess I just wasn't prepared to see it in action with real people. I certainly wasn't ready to see that everything we do or say makes an impression. It's not just the things we say during a lesson. It's everything we say and do in the classroom, in the hallway, in the bathroom, everywhere. Wow.
For much of my life I have simply let things come to me. I was content to simply take life as it happened. But seeing the way these kids watch us makes me want to do things differently. It makes me want to live "intentionally". I feel I need to get my priorities in order and really, overtly and intentionally, act on them.
Boy, this could involve a lot of effort and possibly some major change. I really don't know what this will involve yet, it's all a pretty new thought. I'd really appreciate it if somebody would ask me about this later and keep me accountable to it please. Thanks.
Posted by neal on January 18, 2002 07:45 AM