After talking with some of my coworkers last week, I realized that my workplace has been in transition for nearly thirteen months. We’re on our third center director since last August. We have a new owner, acquired in February. Over the past two months, our other directors have been changed out.
Because of my position, I have been the one mediating the changes for both the incoming leadership and for the teachers who are just trying to understand what each of these changes means for them. Admittedly, I walk into work every day wondering what’s been changed overnight, and how am I going to be expected to handle that change. The job was already one that required a lot of flexibility because small things were constantly changing, but now it’s a persistent state of change. In a way, you could say that change has become a lifestyle for me.
I’ve had some very long days and weeks just trying to keep on top of everything going on, and as a result my blogging (my writing in general), and my new photography and drawing hobbies have fallen by the wayside. I’m not so invested in either the photography or the drawing yet, so I almost haven’t missed them except when I see my camera or my sketchbook.
Losing the writing, on the other hand, has created a sense of, “Something’s missing here.” That’s probably because writing is a lifestyle for me as well. I’ve written as long as anyone can remember. I’ve journaled. I’ve written short stories, novels, and fan fiction. I’ve blogged. Not writing has actually contributed to my inability to relax because it’s like my arm’s been cut off.
Not writing, or taking pictures, or drawing has actually led to other frustrations for me because creativity is another of my lifestyles. When I can focus on Dead Bunny’s material or solve problems at work, my inner need for creativity is met, but I would flourish with more opportunities to be creative.
The one part of my lifestyle that I haven’t had to find opportunities for is teaching. I train at work. I teach at work. I come home, analyze cartoons for learning moments, and then work on learning moments myself. There was a time, though, when the closest I got to teaching was training volunteers every three months. I have friends who still remind me of how much I was a pill during that time.
A lifestyle is something that makes you who you are. For me, that involves teaching, writing, and being creative. That’s my recipe, what keeps me going.
What’s you lifestyle?
