Juxtapositions. The Way a Day Starts. A Choice in Ending It Correctly. Mental Well-Being. Looking to Find Hope.

I started an email at 6 a.m. and it was never finished until 2 p.m. - the distractions kept coming, and coming, and coming. I had three meetings on campus, 11 miles away, but I-95 was a parking lot. There was no movement and I was trapped in the left lane for 90 minutes, having to make the first meeting by car phone. I didn't (and don't) miss the insanity of traffic that we were spared for the last 18 months. Working from home saved an immense amount of time. On the road, it was nothing but trucks. By the time I got home at 4, I loaded up the dog and said, "I need to see water."

And I did. For 75 minutes, Karal and hiked the Long Island Sound. The serenity so needed.

On the way back, I delivered 100s of copies of Kwame Mbalia's Black Boy Joy to CWP teachers, and took true pleasure in the smile of educators who listed the book on their Go-Fund-Me pages, in which I delivered. I love the partnership with People Get Ready.

Then, at night, I thoroughly LOVED another episode we recorded for The Write Time with Carmen Oliver and Kristin Lessard for #WriteOut. The show was all I expected and then some. 

I've been at this work for 11 years, and vacations have been next to none....364 days a year it's go, go, go. Even so, there's not enough days to fit everything in. There used to be assistance for helping out, but in addition to the full-time CWP work and full-time ESTP work, I now have full-time CWP Administrative Assistance work added to the grind. I love what I do, but at some point you have to wave the flag and once again announce, "This is ridiculous." 

Hence the walk. The water. The blue sky and clouds. I needed to be re-centered and as a result, I'm prioritizing and going to go see my parents this weekend. I know what's most important and that remains central to my mission in life. 

There are tremendous flaws in K-12 teaching and higher education that need major change. Not sure if I will see it in my lifetime, but I can hope. As always, I'm summoning 9 to 5. The workers need to push administrations to the side so they're doing what is right. Frustrated by all the talk and zero action.

But if there's free will...

...well.