"With a Conscience" - "If I knew then what I know now...Teaching...The abyss"

 

        So, when I retired eight months ago, set on my journey to pay attention to my health.  Not that I could ignore my past issues of course but I thought it was time to show my vigilance.  Catscans, MRIs, bloodwork and well other things that are just ugly.  Having said that, I can truthfully say that your hearing and your vision are also vitally important to your health and if you are aging, double, triple, quadruple that necessity.  

        So after a pretty severe illness, I decided it was time for an eye exam.  My wonderful eye doctor checked my vision and even though all was "normal or no change" he suggested that I see his retina doctor..."Just to be sure..." Wonderful...Another worry.  I made my appointment.  I showed up early because I am always early for everything and well...anxious and nervous.   A young man, with the kindness face and smile came and called my name. "King?"  I got up and walked with him to the eye exam room.  He took a double look at me as I sat down.  "King? Mrs. King??? Are you Mrs. King?"  "Yes, yes I am," I replied.  "Mrs. King!!!! You taught me!  I had you in English class, probably back in 2017 or 2018.! "  I looked at this kind soul and said, "And your name?" "Peter, he replied."  I looked at him and suddenly, thought about those specific years.  They were excellent teaching years, before Covid and all of the nonsense that followed all teachers when Covid struck.  "OMG! Peter! Really? OMG!" "You were an excellent teacher Ms. King! So fun, never boring.  You taught us so much!!! I loved you!" He told me as he hugged me tight.   He continued to tell me that he intended to become an eye doctor and that he was shadowing my eye doctor and my retina doctor.    Immediately, all of my fear left me.

        I did not go into a full dissertation as to why I was seeing his mentors.  Maybe I should have but I wanted to protect the moment and him.  We spoke for bit, but he had to move forward after checking my vision and eye pressure.  He did it well.  My exam with the retina specialist went well and as I left the office I thought about how my career and held back some tears.

        I thought about how most teachers never really realize or they forget all of the wonderful students that cross their path.  We remember the tough years, the horrid years but never the years with those kids that loved being with us.  I thought about this young man and how happy he looked doing what he loved.  I knew that feeling.  I had that feeling and even though I knew when I had to leave, I had forgotten how full my heart had been with teaching hundreds and hundreds of eighth graders. All of the hard work and the worry and at times the heartaches, culminated in this one visit to my eye doctor.  I had suddenly walked out of a fog that I was not aware I was in since I retired.  Teaching matters,  Teachers matter.  The work spoke for itself with that visit.  Bless that young man.  What he is doing, matters too.  He is on his way to help so many...Over time, he will find out how that feels just like "Mrs. King' did.

"With a Conscience" - "Transitions"

 

                    Here we are, "spring forward..." It is that time of year where we lose an hour and yet, we get to feel the upcoming warmth ahead. Change is imminent.  I have discussed on many occasions the changes or transitions that have come my way.  With spring a few weeks away, I am becoming even more aware of how quickly time passes.  That, coupled with losing an hour has made me embrace whatever changes come my way.  

    Transitioning comes when we least expect it.  I mean, we can accept that there are changes ahead but not they do not necessarily come with a "heads up."  This is the challenge because whether we want a change or not, they happen.  

        One memory I have happened on the arrival to college. Pop and mom drove me up to the New York State College at Geneseo.  I had underestimated how far away the college was from my home.  I was officially anxious but this is what I chose.  This is what I wanted and perhaps  needed.  Pop walked me up to the dorm and as we walked around the campus, he told me, "Give it all a chance.  You can come home any time you want to but this will be a good thing for you Claudia."  I knew he was right.  It was time to transition.     

        In 2026, I feel many of us will be in the throws of change.  Whether it's retirement, children graduating, getting married, becoming parents, the world is opening up more doors for us.  The difficulty is knowing whether or not we are going to embrace those changes.  We can not fight the inevitable.  We don't have to love it but can accept the transitions and move ahead.  Easier said than done...I understand.  HOWEVER...As a change comes, it brings us growth and suddenly see options that were never visible until now. Growth equals joy.  Our rut or routine disappears.

        We transition when a loved one passes.  We are forced to change the way we were functioning now that they have moved on and transitioned themselves.  We transition when we move beyond what was comfortable.  What we thought was important in the past becomes well...part of the past.  We move beyond the status quo.  We see the truth and the need to move forward to something new. That is often the scary part.  Facing something new can be terrifying even though we know we need to face it or do it!

        We need patience to embrace change.  Some of our goals or dreams remain in limbo because we are simply no ready.  The universe has not aligned yet and this too is difficult.  When we are facing change, we must be honest with those we love.  They need to understand what we are experiencing.  OR...We need to warn them that the transitions or changes may not be easy.  The trick or skill here is to work through what needs to happen with kindness and love, not with anger or frustration. That will never work.  

        As we embrace or face the changes ahead, let go of the fear and find the joy.  There is joy in the transitions we face.  We just have to put aside the "what ifs" and take a chance.