Although Tim is speaking from an athlete's perspective he is delivering a deep truth that applies to many people.
Ryan Holiday in Ego is the Enemy asks two fundamental questions (What is your purpose? What are you on Earth to do?) and I find myself using the word/concept a lot to justify my decision not to retire from teaching any time soon.
I know what my purpose in life is. I know what I am on Earth to do.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
I have observed that those who have accomplished the greatest results are those who 'keep under the body'; are those who never grow excited or lose self-control, but are always calm, self-possessed, patient, and polite.
Booker T. Washington
Ryan Holiday's Ego is the Enemy forms part of my reading for the study break.
I love his work because he writes about things that make me reflect on my life as a teacher and as a leader, and life in general.
To be or to do? Which way will you go? That was a question posed by American military strategist and teacher, John Boyd.
Ryan indicates that it is a crucial question. At its heart is a question around purpose.
What is your purpose? What are you on Earth to do?
To be, or to do?
Thanks to that purpose question, the answer is obvious.
During my career (now in its 43rd year) my purpose has been reasonably consistent during those years - to do.
But, yes, there have been times when I may have chased promotion, salary and titles like Principal (Stratford High School) or District Principal (OneSchool Global).
When I applied for the Stratford job, I was desperate to return to NZ from England for family reasons. When I applied for the District Principal job, I was keen to challenge myself by helping my colleagues.
In the end I stepped away from those kinds of high-status positions because I wanted to accomplish something else or prove something to myself.
For instance, it was an easy decision to return to classroom teaching in 2024, because that's my purpose.
Easy because I knew what I had to do and what was important to me. To quote Joni Mitchell, "No regrets, coyote".
Late last year, that thinking (to do) meant moving to a different school as an English teacher because I wanted to improve my teaching. I still have a lot to learn about this job.
Recently at Iona College we had Browse Week. Teachers were asked to visit a couple of teachers informally during the week and observe the class and teacher for a few minutes. While there the idea was to note a couple of takeaways.
I visited three classes and instantly found things I could do to improve my own practice. That's exactly what I need.
Photo by Shlomi Platzman on Unsplash
A two-week study break at the end of the first term has kicked off with Easter weekend. Some Year 10 creative writing assignments need to be marked, and I want to plan out the next term's programmes more thoroughly than I did last term's.
The marking I want to get done asap so it doesn't hang around in my brain, but the planning can wait until the end of the break.
Aside from that - it's a case of outside chores when the autumn days allow and regular walks to get some fitness back. There are a pile of books to dip into and my turntable has been repaired so I'm energised to find some fresh vinyl to play.
