An Update–I’m Employed! (And Slacking on the Whole Writing Thing)

So it’s been awhile since I did a personal update on here. You might also notice that I’ve been quiet lately. I’ve cut my posting down to once a week for further notice. It’s just easier to keep up with, especially now that I’m employed.

Oh…did I mention that? My fairly long stretch of unemployment is at an end. I am a substitute teacher for three local school districts. Honestly, I hated it at first, but I’ve mellowed out in the last month or so since I started. I’m gradually getting better at handling a classroom full of [insert age group here] students. From kindergarten intervention specialist to AP Chemistry with seniors–I’ve subbed almost everything in between so far (a lot for only a month or so right?). Mostly I deal with grades six and up, which is fine because I intend to teach high school biology.

Speaking of teaching Biology, I am enrolled in a class through the state to get my alternative resident educator license, which is a route for people who have experience or a degree in a given area to teach. I hold a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Business, Cum Laude, from Muskingum University. So, that’s my natural path to teaching, as an education degree would take an additional four years.

But enough of that. Point is that I’m in the process of starting my career. And I’ve finally decided this WILL be my career. For whatever reason I’ve hemmed and hawed about it, looking into other fields and what not. Recently, after being rejected by yet another retail establishment (because I’m qualified to work with kids but not for the monumental task of running a cash register–explain how THAT makes sense!), I decided that the Universe or Fate or whatever was trying to send me a message. It was time to go with the flow, to use a cliche. The illusion that you can be whatever you wish to be is a stubborn one, and not true. Sometimes your temperament, skill set, and life in general flow in one particular direction, and to resist it brings little more than pain and frustration. People spend their lives seeking their passion. I believe what Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs puts forward on his show; that your passion isn’t the job you do, but the attitude and qualities you bring to your work.

This is not a modern view. Philosophers from various parts of the world have been saying the like for centuries. Zen and Stoicism both put forward a similar viewpoint, although not in exactly those words. Their emphasis is more on acceptance of what is, of your lot in life. And for most of history that’s how people lived–they grew up and took over the family business or farm. Only in recent years did we begin to have the possibility to break away and do as we please. Problem is that this makes people more miserable as there are TOO many choices. We get caught in a lock of indecision, believing that we are more free the more choice we have, so rather than commit we try to keep all options open. This results in anxiety and unhappiness. Lemme tell you, it isn’t much fun.

But now I’m largely content with my lot. I’ll never be a rich man. Not in the long run, and certainly not in the short run. But outside of day dreams I never thought I would be. Teaching will be my career, and I’ll bring my best every day to my students. Right now I’m on a hiatus from writing. I’m burnt out. Full of plenty of ideas, but I need to take some time away from it. I’ll continue to write, mostly as a hobby, and eventually try and seek to be published one way or another. And that is what has been going on with me lately. How about you?