Leadership Connectors - Continuous Renewal (Ch. 5)

Boy... I wish I had read this chapter at the start of my career as a teacher.  The idea of "thriving, not just surviving" is key for continuous renewal; however, today's culture and the pressures around us make it difficult to be the organized, proactive, and balanced leaders that we need to be.

My parents were both "workaholics" and spent long hours at their jobs.  For my blue turned white-collar family, a dedication and pride in one's career was clearly evident in our household.  For many years, my dad owned a family restaurant with his brother.  He spent long hours at his restaurant micromanaging, trying to keep everything "running smoothly."  He loved what he did, but often would work six to seven days a week from open to close.  This took a toll on his health and his relationships with family and friends.  He turned to smoking and drinking to de-compress.  His health and the relationships around him began to deteriorate.  Thankfully, he was able to retire after a few years, but he had a lot of work to do to redefine himself and re-prioritize his life.

This was a difficult time for my family, but an important learning experience for me.  I need to relentlessly seek balance in my life and create routines that will allow me to put my family and health first.  However, I have learned that this is NOT an easy task.  I take pride in my job and work late most days... sometimes feeling guilty when I leave "early" (before 5 or 6 pm).  I consider myself a pretty organized person, and struggle with leaving things "undone" for the following day.  I have come to realize that there will always be MORE you can do, but being satisfied with the work you are able to accomplish each day is important.  Being visible and available for staff, students, and families throughout the day is an expectation that I have for myself.  I am still learning how to get all the paperwork and emails done "after hours" or in between school events, meetings, walk-throughs, and trainings.  Over the past year and a half, I've also been completing my masters.  This adds another layer of paperwork on top of the mounds that I already have.  Thankfully, my husband is very supportive and is currently finishing his PhD and teaching online courses through Oregon State.  We have to be intentional about scheduling time for us to spend together (away from our books, computers, and cell phones).  This doesn't give us a lot of extra time for our friends and family, but we try to seek opportunities to visit, call, or catch up with them as much as possible.  We are both counting down to December when we will both be finished with school and can focus on our health, family, and career... especially our new baby that arrives late-January.  I have a feeling that adding a new member to our little family will force me to shift my priorities once again.  I hope to someday be as organized as "Charlene" in the section "Finding Balance."  Remembering that we "only pass this way once" helps me take a step back and reflect on my emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.