Unplug

Unplug

by Tamara Anderson

All educators work beyond the end of the school day. We grade papers, design new lessons, attend meetings, make sure each of our students receives individual attention, and we try to keep up with all the latest literature. Day in and day out this schedule can create stress and exhaustion. This is when we need to unplug. Unplug and reconnect with the simple things: a book, a movie, family, friends, colleagues, good food, and beautiful music.

I never realized how vital this practice is until I left the classroom to work with out of school youth in a leadership position for a not for profit. I got a new schedule with approximately 50 hours per week. The work was very rewarding. I learned how to write proposals, reports for those who fund projects, and I had the opportunity to build build a project based curriculum from the ground up with very little interference. I had the opportunity to hire whom I wanted and make sure that the students got the best we had to offer from the pennies we were given. This advocacy for real change came with a cost and a risk. I barely saw my daughter and we were only guaranteed funding for one year. I was confident that we could get it extended, but. I was wrong. My students and staff were scattered to the wind and I had no job.

This advocacy for real change

came with a cost and a risk.

The first month I slept for three weeks. I guess working from 9 to 9, four to five days per week had taken its toll. During week 4, I begin to see the light again and that is when I started to write, meditate, laugh, and slowly reconnect back to myself. I realized it was the first time I heard my daughter laugh in a year, and the first time I could see her during the day without checking my Blackberry. It was beautiful.

At this time, I am able to really find peace, joy, and solace in my everyday life. I don’t know if it’s age or simply having more control over my own time. I do know that my peace of mind and level of self-reflection continues to increase with every passing day. Now I have time to write articles about educational topics that I love to discuss and research for Examiner.com. I can write the introduction and first chapter for my second book. I am helping my daughter create a comic series that supports and nurtures her creativity and imagination. I am able to tutor, teach college students, and help teens and adults find the writer in themselves.

I find joy in the little things.

I find joy in the little things. Joy in the rain on a Saturday afternoon that ruined a barbecue, but washed everything clean. Catching the final episode of Justified and every episode of Glee. Getting to read a new book every week. Laughing at a joke shared by a friend on Facebook or over lunch. Watching a student getting his GED after working with him one on one for several weeks or months. Noticing a full moon, and feeling glad that I can meditate for longer than 10 minutes without falling asleep.

This is what happens when you unplug and breathe. Summer is almost here.

Tamara Anderson has taught teens and adults through positions with the University of Phoenix, Chicago Public Schools, New York Board of Education, and the School District of Philadelphia. Tamara is a professional artist and freelance writer and editor. She is co-editor of the PhilWP Journal. Tamara joined the Philadelphia Writing Project as a teacher consultant in 2009.

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