WHO MOVED MY CHEESE

Summary

We all strive for results at work, at home, and in our communities because we believe they will make ourselves (or people we care about) happy. It could be a decent job, a loving relationship, money, or property. It could be improved health or spiritual peace of mind. And it might feel great when we finally obtain them.

Those items become cornerstones in our best-laid future ambitions. However, life is constantly changing and sometimes it blocks (or even undoes) things we expect, feel we deserve, or have worked so long and so hard to achieve, but we often don't want to change when things begin to change around us because we are afraid of starting over, looking foolish, or ending up somewhere worse.

We observe impotent stress and vexation. We are more concerned with what could go wrong than with what could go well. We allow our worries to get out of control and then control us, but the fact is that the world is continuously changing, whether we like it or not. And, while not every change is positive or necessary, it always brings with it new opportunities, whether we see them right away or not. That is why it is critical to understand how to cope with change. That is why it is beneficial to understand how to adjust to new situations.

Reaction and Reflection

Similar to the narrative of Burgess in his book Teaching Like a Pirate, this work of Dr. Johnson discusses a comprehensive approach to the traits and attributes each one of us has to give in all things we do no matter what the purpose is.

This work is quit confusing at first since I am not actually reading any word that is related to teaching, but later on, as I go on, I found out that it is not for teaching alone, but is for all the works we do since it speaks about us, our characters and mindset as professionals.

I was captivated by this book since I am really attached with my personal teaching philosophy. I am the kind of practice teacher whose mind is centered towards creating a whole new image of a teacher encompassing all of the lessons I learned at the same executing my own choice of strategies and pedagogy. However, I was quite hesitant to pursue the plan because there are times that I could not find any motivation to do so. And it was only through the lines of Dr. Johnson I was able to find out that things actually have no consistency, what make things happen are dependent on the process of its construction.

While I was planning to leave a legacy towards my students on my internship journey, series of realizations crossed my mind thinking if I am worthy to be remembered. I overthink since the ideology that the ambition is too high keeps on hunting me. I am trying to avoid a negative impression from my fellow teachers that everything just appear to be a show-off, so I paused.

Fortunately, I found my way back on pursuing the plan after realizing that things do not depend on others, but on ourselves alone. It is just our mindset that pushes us back from doing things we wanted. I figured it out when Dr. Johnson emphasized about adjusting to situations. His book about “Who Moved My Cheese?” refers to the core of ourselves that touches our will on doing what we wanted and accomplishing all the tasks we have. It encompasses all the attributes that must be observed most especially in a professional setting.

As a pre-service teacher, this narrative is a huge reflection of my being. I am not someone who was indicated as an example in the description of Dr. Johnson about the ideal mindset, but I was the one who is the subject, the one who is referred to as the worker who needs to learn. As to my future endeavor being a teacher, it isn’t enough that I have a mastery of the learning area, the strategies on how to teach, or even the resources, it is a must that I have developed a well-being that is dedicated to the job I chose and to the goals that I envision.

It is ironic how Dr. Johnson’s book about “Who Moved My Cheese” was the same thing that have moved my cheese for which I refer to as making me aware of which part of myself I am not giving attention, and I am grateful for I know that the benefit would last until the end of my teaching era.