So many important themes in this post. The only thing I can add is that, at 62, I am still asking myself these same questions, like Am I a Grown Up Yet? My life is not "normal" in that I don't have kids, I live in a sailboat and travel much of the year. I am married, and I work still--and being a freelance editor and writer I sometimes am working when the rest of the world is on vacation, like this week. But I love my work, my home, my dog, and my husband, not in that order, so I consider myself to be incredibly lucky. And I'm glad we connected! Looking forward to being a part of your Substack community and following the podcast too. Feliz Navidad a todos!
Great questions here, many of which spin around my head regularly, particularly those about the amount of life sacrificed for the sake of stability. While I live in a financially fortunate situation, I am still forced to work. Luckily, I have chosen work that I find meaningful and that allows me substantial breaks throughout the year to focus on art, self, family, and friends. When I feel the need to leave education (about once every two weeks), I am reminded of the blissfulness of summer and other off times, in which I am allowed to become a feral artist, a wild thing, untrimmed and untethered to the demands of society. I have decided to stick with it for now for this reason. I've also gotten a bit better at finding time for what I love amid the workload, and, the older I get, at listening to my heart and saying no to anything that doesn't align with it. Always always seeking to re-acquaint myself with that inner child, the unadulterated free spirit, always hoping I never settle into normalcy or aspire too much to comfort.
It's about time we shift to a post work utopia of cultivated leisure! :) So much wisdom here...
I love this: 'in which I am allowed to become a feral artist, a wild thing, untrimmed and untethered to the demands of society.' I trust you transmit at least a glimpse of such stubborn wilderness to your students...
What do you think has helped the most in terms of getting better at finding (or making) time for what you love amid the workload? And to what sort of things do you find yourself saying no to more often? I'm curious.
So many important themes in this post. The only thing I can add is that, at 62, I am still asking myself these same questions, like Am I a Grown Up Yet? My life is not "normal" in that I don't have kids, I live in a sailboat and travel much of the year. I am married, and I work still--and being a freelance editor and writer I sometimes am working when the rest of the world is on vacation, like this week. But I love my work, my home, my dog, and my husband, not in that order, so I consider myself to be incredibly lucky. And I'm glad we connected! Looking forward to being a part of your Substack community and following the podcast too. Feliz Navidad a todos!
It seems that your Peter Panned your way through life, Jennifer :) Welcome
Great questions here, many of which spin around my head regularly, particularly those about the amount of life sacrificed for the sake of stability. While I live in a financially fortunate situation, I am still forced to work. Luckily, I have chosen work that I find meaningful and that allows me substantial breaks throughout the year to focus on art, self, family, and friends. When I feel the need to leave education (about once every two weeks), I am reminded of the blissfulness of summer and other off times, in which I am allowed to become a feral artist, a wild thing, untrimmed and untethered to the demands of society. I have decided to stick with it for now for this reason. I've also gotten a bit better at finding time for what I love amid the workload, and, the older I get, at listening to my heart and saying no to anything that doesn't align with it. Always always seeking to re-acquaint myself with that inner child, the unadulterated free spirit, always hoping I never settle into normalcy or aspire too much to comfort.
It's about time we shift to a post work utopia of cultivated leisure! :) So much wisdom here...
I love this: 'in which I am allowed to become a feral artist, a wild thing, untrimmed and untethered to the demands of society.' I trust you transmit at least a glimpse of such stubborn wilderness to your students...
What do you think has helped the most in terms of getting better at finding (or making) time for what you love amid the workload? And to what sort of things do you find yourself saying no to more often? I'm curious.
Time and mental health are the real indicators of freedom
Yup, and I would add the ability to think and act independently from the "norm". Abrazo querida