Dreams are illustrations – part 2 of 2

Yesterday I began with this quote, which is appropriate for today’s conclusion as well. “Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you”. Marsha Norman.

My soul has been writing a metaphorical book for a long time. The book is about learning, becoming, developing your unique combination of talents for the sheer joy of it. All of my life I have accumulated knowledge and experience about that subject.

For months now, as I said yesterday, I have felt like my mind is pretty blank when it comes to my blog. That has been frustrating. Since  I started Believe Anyway, I was seldom at a loss for words. It felt like I was a high school girl who started chattering and talked without stopping for a year and a half. Then all of a sudden she ran out of things to say!

It was surprising to me on many levels. First of all it was stunning to me that I had so much to stay for so long. Then it was surprising that I could run out of NEW things to say. I tried just waiting. I prayed. I tried writing anyway, but the urgency to write and express was not there. It has been a very odd transition. It was as though I was scooped up and placed in a new an unrecognizable place. I was a bit off-kilter as a result.

As it so happens, I ended up with a LOT of new students this year. Many of my ongoing students have been diagnosed with learning disabilities in the past few months. That brought my passion for learning and teaching together. They dovetailed. I discovered that I need to learn new ways to teach some of my students.

That got me thinking about the writing I did at the corporate level, and the ways I taught kids when I was a kid, colleagues in the workplace, and more. What did I always do? Researched for new solutions. Learned new ways to teach. Then, I taught them to fish.

I wrote about and taught new ways for them to learn and achieve. The companies I worked for did not have those manuals, forms, and procedures. I created them. It was a very matter-of-fact thing I did. The people DID learn. I LOVED creating those manuals and procedures. Do you have those moments when you are doing something in your life? It could be anything— writing, ironing, teaching a skill, singing in the shower, whatever. But the feeling you get in those moments when you just KNOW it is good? [even, or maybe especially if no one notices?]

So with my writing at a roadblock, and my students facing new challenges I began to research. I am still researching. BUT I discovered it wasn’t a roadblock that I was experiencing. I was suddenly ready to travel on two roads simultaneously. I am not ending this blog, but I am continuing to develop my other blog. I have written about it before. Here is the link for it if you are fascinated by education. http://aceitnow.wordpress.com

I will attempt to keep each blog with a singular focus. (That will be a challenge for MY head!) You see,  I long to also do the kind of writing that feels like a different kind of mission. As you have read, my passion is learning and teaching. I teach kids and adults as a one-on-one tutor. My passion for that is based upon the fact that along with teaching the subject matter, I am also their little life-coach. I teach them (and/or their parents) how to “own” their education. I teach them how to overcome obstacles, not just acquire education. Do you see what I mean? I love to write about learning. I love to teach new procedures for learning. Maybe that is one of the reasons that I LOVE movies about teachers.

I continue to be fascinated by LEARNING. My words flow when it comes to that topic. They always have. I have always been one to advocate, and to mentor others as they learn to advocate. Maybe it is because I moved so many times as a kid. Maybe it is because I come from a big extended family and learned at an early age to speak my mind respectfully. Who knows. But advocacy for one’s needs and purpose comes naturally to me. In that respect, I am merely God’s conduit.

The other day I was teaching one of my adult learners. He needed ways to write more professional letters and emails. He was amazed that I could come up with a number of ways to communicate what he was trying to say. For me it was second nature. That is what I need to convey to students. That is what I must write for them. Until then, i  I know now that my writing sometimes needs to have an undertone of life coach for grace and joy. (Believe Anyway). Other times it is to be a life coach for learning, achievement, etc. (Ace It Now). I am so lucky that I have the option for multiple blogs. Thanks to WordPress!