Like a Plastic Bag

Much of my life direction has been determined by the blowing of the wind-like a plastic bag. I have made life- altering decisions simply based on what was happening in my life at the time. Not based on what I envisioned for my future or what ultimately would make the most sense. For example, my career choice of being a teacher was originally based on the fact that I came home after living in England and Ireland for over a year, and I wanted desperately to stay in Europe so I entered a post graduate program at Cal State Fullerton to study TESOL. This would allow me to teach English to speakers of other languages (thus TESOL) all over the world. I invested a year into the certificate program rather than the Master's program (so I could finish one semester sooner) in order to find a job overseas. Then I met a boy (fateful error) and then my career goal was to get a teacher's credential. So I stayed here in California.

Okay. Now I have to say that I don't regret what ultimately happened with my career-I have been a high school teacher now for about twelve or thirteen years. It has given me a great deal of independence and self-confidence. I am not a "natural" teacher, but I have grown into being a good teacher. I only say that because I have heard from former students that tell me that I inspired or motivated them. So without that, I would probably feel like a big loser.  Also, my training in TESOL has helped me a great deal with many of my students who come from families where English is not spoken at home.

My point is that I sometimes wish that I had set some goals for myself rather than altering my direction on a whim. I mean really examining what I want from life and then determining what would be the best course of action. So my plan for this blog is to set some goals for myself-daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime goals. Writing this blog will hopefully keep me a bit more accountable than writing a list on a real estate notepad.

It is good to be like a plastic bag sometimes instead of being a slave to a list. But I have had almost a lifetime being the plastic bag. I am going to experiment with a list now. Just for a year. I am too much of a free-spirited hippie in my soul to be able to do this for too long.

Good Night. Peace, man.