October 15, 2023 – Shifting Body and Mind

Even with this weekly blog post, I have pivoted (i.e., overdue on writing my weekly blog and now it’s 1:51 am… I’ve just plowed through my emails, why not take a moment to catch up on my blogging). Pivoting is not just adapting to the situation in terms of shifting times or doing something different, but sometimes it’s about shifting your mindset. My class witnesses me pivot (often) with my teaching. Sometimes I adapt because we are taking more time than expected. Sometimes I change what we are learning in terms of sequence or approach. Other times, like last week, had to cancel my class and go asynchronous because I was out of town.

I am grateful that my class is pivoting with me and I hope I am modelling adaptive expertise. In class, I often speak of “Christine 1” who is “teacher Christine” and of “Christine 2” who is “Christine’s inner thoughts.” Sometimes “Christine 3” shows up unexpectedly who is “Christine on a soap box.” I have a few things that I am passionate about in education and sometimes it does get the best of me. In a way, I guess that I am also pivoting in these three mindsets, for example, in my class to reveal the front-stage of teaching, the back-stage of teaching, and my values. I will say, I am enjoying this year’s cohorts and teaching the combined group. It’s fun!!!

As mentioned, last week I went out of town to Brandon, MB to Brandon University to attend the 2023 Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE) Working Conference. The few days were filled with collaborative approaches and informative sessions to provide feedback on our writing about teacher leadership. When you receive formative feedback, you are pivoting… to consider new ideas, different thoughts and theories, and different authors to support your writing (or change it). I appreciated TEAM LIGHT GREEN. It was a diverse group but they had contributed a lot of great ideas and I hope I provided some for them as well.

I travelled to Brandon with my colleague to this event and together we toured the city. We visited the tourist bureau, the river, the buffalo jump, cemetery, and local cafe and shop. I bought a purse/bag and a pair of handmade moccasins. It was a good trip. I learned a lot and wished that higher education could be like this all of the time. I met some wonderful people whom I hope I stay in touch with or see again. On my way home, my kid called me at the airport. She screamed. Her car was vandalized. It was horrible. I could not do anything. Luckily, she called her friend and she helped along with her dad. I am so grateful for that along with a couple of other people who helped to move the car to the auto body shop.

Pivoting.

My spirit quickly shifted from joy to frustration. The mama-bear in me wanted to not do nice things to the people who were so cruel and malicious to do such a hateful and selfish act. I can attribute this horrible act to desperate times, but my kid did not have to be a victim or traumatized due to someone else’s greed. To top it off, my third flight out of three to return back home was delayed. I guess for a good reason. The de-icer was not working so we changed planes. Safety first. I was glad to make it home to see my kid and I am thankful to her friend who lent her car to my kid so that she could pick me up from the airport. Damn. My kid is strong.

My first instinct was to buy a place with a two-car garage. With a good night’s sleep, that thought shifted into reality. A long story made short, it was confirmed that my position at the university would not be permanent. In many ways I knew that (and my friends had also said that), but to have it verified brings a sense of calm knowing that my trajectory is heading elsewhere and to prepare for it. So, I’m not buy a place with a 2-car garage, but I will do my best to do the best I can do each day. Sometimes my best will vary from day to day, but I am trying my best. Admittedly, it’s another pivot and this redirection focuses on what’s best for me.

I am left with a reflective state of mind… hence the weekly blog. And it also comes from inspiration, meaning I was suppose to write this blog post at this very time. I am proud of what I have accomplished and that’s all that matters. I will continue to learn, connect with others, and have fun. I am driven to be happy and experience joy. I love the work that I do and the status, rank, or promotion is secondary. I hope my classes are enjoying the work that I am doing. It’s not perfect, but it is not meant to be perfect. It’s suppose to be messy and meandering. Pivoting is a way of being to ensure that I am nimble and reflexive to advance in the right direction.