Finding your Way to the Sea: How to Follow your Life Purposes

My ideas outnumber the available minutes in the day. Artistic possibilities inundate my mind—floods of future fun I could follow. I wonder: How can I swim to the top of this madness? Which waves should I ride the crest of and which should I let pass on by?

Then in the midst of my mental wrestling, contemplation creates a comfortable cove—a much-needed rest from the intensity of thought that threatens to drown me.

Last night, my daughter challenged me, "Mom, why don't you write more posts about your vulnerabilities? Be more real. Let people see your struggles. Your former dating life and marriage, alone, would provide lots of great content."

"So you want me to expose your dad's past weaknesses online?" I chuckled. She paused and had to think about that one. In spite of my chiding, I got what she was trying to say. I don't tend to get too personal with my posts.

Yet, this morning her words swirl through my brain, like a mountain stream finding its way to the sea. Crisp and cold—yet refreshing—her idea tugs at me, inviting me to float away on another life-sorting excursion.

You see, I've struggled with a type of artistic double-mindedness. No, to be more exact, I'd call it a multiple-mindedness. My current creative crisis is all too familiar. I adore far too many things and each rises and rushes my heart like those foamy sea waves that surfers ride.

I'm an educator to the core, an innovative teacher who delights in tantalizing my (often bored and unimpressed) middle school students with creative learning opportunities. Yet, I'm also a writer, artist, crafter, and blogger who longs for more alone time so I can create.

Recently, an innovative educational company, Flocabulary, posted one of my lesson plans along with some of my students' projects on their blog. I created the lesson to accompany their hip hop video, "How to Be An Entrepreneur." The content caught my attention because I've always had a hankering to be an entrepreneur and wanted to inspire my students to consider this option.

An email from the Editorial Director, Aliza, soon followed. It was an invitation to become a guest blogger. My rational self argued: JoDee, you've got to be kidding. You're already posting every day on your creativity blog. How on earth are you going to take on another project?

Yet her invitation stirred the waters of my heart, and I wondered whether this was another stream finding its way to the sea. I also wondered how many creative eclectic educators there were out there—people like me who feel torn with multiple desires.

So I decided to take on the challenge and see where this stream leads me. I hope that perhaps my posts and projects will connect with other teachers who desire a more innovative approach to engaging students.

Yet, you don't have to be a teacher with multiple desires to find your way to the sea. If you feel the waves of choice pounding you, consider regular times of contemplation to sort through your conflicting desires.

Imagine you are floating in a mountain stream that winds its way to the sea. Go back to what you last really enjoyed or consider something new. Follow that stream of thought until you see some actual steps you can take to pursue the idea. I guarantee that taking this time out of the hustle and bustle of life will result in a clearer purpose. Try writing about what you love until you connect with something you can float in. Dare to live differently.

Floating on the Truckee River with my sister, Gina

*A special thanks to my daughter, Elya, whose poem, "The Mighty Blast," I featured. You can visit her amazing blog by selecting this link: http://elyafiller.wordpress.com.

 

 

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