*Natalie Goldberg: Writing Down the Bones Me...a writer? Hahaha. Am I a writer? Well, I write...does anyone read it? Does that matter? I write, therefore I am? How the heck did I get here? About this time last year, a friend of mine suggested that I start blogging about my educational ideas. I laughed. I laughed for two reasons. 1) I have educational ideas?? 2) No one would read anything I wrote. Fast forward about 6 months and two of our wonderful teachers began blogging: @teachermsjamie: Daring Greatly and @MViTDiTeach: Forever A Learner. They definitly inspired me...but I had a lot on my plate...couldn't add to it. I was going to wait until the summer. Well, a few months later...life happened...I was no longer able to share my "big" things with a trusted confidant and things were happening in my life that I needed to process...somehow. I needed to get my thoughts out of my own head. So, I decided to write, for me. I didn't know what I would write about, I didn't know if I could even write well, I didn't care. No one would read it anyway, right? This was MY process. And so, this blog site was born. I always say that one should start with a purpose. What was my purpose? What did I want this blog to focus on? Surely, no one wants to hear about my life, so what should the theme be? Well in my professional life, I was/am in this weird paradox between leader and teacher. A teacher leader. I can see what is on both sides of this fence. People tell me things, from both sides of this fence. I know many things, from both sides of this fence. From on top of that fence, I have a very unique perspective on organizational structure and change, education, leadership, teaching and learning. I am in constant limbo...there it is. I will write about those things, from my perspective. Now for the title...well that was easy. Leading in Limbo. There. Now, what to write? Shockingly...things just come to me. In all of my posts, I am entirely vulnerable and authentic. Some of them are more personal than professional, just based on what is happening at the time. Again, I was writing this for me. No one will read it, right? Well...low and behold...I have been averaging 1,000+ views a week. This is in part due to my main "hype man": @jcorippo! I have no clue if that is a lot...I have no clue if people are reading, or just clicking to open and then bouncing out. Honestly, it doesn't matter, to me. One of my colleagues, finally, read one of my posts and said "Wow, you really laid it all out there. You know, I could buy you a journal, so everyone doesn't have to know what's going on with you." It was pretty hilarious, but really got me thinking. Do people really give a shi* about what I'm writing? Maybe I should stop. Maybe I'm being too open, too vulnerable. Maybe I should just shut it down. After thinking about it...NO. I am writing this for ME. But if anyone else is reading and getting any benefit, then that is a tremendous gift to me as my purpose is to always help propel others forward. As I have continued writing, I have worked my way out of a few rabbit holes and am now focusing more on the educational/leadership ideas; that I didn't even know I had. But I never know what might spark my writing. It can happen from anything and anytime. This one happened while trying to relax in the pool. So much for relaxing! Our district now has 17 bloggers...and I am so proud and excited for them! People are using their voices to share, to reflect and to collaborate. It is an amazing thing to watch and be a part of. We all have a story to share, our story may spark something in others. *"Let's use our megaphone for good" (thanks @jcorippo for that quote) and keep the fire burning.
*This is already becoming my next "over used" phrase...but it's a good one!
5 Comments
Audra Steele
7/15/2016 07:52:28 am
Love this blog. You have inspired me to go out of my norm...take a risk. Love it!
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Cori
7/15/2016 09:45:45 am
Audra,
Reply
Melissa
7/15/2016 09:52:22 am
Write on, Cori! Write on :-)
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Rosy
7/15/2016 01:08:10 pm
Yes, yes, and yes! This is awesome! Keep writing so us that are in limbo of creating our own blogs will just do it.
Reply
Cori
7/18/2016 10:59:16 am
Thank you for reading! Good luck on the blog.
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