The Transformation

The Transformation – You conquer the fears that tried to kill your spirit in the Abyss. You have revelations about who you are and what you want out of life. You make peace with who you were when you were younger and less enlightened. You shed your old skin and emerge from your tests as a stronger, wiser, more fulfilled version of you with a renewed sense of purpose.~from The Hero's Journey

I've emerged from the dark abyss. I've slain a few dragons, and faced more than a few fears. I'm ready to leave this valley and begin another journey towards the summit.

I connect with new people and develop new friendships. I return to my first career, teaching. It's been 16 years since I stepped foot in a classroom. This time I am the sage, and I pay it forward in homage to all the veteran teachers who mentored me years ago.

I am determined not to let work be the hub of my wheel. I want more: more fun with my husband and kids, more time for self reflection and meditation, more ways to exercise and most of all- more time to write.

Journaling is good for self-reflection, but a little voice urged me to share my musings with others. I initially balked at the thought of a blog. I was never comfortable sharing my deep feelings with others.

"In Transition" was aptly named as a stronger, wiser me is slowly emerging, but I've learned a valuable lesson. Life is always in a state of transition.

A Heroes Journey

We go through many, many adolescences in our lives. But if you continue to mature as you age, you will go through minor “adolescences of the spirit” at least every decade. ~Laurie Halse Anderson

No truer words have been written. I've survived two adolescent phases since my teens and I'm in the throes of another.

Author Laurie Anderson inspires the participants in her write everyday challenge to look at Joseph Campbell's "Monomyth," or as she calls it, "The Hero's Journey."

Using it's framework as a reference, the writing prompt asks us to write our own Hero's Journey.

The great 5-0 looms less than six months away, and I have been working through another adolescent phase. This one is not a big, or as painful as the one I suffered through ten years ago. My late thirties was a time of reckoning, and major changes came as a result of that period. I made the decision to change jobs, get a divorce, and fall in love with someone new.

Now, I am facing a similar call that my life is not enough. I've got that restless feeling again. This time it has more to do with finding my passion, nurturing my creativity and finding new ways to better nourish my spirit.

So I'm going to take this challenge and follow the exercise. I'm going to write my own "Hero's Journey." Stay tuned!

If you are interested in the WFMAD link:

Creative Discipline

This is my 100th blog post since beginning this project over a year ago.

I haven't always been faithful. There were long pauses between thoughts, especially last fall-winter. I was kind of busy trying to stay afloat in the sea of confusion that defined my job most of the year.

So, this summer I wanted to make some changes: more exercise, more mindful eating, more creative outlets to balance the lack of creativity that comes with teaching to state mandated standards.


I decided in July that I would give myself a challenge; write everyday. I don't mean just blog everyday, but to also get back into the habit of journalling regularly.

I find that I need the daily discipline as much as I crave the creative outlet. I've have a deep desire to get all of the thoughts crowding my brain, clamoring for attention down on a page. It's a driving need that helps me stay balanced and sane.


So far, so good. I have blogged religiously for the last 22 days and I have recorded my thoughts in my journal, too.

I found a cool app that allows me to write a quick summary of my day, and I am exercising more (walking and yoga), and eating less.

Life is good. But now comes the tricky part-maintaining all these disciplines when the school year begins.

Wish me luck!