The Impact on the Future

 I was recently interviewed for an oral history project. Besides it being an honor to be asked,  it was exciting to share my poetry and my experiences in education during (COVID-19) this pandemic.

As I started to think beyond myself, and the deeper implications, I realized that future Scholars will have access to the authentic words, thoughts, and feelings of every teacher-poet that participants in this project.

I thought about several questions: What will they learn form our experiences? How will our words be interpreted / received? Will our poetry adequately depict what we are currently experiencing, what teaching is really like, the current climate, the atmosphere, and the circumstances of this time?

I really hope so. Ii think I can safely say, "Not many of us teachers ever expected that we would have to navigate teaching during a pandemic." I know I didn't.

Being a part of this project makes me proud (in a humble way) that my words are being used to document such a time as this.

I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore (sing it if you know it)

 So...(long pause)...I recently said yes (one of the effects of choosing FEARLESS as my OLW) to an opportunity the quite frankly scares the BEEEEP out of me.

I seem to have a special fear when it comes to the thought, the very thought, of blogging and writing for a professional purpose that so many professionals in my field could potentially read.

I got curious about this fear, (Thanks Jennifer Laffin for the suggestion.), and heres what I came up with...

•     Will people sense my fear as they read my words? 
•     Will they be able to tell how inadequate I feel?
•     Will readers find error/fault with what I have to say?
•     Will they receive the message I intend to transmit?

I know I can't let fear stop me from writing, from putting my words out in the world. I won't let it stop me. I will wear discipline like a cloak, designate a daily write time, and get the words written and published.

So Fear,

Thank you so much for being ever-present. You remind me that I have great things to do. I believe you come around to warn me, but also to hinder my greatness. And, you know what? I'm not going to take it anymore. I will not allow you to stop me. You, Fear, are welcome to move on. You don't have to go home, but have to get the BEEEP out of here. I, too, am moving on...on to GREATNESS.

Deepest Regards,

Donnetta