Nostalgia
Life is good.
I'm extremely nostalgic by nature, and looking back on everything I have been through since I began writing in (on?) this Livejournal account, I find that I actually needed all of the ups and downs that life had to offer to bring me to this point.
I found out over the last few days that I will be getting tenure at my job come September. This forces me to look back on the four years I've worked at this school and all the relationships I've fostered there, between the staff members, students, and students who have graduated and kept in touch with me. It makes me look back on the other two schools where I've worked and have not been rehired. At the time, it was extremely painful to be asked not to return, but without those pink slips, I would not have found my place where I am now. Funny story - I actually keep a copy of the "We are not rehiring you for the next school year" letter of my previous employer on my night table next to my bed. It's been there for almost four years, but I can't bring myself to part from it. In some way, it reminds me of what I've "lost," only to remind me of all I've gained and have to be appreciative about.
As a father for a year and a half (Happy 18 months, Noelle!!), it forces me to re-examine the past relationships in my life (romantic ones as well as friendships), what I've learned from them, and how I use that information about myself and my view of the world as I raise my daughter to be a happy and confident member of our society. I can go on and on in this regard, but all I will say is that I am happy and proud of my past because I am the collective sum of those experiences.
I know this is going out to absolutely no one, because I don't think anyone uses LiveJournal anymore; at least I am pretty sure no one in my circle of friends and acquaintances uses it any longer, save for the random stroll down memory lane like I do from time to time.
This is really more for me and my own reflections. Until next time!
I'm extremely nostalgic by nature, and looking back on everything I have been through since I began writing in (on?) this Livejournal account, I find that I actually needed all of the ups and downs that life had to offer to bring me to this point.
I found out over the last few days that I will be getting tenure at my job come September. This forces me to look back on the four years I've worked at this school and all the relationships I've fostered there, between the staff members, students, and students who have graduated and kept in touch with me. It makes me look back on the other two schools where I've worked and have not been rehired. At the time, it was extremely painful to be asked not to return, but without those pink slips, I would not have found my place where I am now. Funny story - I actually keep a copy of the "We are not rehiring you for the next school year" letter of my previous employer on my night table next to my bed. It's been there for almost four years, but I can't bring myself to part from it. In some way, it reminds me of what I've "lost," only to remind me of all I've gained and have to be appreciative about.
As a father for a year and a half (Happy 18 months, Noelle!!), it forces me to re-examine the past relationships in my life (romantic ones as well as friendships), what I've learned from them, and how I use that information about myself and my view of the world as I raise my daughter to be a happy and confident member of our society. I can go on and on in this regard, but all I will say is that I am happy and proud of my past because I am the collective sum of those experiences.
I know this is going out to absolutely no one, because I don't think anyone uses LiveJournal anymore; at least I am pretty sure no one in my circle of friends and acquaintances uses it any longer, save for the random stroll down memory lane like I do from time to time.
This is really more for me and my own reflections. Until next time!