Hello, summer! I realize that summer vacation for the majority of teachers is already almost halfway over, but my school district didn’t have their last day for students until June 20th. So for me, summer vacation is really just getting started.
Initially, I had planned on finding a job for the summer to supplement my income since my school district distributes our salaries over a 10-month schedule instead of a full year. The thought of not having a steady income coming in was very nerve-wracking for me – even though I have money saved and my regular bartending gig. However, as I sat and went through my actual income vs. expenses, I realized that I would be able to swing not taking on (technically) a third job. Furthermore, not getting another job would give me the time I have desperately been needing to check off some major items on my to-do list:
- Half-marathon training (trying to run a sub-2 hour race this year)
- Organizing the piles of papers that have taken over my apartment (plus maybe even some deep cleaning)
- Focusing on writing (for both my blogs, my novel draft, and my personal journals)
- Getting ready for my trip (longest vacation ever!)
- Getting everything ready for the launch of my new website (can’t wait to share with you all!)
Looking at this list, it doesn’t seem that long. Just five items, right folks? Breaking down each item on the list though, makes it seem daunting for even a fierce goal-setter such as myself. My planner and I have become best friends as I have spent time breaking down each of these tasks into manageable chunks for each day while making sure I also have time to catch up with family and friends. I am excited about all the opportunity this time is presenting for me since this is only the second time in my teaching career that I haven’t taught summer school. I guess since item #3 on this list is to be more focused on my writing, you should be hearing updates on my progress on a more consistent basis. I look forward to sharing this summer with you as I try new things, explore new places, and begin new ventures. Hopefully my tales will inspire others out there to attempt something new as well, and if so, I hope you will comment here so I can join you on your journey.
Let the adventures begin!
Words from the Long Run 