The Doability Doctrine: The Truth is Out There- Do You Believe?

Doability Doctrine

We are all busy. We all have responsibilities: some offered, some sought out, some thrust upon us. We all struggle with time and process, completion and exhaustion- yet we all keep going. Some complain, tell everyone how stressful their lives are- how busy has gone to a new level. But, we are all busy. We all wake up in the morning, get dressed, and do our best to tackle the goals and tasks that lie before us. Some call us courageous and brave, heroes and role-models and in some cases we are. But, in the scheme of things, in the hustle and bustle of daily life, we are survivors because it is in our nature to be. Some put their heads down and push through the 'wall' quietly, while others, heads up, are proud to tell everyone about their journey.

Each of us is carrying around a doability doctrine. One we drafted ourselves. One we edit ourselves. One we refer to in times of persevering. We categorize some things as catch and release while others we complete with fervor. It is our choice to be busy, to be distracted, to delve into things and let others fall to the wayside. It is a beautiful game we play of fulfillment and pride, refuge and guilt. Feeling we need to do it all or we are letting someone down. But, if we stop and really take heed of our position on the board, where are pieces are, some cornered, some free to move with ease, we will see that all of it is a choice, this gallant, valiant course we choose is just that, a choice and we must own that.

As with all doability doctrines there are crossroads, unity nodes where we intersect and our responsibilities overlap. This junction might flash by in a flurry or at times we are forced to slow down for traffic. This is when we can look around and notice there is not just a high way but a middle way as well. We should not need a tectonic shift to level the playing field. Each of our pieces on the board are where we put them. The only way we can move them, with purpose, is if we veer right, detour and snap back. We have to refuse to be swept away in competition mode, it is not about outdoing, outliving- it is about those moments where we see a way to find a common defense, a unity node so we can beat the news cycle. Where our path is self-directed not paved by someone else's agenda.

Dissent Memo

We all got the dissent memo when we started in education. Some of us have ignored it. Some have gone on the record to object, oppose and resist. Either way, taking a stance, is important. It is personal. It can be positive and rebellious but often it is negative and fueled by exhaustion and misunderstanding. This negative discourse is powerful. We can't always stay off the record, there are things we get to say. Our opinions matter. We make change and progress with our opinions, especially if they are positive and purposeful. We do not need to go big, stand on the mountain top and try to convert the locals into our cause. We can take the night watch. Maintain balance. Look between the seats for something better. Share our discoveries. Understanding the 'new normal' is not permanent. Our choice is important, our balance is critical. 

We are fighting a proxy war -we are ambassadors of change, we are educators. But we are also human beings with lives and family, responsibilities beyond the scopes of our profession. We must remember to veer right, detour and then after some time for balance and mental health days, relaxation and refuge- then snap back into educator mode. This is what many of us struggle with. We get stuck in the mud, our wheels spinning until we turn off the engine and walk way. But our vehicle is still operational, all we need to do is ask for help. We may need to dig ourselves out every once in a while but sometimes the mud is just too thick. The shovel is nearby- it is just hidden behind our hyper-focus, our singular drive, our lack of objectivity. As educators we all get lost in this quagmire on occasion. We just need to stop spinning and go get the shovel, resting in the trunk.

The Illusion of Control is simple, it is not an illusion and we are in control. We just have to play the hand were dealt. The fundamental things apply for all educator. For all parents. For every individual.  Time, patience and self-awareness. Limitations, pushing through them and allowing ourselves perchance to dream, because in dreams begins responsibility. Educator heal thyself. Believe you are capable and knowledgeable. Believe in the confluence, the trifecta of balance, work and play. Go on radio silence, plan your course corrections from a quiet nook with a cup of hot tea. Play the music to your ears, loudly, and dance like you did when you were sixteen. Put that on your plate, right next to your grading papers and lesson planning.

Midway to Midtown

We are midway to midtown, riding high seas, and travelling low roads- swimming against the current, moving down the wrong way down a one-way street. Some of us just refuse to let the wave carry us to shore. Put our car in reverse and do a U-turn. We are all the artful dodger- we can pick and choose what we want to pursue. It is alright once in a while return to sender. To have an exit strategy. To choose to run with a skeleton crew rather than an ensemble of goals and tasks. 

We are not just a bowl of cherries, full of pits and stems. We are not simply sour times nestled in with the sweet ones. One man’s trash might just be another man’s trash. We do not have to explore every new and shiny idea. Attend every conference, read every book. How can we possibly? We can walk on past some of the flashing neon and giant billboards that line the educator avenue. The numerical limit is set. Out times of toil and trouble might be unavoidable during those bursts of incoming responsibilities, but our times of sheer exhaustion and mental fatigue need to minimize. 

We are the last link, we have our own shoes and do not need to walk in someone else's to see how great we are. We are educators and we are amazing. We each have our doability doctrine, our responsibility dossier, and our personal choice agenda and now we need to merge them and find balance. we are all busy, we all have many cups in the air, juggling them is difficult but once they land we will have quite the set of china- ready for that hot cup of tea, quiet nook and moment of calm and relaxation. All we have to do is believe.

The truth is out there, can you see the steam from some Earl Gray and a great book? Can you hear the upbeat music of adolescence- is your foot tapping yet? Close your eyes and find your place, your music and let the balance find you.