May 02, 2005
Comfort Zones
Everyone has a comfort zone. I might push it. I might challenge it. I might force you to "think about it" but never would I tell anyone you HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY. I feel it is my job to shake things up a bit and often times shed light on something - something you might deal with all the time - but to maybe some light from a different angle. Doesn't mean you have to do it... doesn't mean you have to agree with it... but maybe you will think about it.
We get stuck in our comfort zones sometimes. We like things to be a certain way. Pattern and routine becomes habit. Things become predictable. Every now and again it is good to shake things up a bit. But now wait a minute - "shaking it up" for some might be repainting the house, rearranging the living room, getting a tattoo and going blond. For some, "shaking it up" is parting your hair a different way, wearing blue slippers instead of green and having earl grey instead of english breakfast.
We all have comfort zones.
It is when our comfort zones get in the way of doing what we need to be doing for THESE KIDS in THIS ROOM that we might need to step back and become more active instead of contemplative (is that a word?).
Someone comes in and says NO MORE SHAVING CREAM. You have to make a choice. You need to take action. Your comfort zones will determine your course. For some, action is agreeing with the new policy, taking the cream away and not doing it anymore.
For some it will mean questioning - WHY WHY WHY? - among peers (not the rule makers) but still not doing cream anymore.
Some will question the rule and the rule maker directly. And then, depending on the reason given for the shaving cream ban, you will either do what you are told or you begin a shaving cream rebellion.
Not everything needs to become a rebellion, yet everything should not always be accepted at face value either. There are times when we need to find our own voice and stand up for what we believe in, take stands and ask questions. There are various levels of action. Some are more passive in nature, such as, for example, writing a letter of concern. Some are more active in nature, such as, oh, let's say, picketing the school and calling channel 10.
Between the extremes there are lots of choices. We need to know where we stand. We need to know what we are willing and able to do should we be called upon or should we begin to feel a calling! Hypothetically speaking - I love this kind of stuff - could you identify (if I asked you directly) one or two areas related to children/kids/child rearing/education/parenting/preschool that you know you WOULD NOT under any circumstance compromise or change your belief system? Could you articulate a few reasons why?
Can you give some examples of times when you compromised on an issue? Found a middle ground? How was that for you?
When our compfort zones are getting in the way - we might need a wake up call! When our passivity has turned into apathy - we need to shake things up (feel free to refer to the list of suggestions above)!! When routine has turned into "a rut" - it might be time to kick things up a notch.
Being burnt out and "stuck" is a part of life. It's a part of teaching and parenting too... we get to these places. But we have to become aware of it and pull ourselves out of it! Being stuck and burnt out or in a rut or whatever is not necessarily a horrible thing....unless we choose to stay there once we realize it.
Do one thing different today. One thing to get you thinking in a different way. Again - it doesn't mean changing your whole world - but one thing that will shake it up just a little bit. Open our eyes to a new possibility. Try something new. Walk backwards from your car to the school. Try writing your name upside down. Something...
How ya doin?
Get in touch and let me know what you think....
all my love
lisa
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