“Better, Stronger, Faster”

THIS IS THE PLAN!

I suppose we better start here, at the beginning. This blog is a part of a larger scheme. Consider it future evidence of a commitment I have made to myself to become a better version of me. When I say that, I don’t just mean in some figurative or nebulous way. I mean it in every way possible. I mean it about myself physically and mentally, professionally and privately. I intend to be a better friend, and better with my family. I mean it in both qualitative, and quantitative ways. If there is a way to improve me, I’m doing it. To be clear, I’m not messing around!

There is something intriguing about emerging from the virus stronger for having dealt with it. I have this vision of myself exiting the chaos unrecognizable as the person who entered it. When have I been given an opportunity to reinvent myself like this?

So, what’s the plan, you ask?

First, The Disclaimer:

Let’s start with understanding that the plan has already been implemented. It was initiated more than a month ago. This blog is merely an extension of it. Please, also understand, I know that what I’m undertaking is a luxury not afforded to many. (May gratitude be one of the first things I learn to express better!) That said, the greater crime, in my eyes, would be to waste this chance.

A Brief Lead Up:

I am an international school teacher, and because of circumstances I will not go into here, for the first time in a decade my wife Jo and I found ourselves home in Minnesota, for the foreseeable future. Then, before I could even begin to find work here I injured myself digging up a tree. (If some morning you find a small alien attempting to exit your abdomen, go with the laparoscopic hernia surgery- recovery is dreamy!) So, not knowing how the ensuing surgery and recovery would look, rather than start a job I might have had to leave, I elected to use this year as a sabbatical of sorts- A year to find ways to improve myself as a teacher. That’s where it all started.

The Plan: Over the course of the next few months I will use this blog as a place to capture my growth publicly. The way I see it is that if I have to report to the world, then the world will hold me accountable. It will probably be even more motivating when I actually have a follower or two, but I have to admit that just writing it here is terrifying. I’ve been a journal keeper most of my adult life. However, the audience of “me” has never been enough to keep me honest.

I plan on covering different many different aspects of my growth. I suppose some people would have more than one blog for this. I will simply try to label them in such an obvious way that you, the reader, will instantly know content. That way, if reading about my physical failures is less than intriguing to you, but witnessing my professional failures sounds like fun you can skip to it. Stay tuned for the first official post!