It feels strange this first week of the school year to not be in a classroom at a brick and mortar school. I feel like I am playing hooky watching the neighborhood children get up and leave as I feed my toddler and slowly make my way to my upstairs studio. I am used to setting an alarm and shoving breakfast down before busting out the door as the sun rises. I am used to having a schedule. I am used to asking for permission to be absent and getting someone to cover for me if I am going to be gone. I am used to having something other than my own self motivation pushing me to focus on my work.
But I am inspired right now. I'm excited about all of the projects that I am starting and the progress that I can already see. It was only about a month ago when I started on this journey and I have already acquired new skills, made meaningful contacts, and spent hours on creating. And I've only just begun. I can see the progress and feel the change inside of me but I am self conscious.
Do others think I'm just spending my days dawdling my time away? My step daughter stopped by with her boyfriend last week in the afternoon. I was snuggled up on the couch with my I-pad in my lap and my computer resting on the coffee table to my side. I looked like we do on the weekends, when we all relax in the living room with our technology in hand. If she would have glanced at what I was doing, she would have seen a drawing on the I-pad of a coffee cup and images loaded into Illustrator waiting to be turned into files for my laser cutting class that night. I was working. It just looked different than the kind of work I am used to. I'm not used to being able to sit on my couch in the middle of the day next to my dog and have a snack while I work. And I am sure it looked different than the kind of work she is used to seeing adults do as well.
It's going to take us all a little getting used to.
People think that I am taking the year off. The funny thing is that I am working harder now than I probably ever have because I am so determined to make this work...work.