As August unfolds and teachers head back to school, social media is buzzing with planning for the fall. And, my heart skips a beat; I won’t be going back for the start of this school year. It’s the first time in over 30 years that I will miss the excitement and promise of a new school year. And I’m struggling not to feel a heavy dose of FOMO.
I remind myself that I have other things to take care of, namely my health, but I won’t be idle. For starters, I have reading and writing plans. I will be working on a short story that I started last year and threatens to languish unless I continue to work on it. I will add weekly posts to my professional blog. I will write short columns for parents in my neighborhood magazine. I will read and read and read. The pile keeps getting larger every time I check Twitter.
I will be doing as much online professional learning as is available and I can handle: I have four book studies currently underway or soon to start. I am collaborating on two workshops for the fall. I have two online courses waiting for me to dig in – one on the science of happiness and the other one on classroom discourse.
I am also looking forward to some periods of rest to recuperate my strength. Family time will be high on my agenda.
I will create and live a vision that doesn’t include the physical schoolhouse building…at least for a while…but that may be just as fulfilling.
FOMO? I don’t think so!
Cross posted to the Two Writing Teachers Tuesday Slice of Life Challenge
Elisa Waingort 
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