Letting Go

I'll never forget Norm Goble, a former president of the Canadian Teaching Federation, who I met at an ATA Summer Conference. He was our keynote and spoke to us about the work he had done with Project Overseas setting up opportunities for Canadian Teachers to mentor teachers at projects around the world. His presentation really touched me and so when I saw him standing alone with a glass of wine at the meet and greet later on, I took the opportunity to meet with him. We had a wonderful conversation about all of his experiences and at one point I asked him how it was he managed to do so many amazing things and he responded "Susan, I am an ambitionless man. I simply took the opportunities that were presented to me."

I think sometimes it is hard to separate ambition and opportunity. As my own life evolves in unexpected ways, I try to keep my eyes open for opportunities and to let go of the destination that once seemed so apparent. I try to avoid despairing over the barriers that appear to be so unjust and instead focus on the joys I have encountered taking the unexpected routes. I am lucky...I have been gifted with a passion for many things and therefore have many vehicles to take on this journey. In the end, I am most buoyed by the words of Stephen Lewis when he visited Grande Prairie almost two years ago. Something to the effect of: it doesn't matter what you do or where you start...just start somewhere because it's all connected. The world is the classroom and at any given moment we are both student and teacher.