Saturday, December 27, 2014

Labels have their place ... you aren't one of them!

Labels are ah-mazing.  One of my favorite things that I own is my label maker.  Everything has it's own place, and that makes me smile.  While pinteresting (yes, that's a real word) last night, I searched "organization", and my screen was quickly filled with label after label after label ... and it was awesome.



   Labeling my classroom and my students' work is necessary.  Labeling my kitchen, pantry, and closet was pretty fun. Labeling the label maker was actually the highlight of my night. Labels clearly have their place, yes? I shouldn't be one of them though.  I came across a post-collegiate-athlete-slump blog that reminded me of the fact that DOING what I do does not make me who I am.  Any ex-collegiate athlete that has now entered the real world of grown-up land should seriously go read this ... STAT!  http://onceandalwaysanathlete.com/

   Too often, I define myself by what I do.  In college, I didn't just play volleyball, I labeled myself as a volleyball player (despite the fact that I was also an honor student, an RA, a waitress at a local restaurant, a babysitter, the best joke teller in the world, a friend, a music lover, a music maker, a daughter of the king, a lifeguard, a sister, daughter, aunt ... the list could go on forever). I chose the most dominant (and time consuming) label and stuck it to myself.  When I graduated, I quickly replaced the athlete label with a new one.  I soon became a kindergarten teacher (even though I am also a swim instructor, an iced coffee addict, a YMCA membership services person -- what is my official title? -- a wino, a technology guru, an even funnier joke teller, a blogger, a church lover, an aunt, sister, daughter ... again, the list goes on and on.) It's easy to take the most time consuming thing that we do and tell ourselves, and others, that's who we ARE. Yes, I teach kindergarten. But when I tell you "I am a kindergarten teacher", you miss out on the big heart I have to offer, the corny jokes I could tell you, the fact that I work 3 jobs and love being around people. The salt and sugar containers NEED labels. If my iced coffee is salty, I may cry. My closet appreciates labels ... it's easier to get ready in the mornings. My life, however, could afford to lose the labels altogether.  What I think of myself is portrayed to others and how they view me.  I have goals, dreams, and likes that are just as much a part of me as teaching is.

   I want to have brunch dates with friends (brunches are pretty baller. kind of like sporks. they're baller too. yes I'm indecisive and like the best of both worlds). I want to travel ... more! I want to read another good book.  I want to volunteer with middle school kids. I want to not hate working out.  I want to like red wine, too.  I want to do a mud run. I want to take a class. I want to find a Netflix series to be addicted to. I want to wear a skirt and braid my hair every. single. day. I want to make picture captions lyrics from an unfamiliar song.  I want to play my saxophone and go swing dancing. I want someone to ask me who I am and I want to respond with something other than what consumes most of my time.  I want to shop at local markets and ditch the franchises. I want to be me AND be comfortable in who I am.


Thanks for reading, you crazy people. Until next time ...
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