There’s a new hashtag recently started, by Martyn Reah (@MartynReah) pursuing his interest in teacher well-being, which he outlined to a small group of attendees at a #TMConnectED event held at Jane Austen’s house in Chawton.
In many ways, the challenge appears simple enough; to find time in your day for an activity specifically for you. I’ve set myself the challenge of finding at least 20 minutes each day to do something with an art basis, with the efforts being shared at a meeting in January, so no pressure!
It has led me to reflect on the story of my working life and the litter of discarded or neglected hobbies that seems to have been left in it’s wake. In the early days, while still reasonably fit and time rich, sport played a reasonable part, particularly in the summer, when cricket sometimes took Saturday and Sunday and occasional mid-week fixtures. My Bothamesque efforts with the bat and ball were appreciated. Then along came child one and a ball into the face, to revise that.
In many ways, the challenge appears simple enough; to find time in your day for an activity specifically for you. I’ve set myself the challenge of finding at least 20 minutes each day to do something with an art basis, with the efforts being shared at a meeting in January, so no pressure!
It has led me to reflect on the story of my working life and the litter of discarded or neglected hobbies that seems to have been left in it’s wake. In the early days, while still reasonably fit and time rich, sport played a reasonable part, particularly in the summer, when cricket sometimes took Saturday and Sunday and occasional mid-week fixtures. My Bothamesque efforts with the bat and ball were appreciated. Then along came child one and a ball into the face, to revise that.
Music took over, with me learning the guitar with the children at one school, then running the beginner group, leading to that being a very useful skill for the rest of my career. Self-taught bodhran playing led to me joining a barn dance band and a social dance group, which enabled me to play at some of the major folk festivals around the country. Along came management and Ofsted preparation and the inability to commit to practice and the weekends away meant pulling out of that.
Holidays in France, playing music there for a couple of years (finalists in the truffe de Perigeux 1990) and buying a small country cottage there after my first wife was diagnosed with cancer, meant escapes of a different kind, to undertake plumbing and electrics and carpentry, as well as working with the garden and the developing trees. That still exists and is one area that provides continuous refreshment, simply down to calm and no external stimulation; no internet, no TV… Roll on Easter and the warmer weather. The tree-work list is very long.
Holidays in France, playing music there for a couple of years (finalists in the truffe de Perigeux 1990) and buying a small country cottage there after my first wife was diagnosed with cancer, meant escapes of a different kind, to undertake plumbing and electrics and carpentry, as well as working with the garden and the developing trees. That still exists and is one area that provides continuous refreshment, simply down to calm and no external stimulation; no internet, no TV… Roll on Easter and the warmer weather. The tree-work list is very long.
Art was my bête noire at 12, following a less than enthusiastic teacher demotivating anyone who was not naturally gifted. Finding some time in France one summer, and a source of very cheap material, I “had a go”. The style is naïve, to say the least, and always very rusty when revisited. But, it is for me and, if I feel that anything is worth sharing, for a few select others. That, and photography form the basis of remaining hobbies, for now.
It will be interesting to see the outcomes from my own and other’s efforts.
What will you do for yourself?
Good luck and be well.
It will be interesting to see the outcomes from my own and other’s efforts.
What will you do for yourself?
Good luck and be well.
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