Run… Jump… Hold Your Breath!

Run… Jump… Hold Your Breath!

When I was younger, my family would go to Lake Norfork in northern Arkansas for our family reunion (they still do but I don’t get there all that often anymore).  The lake is a wonderful place and it was great to go fishing and swimming with siblings and cousins.  There is also a high cliff at one campground that provides a quasi-safe point to leap off into the water.  We’d go there from time to time either by car or boat but due to my fear of heights (and sub par swimming skills), I usually was a spectator.

 

Around the time I was 19 or 20, we ventured to this rock again.  I was all set to watch when my nephew, who was about 8 or 9, took one look at the water below, backed up and flung himself off into space.  Eventually, he landed hard in the water below and popped back up beaming with excitement.  After watching this two more times, it was evident that I could not be shown up.  I would have to put my fear (and rationality) behind me.  Tentatively, I took my place in the line of jumpers.  With a gasp, I took the giant leap!

 

Splash!  Here I am again taking another leap.  I have kicked around the idea of blogging for a few years now.  I’ve read certain blogs but always held back due to fear and doubt.  Who would want to read what I have to say?  There’s hundreds of blogs out there… what would be so special about mine. (The title “blogzillion” is a tongue and cheek shot at this. I must be the last person to start one right?).

 

Within the last few months, I jumped into the Twitter world (hope to post on this in the near future).  Here I have been introduced to outstanding thinkers in education via chats as well as had the chance to experience ideas from books such as Shift This! by @joykirr and Teach Like a Pirate by @burgessdave. These interactions coupled with the fact that I won a free year subscription to blog from #notatiste, have forced me past those fears.  A goal for this year is to see my 3rd grade students be more creators and less sponges when it comes to their learning.  If I’m going to ask them to do so, how can I sit back and not jump with them?

 

As with any good leap of faith, I have no idea where this blogging journey will lead.  But I know there is water down there somewhere… and I will eventually pop back up no matter what!

9 thoughts on “Run… Jump… Hold Your Breath!

  1. John – I LOVE IT! “If I’m going to ask them to do so, how can I sit back and not jump with them?” No doubt! You are a WRITER – just like your students! I look forward to keeping up with what you’re sharing. I use Feedly to keep up with bloggers (because I might not see their tweet among the crazy amount of educators I follow). I’m excited to see where this journey takes you!

    Of course, I added your blog here: http://shiftthis.weebly.com/new-bloggers.html

    Also, here’s my “thank you!” http://geniushour.blogspot.com/2017/07/shift-this-readers-rock.html

    Enjoy this next leg of your journey!

    1. Joy, thank you so much. This would not have happened without the interactions with you, your work and people sharing and encouraging one another. I have Shift This! waiting in my cart to order later today and I’m looking forward to reading and stretching even further.

  2. Congratulations on taking the plunge in to the blogging world!! I too “started” a blog over a year ago but have yet to really feel comfortable with posting…you have inspired me!

    1. Thank you, Nancy. I hope you will jump in soon. This is certainly a bit outside my comfort zone, but stretching means growth I suppose. Good luck with your journey.

    1. Thank you for reading. I hope to make it a priority and especially use it when teaching my students about audiences outside our four walls.

  3. I could feel my heart race as you described that moment of overcoming your fear to jump off the cliff (lest you be shown up by a cousin half your age!) What a great analogy for starting your own blog! Like you, I hear those fear-based comments swirling in my head, but you know what? YOU shared MY blog post which means that something I wrote had value for someone else! HOORAY! My words matter and yours do, too! So glad you are taking the jump into blogging!

    I, too, will add you to my Feedly list so I can keep up with you throughout the year. I’m excited to learn and grow with you! Keep writing and publishing those blogs – you just never know who you will inspire from your experiences shared!

    1. Thanks Tamara. I appreciate your reading and sharing. You are right that I certainly couldn’t be shown up by someone so much younger 🙂
      I am thinking of a few posts already, so that should hopefully keep me going for a bit. And you are right too that we all have something to say. It may not mean much to everyone but it could mean everything to at least one. Our stories are important.

      1. Absolutely! When I think of a topic to write about, I jot it in my notes on my phone and start a draft blog post. Some drafts sit there for a while, but that’s ok! Other times the passion to write is so strong I drop everything right then to write and share. The key is to make writing a habit and continue to share!

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