Who Were You Born to Be?

I was born an artist. I know that for sure. Later I became a writer and a teacher but always an artist.

I have noticed as creatives sometimes we forget who we are. We think that our passion, our creativity is something we leave at home for the hours before and after work.

I have believed this sometimes. I’ve gone to work and I’ve left my writing behind and I’ve come home to work related planning.

But then there’s those moments in between.

Lots of moments!

Lots of hours where you aren’t in touch with your true passion!

And it doesn’t mean that your job isn’t the best job in the world. It IS the best job that suits your needs.

But, it probably still has room to add more of you. Bringing more of yourself to work is called “Job Crafting”.

What is Job Crafting?

“By definition, job crafting is how an employee reframes their work, physically, socially and cognitively. It is ‘…what employees do to redesign their own jobs in ways that foster engagement at work, job satisfaction, resilience, and thriving’ “ (Berg, Wrzesniewski, & Dutton, 2010). From – https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/job-crafting/

How Do I Job Craft to Reflect More of Who I Am?

For me it means bringing my art into the workplace. In the past I have created work journals. I profiled this process on one of my older blogs. I buy a lined journal and add my own calendar. Originally the calendar was created on index cards, but now I use a basic lined scribbler to keep all of my originals. I use a process of hole-punch dots from magazines, a series of cut-up images and letters. I add the calendars lines using colored pens.Then I photocopy over my original to give it a smooth finish.

I love my calendars! I know, that is completely nerdy, but that is me…completely nerdy.

I love looking at my calendars. It reminds me of my inner artist.  

It is not just a work journal with a pretty calendar. I also use it as a traveling writer’s notebook. I can keep a list of neat things I overhear in the hallways and classrooms. I record different story ideas or just insights about the students I’m with. It is a record of my work and my art.

This year I made  a 10 month calendar, yet I never went and got a photocopy of it for my journal. I just never made the time. I ended up buying a day-timer. It was nice and had stickers but it did not serve the same purpose as my home-made journal.

It wasn’t the same at all.

In fact I missed looking at my homemade calendar and just reflecting on my creative life.

The trigger to make a new one came recently from a struggle with my writing life.

Lately, I have been anxious about my writing. It was just not clicking. I had all these notes and yet I couldn’t make a breakthrough. My husband said, do some of your art. And I thought yeah that’s what I always did when I was most upset or stressed and in fact art got me through my cancer battle nearly 20 years ago.

It is what I tell my art students all the time, “Art is a wellness tool and it is important to keep it up. keep doing it even if it’s just simple artwork.”

Though I can create realistic portraits, this paper collage fulfills me in a way that is very zen and meditative.

Instead of using the old calendar, I decided to make the calendars full size so this meant a new notebook. Those who know me know that a new notebook is always something that I look forward too.

I found this one at Indigo and it fits so perfectly with what I was doing, “Fill you paper with the breathings of your heart.”  

Here are the three pages I created. I love them! Note they are much more vibrant in real life. They are different than before because I have included focus words for each month. 

How Else Can You Job Craft?

You can job craft your current job to include more of yourself. For some people that can go beyond a journal to include things that you have in your work space: a special frame, a picture, a color that speaks to you, music and special scents. I think we need to recognize that we need to pursue these things because they keep us in the zone, aligned. Sometimes these objects start a conversation, helping others discover what they may have not discovered about themselves and that’s why I’m sharing this today.

It took a few days to get this calendar together but it is so important for me to continue doing this for myself and really for the others in my life.

How can I say and talk about creativity when I leave it behind? When I don’t show how important it is to actually be your authentic self day in and day out no matter where or who you are.

Just remember to bring more of yourself to the workplace and to job craft your reality.  You will become a much more balanced person for the universe and for all of those around you.

Until next time,

Love Coach Clark

It was on one of those Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah days…

The kind where you sit down to eat lunch and your lunch partner subtly says something that puts your life back on track.

Yes…a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah-AWESOME day….

I was telling my lunch partner that I was missing my literacy people. I was missing those deep discussions I used to have daily.

She said, “Oh, you just need to find your tribe, again.”

“Oh, OK,” I said pondering that for a quick second.

And then the conversation swung over to This Is US and how much we were not enjoying season 2.

Anyway…I let the idea about “finding a tribe” simmer for a few weeks.

I wondered, “How do I do that?” I knew that it had to be something I created and managed. Something bigger than what I was doing.

A few weeks later…just before Christmas…lightning struck…twice…on the same day.

I was at a Professional Development session, early, because I love that time in the city before everyone is stirring. Besides, I wanted to discuss a project with the presenter.

In conversation…these words she said hit home, “You know…it’s a perfect time for anyone to have their stuff out there.”

Out there! Right! Like I used to be. EVERYWHERE on the net!

Then the other presenter while reflecting on Literacy said, “And we have expertise in the room.” He looked over at me and I thought, true and I had worked hard for that literacy expertise.

Later on at home, I went through my digital past and was reminded of the excitement of being part of something bigger. Something outside the walls of my job. Even when I was in a district position, I was, at one time, beyond those walls too.

Back in 2009 – 2014, I earned a Master’s degree in Education. The focus was on Language Arts with some Library Technology courses. I started a blog and began interacting with classmates. Realizing for the first time that I could write entertaining nonfiction and make people laugh. I continued to blog, engaging with other bloggers and building a literacy brand,

For about 4 years I was on twitter daily…participating in EDCHATS every Tuesday, communicating with educators around the world.

I began creating Livebinders and even got nominated for top 10 Livebinder of 2012.

I presented locally on numerous occasions and internationally in San Antonio. I knew those experiences were to be treasured and I can honestly say, in those moments I treasured them.

I began to submit my writing, first published locally in  Literacies, Learning and Libraries …. and then internationally in Educational Leadership. Seeing my work along side my literacy idols was thrilling.

I was on my way…I was building momentum…

… so what happened?

I got small. Played small. For whatever reason, I thought that being in a school offered me the chance to work with less people, more often, and go deeper. But that’s not how it works. On any staff, you will only find a few who are literacy obsessed and willing to invest their time learning more. Which makes sense…on any staff you will have a collection of talents and passions for all subject areas not just literacy. Any educator who wants to find a tribe does need to look beyond their own school.

So I know I need to find a larger tribe. I thrive on discussing literacy with people who are equally passionate. These people are everywhere, it runs in their blood too, regardless of age and experience.  But in a school, they are a very small number. Too small to play with.

The conversations I loved most recently, are the ones through e-mail. Former colleagues reaching out to discuss literacy strategies for our schools. Sometimes it is at professional development sessions. Those powerful exchanges that remind you that your “people” might not be your day to day colleagues but they are still very much apart of your professional learning plan.

So I have decided to live larger…

I have created the Lead Literacy Society (LLS). It is for those that love literacy…that’s it. I can’t even explain the criteria to you because you either feel that passion for literacy or you don’t.

I have subscribed to The Reading Teacher for current up to date information trends and practical ideas.

I have embraced new opportunities. Namely, a district opportunity to earn Level one and Level two Google Certification. I need to be part the Google world if I am ever to bridge literacy and technology platforms effectively.

The passion to immerse myself in literacy has stirred up new “wonderings” about the state of curriculum changes in my province. I would like to take more of an active role in that process and discussing ideas with all you join the LLS.

Will there be a shirt …maybe?

Cookies…likely.

Discussion and debates…for sure!

So, if you are interested click like and follow on the LLS Facebook page. I can’t wait to get started.

I will leave you with the words of Cheryl Strayed (author of the book Wild and Brave).

“Ask yourself, ‘What is the best I can do? And then do that.’

Talk to you soon!

Coach Clark