Tuesday, April 15, 2008

If It Scares You...

The seminar I'm leading this week of 22 NC public school teachers got rolling last night and I discovered that teachers are the ideal folks to have in a discussion group. Wow, what a bunch of thoughtful live wires.

This gathering is at NCCAT in Cullowhee in the NC mountains. That's the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Gorgeous campus. From where I sit in our meeting room I can watch the spire of water in the fountain in the center of the pond next to the dining room.

So yesterday I was going on about my pre-teaching nervousness. It's gone. As always, getting moving makes the difference.

In our discussion last night, one person volunteered some wisdom from her sister: If it scares the shit out of you, do it.

I'd qualify that a tad: if the risk is reasonably low and the gain is significant, do it. I still don't see the point of bungee jumping.

Otherwise, doing what we want to do is worth weathering a bit of initial uneasiness. It's more than worth it.


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3 comments:

billie said...

Peggy, enjoy the mountains and the class! I'm hoping to get a long weekend up in that part of the state in a few weeks and am very much looking forward to it.

Debra said...

Peggy, have a wonderful time with your class! They are very lucky students to have you as their teacher.

And I agree about the bungee jumping!

Peggy Payne said...

Thanks, Debbie and Billie. Today the group did some really good work--I was happy--and yesterday's snow flurry cleared up into early spring weather here. I feel I'm enjoying a second spring because all the flowers that have finished blooming in the flatlands are in full glory here.

Sort of gives new meaning to the idea of retreat.