When I first played Super Mario Brothers as an adult, I noticed that there was an amazing new feature. My son, after he'd reached a specific point, and right before he was going to try a dangerous move, created a bookmark, which he explained was called "save my progress." This allowed him to take a risk and go further than he thought he was capable, yet protecting him in case he failed at his attempt at some new skill or part of the game.
I'm finding myself in a spot where I'm not sure what I want to happen next, but I do know that I want to mark this spot--the one I'm in right now. I want to be able to come back here to my comfortable zone as teacher, author, and Union President. I'm not sure what the next year has in store for me, but I'm antsy to go past my usual spots. I'm not unfamiliar with this feeling. It has been what propelled me to write The Flexible ELA Classroom and The Flexible SEL Classroom, to become National Board Certified, and to run for Union President.
To be honest, I'm feeling the overwhelming desire to upset the apple cart. I want to shake things up. I want to "save my progress," but I also want to take some risks that would allow me to voice my deepest held opinions and change the way we look at education. I'm putting this energy into the world and waiting for the next challenge to come my way. I'll be ready.
