Who are you?
Some of you already know this. But over break Project 180 gained a wider audience on Twitter, in great part due to Jennifer Gonzalez’s (@cultofpedagogy) endorsement of my recently begun #MyRoomMessages. With a large following and an earned respect, her recommendation reached a lot of people, and they followed. And followed. And followed. And before I knew it, my followers tripled, gaining nearly 5,000 followers on Twitter, where I daily share not only my Project 180 posts but also my Sappy Sy Rhymes, my My Room Messages, and various other tweets about my work.
Please know I am not sharing this to brag. Oh, no doubt I am pleased; I’m grateful that 180 is reaching more people. I have been grinding away at this every school morning for the past three years, and so it is encouraging to see my diligence paying off. But. But if I am honest, it’s all been a bit overwhelming and even intimidating. What do I do now?
I think it about more than I’d like to admit. I have long sought to push my work into the light, to gain attention for Project 180. And, well, now I have it, which brings both wonder and worry. And for me, wonder and worry often give way to doubt. And that is where I find myself this morning, sitting here having my second cup of coffee with my old acquaintance Doubt.
“Do you think you can keep this, up?”
I don’t know.
“People will disagree with you, challenge you.”
They have been all along.
“Do they know you have an edge?”
I’m not sure.
“Do you think you are making a difference?”
I hope so.
“Will you say the wrong thing?”
Maybe.
“Have you created a monster?”
I don’t know.
“Are you an impostor?”
Am I?
“Who are you?”
…………
He knows I can’t dance. So most of the time I dodge him. But then, other times, he catches me, and we dance clumsily as he leads me around the room in my head to places I try to avoid. But he takes me anyway. Sometimes we dance for days.
And then it stops. And I find myself. And I am made whole again, resolute in my mission, certain of my journey. And I am Sy. And that’s all that I can be; that’s all that I am. And the journey continues. For now.
Today’s Trail
Along today’s trail we will experience…
…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.
…completing our projects in prep for next week’s interviews and presentations.
…reflecting in our Journey Journals.
…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.
Sorry for the odd post this morning, all. Had to quit dancing. Thank you for letting me work through it. And thank you for your support. Can’t do this without you.
Do. Reflect. Do Better.
I thank you for your diligence. Through your reflection on Project 180 I am learning that daily reflection is necessary to keep a perspective on what’s real, truth, and obvious but understated. Speaking truth to our community has always been my goal, but I have come to realize that regular reflecting on our days has so much power to keep us forward thinking.
Glad to hear that doubts come and go…. Don’t let him get the best of you. Keep on keeping on…
Thank you, Pattie. Easier to keep on keeping on when I know I am not alone.
Monte, if we didn’t have whispers of doubt, we wouldn’t be reflective. I wrote a tiny post about my own doubt this time two years ago – http://geniushour.blogspot.com/2017/01/whispers-of-doubt.html The doubt it okay – it’s healthy, I believe – and it, too, will push us to do better. Cheers to 2019 and more writing, reflecting, and learning!
Thank you, Joy. Appreciate your support, encouragement, and wisdom. Happy New Year, friend.