Passions, Priorities and Perceptions

As the new year began, I was in need of a little inspiration. Exhausted by 2022 and seeking wisdom, I settled into my favourite nook in the Bodleian library and soon after happened upon an article that reflected on the words of Woodrow Wilson,

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."

These words are drawn from Woodrow's essay, On Being Human. It was written in 1897 when he was President of Princeton University, long before becoming President of the United States of America in 1913. The essay was a warm and personable account regarding the importance of balancing one's passions with their priorities.

Feeling so inspired by these words I decided to consider ways I could 'enable the world to live more amply' in the coming year. Woodrow's concept of striving for balance between passions and priorities seemed a good place to begin. In previous years, starting the year with a focus on balance would see me craft a timetable of critical priorities and then cram time around the edges for self-care and other indulgences. The critical self-care that would inevitably fall off the to do list as January transitioned to February. This year, I have decided to take a completely new approach inspired by the words of Mr. Wilson.

In 2023, I am approaching balance by recognising that the different aspects of my life actually complement each other really well. Being a devoted mother and volunteering my time at my daughter's school makes me a better educator. Researching best practice in education empowers me as a mother supporting my child in her own learning journey. Working to deliver global projects makes me a more informed and engaged citizen of the world. Being a citizen of the world nourishes my passion for travel. You see, I have worked out (at last) that by changing my perception of the demands on my time, I can achieve the balance I seek. The different priorities in my life are not conflicting, they are priorities because they matter to me. They are my passions because I love what I do.

When working in the classroom I always took this approach. Why set an assessment task to write an essay in History to assess knowledge of {insert any given topic here} and then set an assessment task to evaluate essay writing skills in English? Instead, I would design one assessment with two rubrics. Students were set the task to write an essay about a given topic in History and I'd let them know that this is the set of standards you are being marked against for History and this is what I am looking to grade your essay writing on for English. Why shouldn't I apply it to my own life too?

So, as I enter 2023, I am looking to change my own perception and remember that my priorities and my passions are actually complementary. By ceasing to view them as enemies in a war for my time, I am entering the year with a greater sense of hope, optimism and good grace. I see that the million little things I do each day make me who I am. They enable me to never lose sight of the number one thing on my list of errands...

1. Go enrich the world.

Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Wilson. Here's to an ample 2023 for us all.