Perk at Work

It’s the New Year and I haven’t heard many folks talking about their New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, I hear more people talking about how they’re not going to make a resolution because they never pan out. This is good and bad.

My boss says that he doesn’t make resolutions, rather he has goals. I think this is a good idea. We came to the conclusion that resolutions tell the world “I want to stop being a loser” while goals tell the world “I want to continue being a winner.” Face it, we resolve to do things because we want to be better people. If we didn’t feel like a loser, we wouldn’t want to change.

New Years already?

I too have things I hope to accomplish this year. It may sound strange to some, but my New Year has already happened – it came about in September. I follow the Bible calendar which would pretty much equate to the Hillel II calendar from what I understand. For anyone at all curious, I’m what would be considered a “Messianic.” Basically, that means I’m a “Christian” who worships in a “Jewish” way. (Ten minutes of reasearch will give you an indication of why I used the quotation marks.) I don’t say the above because I’m trying to push any spiritual beliefs on anyone, just giving a bit of a backdrop.

So since my New Year started in September, I should be miles ahead of everyone, right? Wrong. I did make some goals for the year but since then I’ve had a change of heart. I had wanted to really push the comic and the zine (BURRITO) to give me a greater income. But that just doesn’t sit well with me. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have the comic as one’s source of income – I look up to guys who can do it. I don’t think that’s what’s in the cards for me at this time. My heart’s being pulled in another direction.

Those who can’t, teach?

We’ve all heard the saying, “Those who can’t, teach.” I don’t deny that there’s truth in it. After all, there are thousands of teachers from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Who knows how many fit this criteria? All I know is that I’m finding more of a calling to teach than to simply promote my product. In fact, I’d love to help people get better and use my efforts to promote their products. By myself, I feel selfish. Perhaps that means I “can’t.” I can live with that.

At the same time, I feel that I have skills in drawing and writing. And I enjoy helping others better their craft. I’ve been told that I’d make a great teacher and I’m thinking it’s time I give it a shot… somehow.

To what degree?

Here’s a drawback: I don’t have a college degree. I reckon I could go back to school to get one but I’m in no position (or so I think) to do that at this time. Nor do I want to wait. I’ve heard chatter around the campfire that there are programs to get teachers certified while they’re working. This interests me. I also am willing to use my business as a way to teach – private tutoring or art classes. I’d prefer not to do the latter because it can limit the students to those who have money. That’s not a bad thing, I just have a heart for the everykid.

Gotta start somewhere

I’m making inroads already. I’ve got a meeting set up that may get me somewhere. I don’t know where but somewhere. I also am going to see about getting into the system – public schools, charter schools, universities, whatever – and work from the inside.

What does this have to do with you? Well, I hope it inspires you a bit, not to be a teacher, but to do what your heart wants to do. Everyone has a different heart, a different calling. I’ve ignored my calling so long that it almost stopped calling. And that’s a sad place to be. So wherever you are, whatever you do or hope to do, don’t give up on pursuing what you believe God made you to be. That there’s the lesson.

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