Sabbatical Year Recap: November - January

As you may know I have been on a sabbatical this year from the classroom.  I am pursuing several of my passions:  art, writing, yoga, and consulting with educators.  I have found great joy in being a mom who gets to take her son to school.  I am learning so much about myself and how I interact with the world around me.

Here is a recap of the past few months by specific passion:

ART
November started with me being chosen as one of ten local arts to participate in Reworks project, Make Art Not Waste.  It was an intense 3 day project that ended with a show at Summit Art Space.
See that project HERE and HERE and HERE

I held my first ever Pop Up Sale at my studio in November

My Art made its way into the Wayne Center for the Arts gift shop in Wooster, Ohio

My Art adorns the walls at Sweet Mary's Bakery in Akron, Ohio

I participated in the Barberton Art Mart in December

I offered various workshops for families, children, and adults at the Art Center on Tusc {ACoT}

I continue to create acrylic paintings, paper and book arts--while preparing for upcoming shows and events.  See some on my blog.

Four of my newer paintings art at Nine Muses Gallery from mid-January to February 21.

WRITING
I spent the month of November doing something I have wanted to do for the past several years.  I participated in NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month.  The goal is to complete an entire 50,000 word first draft of a novel in just one month.  I did it!  It was an amazing experience to see the work morph and develop on its own.  March will be my revise and edit month.  I hope to have it in good enough shape to send off to several publishers later in the spring.

I have continued slowly on The Transformational Classroom, a manual for teachers on self care and classroom management.  I have cleared the focus and divided it into 3 distinct sections with an introduction.  I hope to send it to several publishers by the end of spring/start of summer.  I have selected two publishers that I would love to have birth this work with me.

I continue to write here, at Brave Teachers, at Brave Art by Miriam Daniel, Brave Yoga and at various social media outlets.

YOGA
I continue to teach yoga every Saturday morning at Grace Loyal Oak UCC.  See classes on Brave Yoga website.

I completed another round of Just 4 Girls Yoga in November and December.  It is now open for grades 3 - 8 for February and March.

I continue to teach a Wednesday evening private class.

I shared yoga at another Norton District Girl Scout Event, Free to be Me.  {I was even quoted in the Barberton Herald.}

I wrote and started to sell Yoga Story Scripts on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I also created a video of poses to accompany the story scripts.

I offer concierge yoga services, and I am now working a marketing plan for summer camps and schools.

COACHING/CONSULTING
The week between Christmas and New Year I offered an email retreat for teachers, Restoration and Renewal.  This was given as a gift to dozens of teachers.  I have taken all of those materials and created an online home/classroom, The Restoration and Renewal Toolbox, that anyone can access anytime for a small fee.

In November I offered the workshop Creativity in the Common Core Classroom.  I am compiling those materials and creating new materials so that it may evolve into an open online classroom.

I am letting Will U rest until I have the time to expand him into a full program of social and emotional development for children.

I have met with several school administrators and numerous teachers who encourage me to continue this holistic work for teachers and children everywhere.

I continue to hone my mission while expanding my reach.


WHAT AM I LEARNING AND OBSERVING?
This has been a powerful time of personal exploration and growth.  Some days I feel like I'm evolving and light speed,  and other days the movement feels painfully slow.
Here are a few of the lessons that pop to mind today:

• It is tough work to maintain motivation and focus without the framework of a traditional work day.
• Daily progress is essential, even when it is slower than anticipated.
• It takes brutal honesty to see that I fall back into old habits even when I have time to hone new habits.
• Failure and rejection are all part of the path to success.
• Writing down daily, weekly, monthly goals expand opportunities for success, even though it seems like they would limit options.
• If you don't ask the answer is already no.
• I LOVE having more time to be a mom and find a gentle rhythm for my quirky kid and his quirky mom!  
• It might be smart to combine my passions under one big brave umbrella.  {This is in the works!}
• There is a difference between being lonely and alone.
• It takes a HUGE amount of energy to create something new and fresh every single day.
• Feel the fear and do it anyway.
• Growth usually doesn't come to us--it's something that must be pursued.
• Rest is essential and a rebellious act in the nonstop go world.

This is such an amazing gift.  It's hard and scary and beautiful all at once.  

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT MY CREATIVE ENDEAVORS?

• I opened a Patreon site so that you can make a monthly contribution to the work I'm doing and get some sweet thank you gifts.
• You can also support me by buying something that I have made.