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This weekend my church family celebrated its 100th anniversary! I have been a part of this body for 10 years and that is a record for me. I’m a bit of a wanderer.
The title of this post is not a real word. Every which way I type it a red line shows up underneath. Regardless of how it’s placed in the dictionary, it is how I am feeling these days. I feel I need to Stay Put! But it is so foreign to me.
During my lifetime I attended four elementary schools, two junior high schools, two high schools and two colleges. I have taught music in seven schools, have been a nanny for two families and served as a children’s minister. While living in Manhattan I earned a living walking dogs, cleaning apartments, sewing designer dog/cat collars, a couple of stints as a coat check girl, a children’s birthday party entertainer, teaching mommy and me music classes and babysitting for 20 plus families all over the Upper Eastside.
I have lived in 9 different cities in 5 states. Until recently, the longest I had kept one address was four years and nine months. The average length was just two years. Currently, I have had the same address for 8 ½ years. It seems strange to still be here; my usual wanderlust is getting antsy.
When moving from place to place was my parent’s decision, I was just along for the ride. My sisters’ and my desires were never really considered. I always said when I grew up and where to live was MY decision, I would stay put. But non-stay-puttedness is in my blood. I have obviously followed the pattern set for me by my parents.
Running away and staying put are at war inside me these days. I’m anxious for new adventures, but at the same time my roots are running too deep now to just up and leave. Being single allows me the freedom to do so if I want to. But staying put helps this single gal’s extended family to solidify.
Is it because I’m getting older that the stay-put bug has invaded my psyche? Or is it because I’m supposed to stay? And was leaving really running away all those other times? Or was I just being led to serve in other places?
After this weekend’s celebrations I’m glad I’ve been a part of this congregation for as long as I have. Laying down roots isn’t that bad after all. A year from now I may be far away, but I don’t think so. Check back here, May 16, 2012 and see if stay-puttedness won or if I’m a housekeeper in a fishing camp in Alaska.
Question: What’s your lifestyle: A Stay-putter or Nomad?
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We have a nice young man subbing in the 4th grade class at school this week. He is among the hundreds of new graduates hoping to find a teaching job in an era of extreme educational layoffs. But since he is single, he has more options available to him than his fellow married teacher candidates. He can easily up and move to teach anywhere in the world if he wants to.
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| Class at Crossroads English School in Pampady, India |
I gave him a folder I’ve been saving full of pamphlets of agencies for teaching abroad. Our conversation reminded me of the positives a single life can bring. We are free to take advantage of opportunities that arise and not worry about it affecting our kid’s little league schedule or spouse’s promotion at work. Adventure is an easily packed suitcase away.
However, that kind of freedom is a tradeoff for having someone to go on the journey with you. While being unencumbered let’s you jump at a moment’s notice, it also leaves you jumping alone. I’ve been jumping alone for quite some time now. There have been times where I preferred going solo and then there were times where having a partner to catch me when I fell would have been nice.
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| Not Mr. Right! |
Either way, I’d rather jump alone than not jump at all. You miss out on way too much in life waiting for someone to join you. Do it. Don’t live with regrets.
This young man may go for it. I mentioned to him that, while teaching abroad, he might even find a likeminded young female teacher he could build a life with. Since I’m his mother’s age, he’s not an option for me, but 25 years ago it would have been fun to have someone like him to jump with.
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| Fellow Teachers |
I have visited schools in Africa and India, but the timing never seemed right for me to pursue an overseas music teaching career full-time. Who knows though, maybe someday I will make it back and teach those lovely children what the little black dots on a sheet of music are called. In the meantime, I will continue jumping solo and being the most fabulous single gal there ever was!
These pictures are from a 2005 trip to India.
Question: Are you the type that, if your circumstances allowed, you would “jump at a moment’s notice” for some great opportunity or adventure?
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I was once on an airplane that lost an engine. It was a bit scary but I didn’t feel my time had come to die. Actually, I think I just was in denial of the seriousness of what was happening.
The flight attendant calmly re-told us all the things they usually tell you at the beginning of the flight that no one ever pays attention to. She added that on her signal we were to put our heads down and grab our ankles.
When the time came and she gave the signal, we all just sat frozen and stared at her, like we thought she was kidding or something. She glared back at all the frightened faces and yelled, “DO IT!” So, we did. That’s life. You gotta just do it. Like Nike.
The expression Bloom where you are planted is good advice. But we also need to Bloom how we are planted. We can’t wait until our circumstances change for the better. Sure we would have liked to have landed the plane in a more traditional manner, but that was not an option.
If you’re single, then take advantage of the freedom you have. If you’re married with kids, then give your children a fine example of being planted in a firm foundation. If you’re an athlete, musician, student, nanny, computer geek, philanthropist or phlebotomist, bloom how you are planted. If your plane only has one engine, then put your head down, grab your ankles and pray. Just Do It.
I want to bloom HOW I am planted as a wonderfully blessed single woman. I’m writing a memoir of my journey in singleness. You’ll see little blips of it here and there if (when…) you come back and visit this blog.
Question: What about you? In what ways are you blooming HOW you are planted in this world?
