Life Beyond Teaching
The Rocking Chair Test
Fast forward - imagine yourself sitting in a rocking chair in years to come. What would you like to have done? Do you have any regrets? This powerful exercise kick starts clients into action. They no longer put off decisions until the right time that invariably never comes. Remember the Russian folk tale about Baboushka who is invited to journey with the wise men and follow the star but is too busy cleaning and sweeping and misses her chance?
Once someone has decided to go ahead, not if but when, they are well on the road to achieving their goal. There will be set backs of course, but life is a continuous learning process. The challenge is to find another route to take you forward. Remember J.K. Rowling was turned down by publishers and James Dyson nearly went bankrupt before he struck lucky! What if they hadn't pursued their dreams? Imagine if Picasso had stopped painting, Mozart composing or Columbus exploring?
Fear of failure is often what stops people realising their dreams. But what if you couldn't fail, what would you do? Perhaps the only real failure is not having the courage to have a go in the first place. So what is it you really want to do?
Friends of mine organised a teaching exchange in Canada, a year they will remember for the rest of their lives. Now, 5 years on, they are off to Italy for a year out. They can't wait for a change of lifestyle and all the new experiences coming their way. Nothing has stood in their way despite having to find work, an Italian school for their daughter and getting to grips with the language. Are they fluent Italian speakers? No, but they will be! Meanwhile, their house is let and they have work to return to. In years to come, sitting in rocking chairs, will they regret their decision? I doubt it. George Bernard Shaw said that life is 'a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing on to future generations'. Everyone deserves that.
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