Finding My Tribe
“I will attract into my life what I am.” – Wayne Dyer
I am always looking for some clarity. It’s an interesting time for me as an educator. There are no absolutes or guarantees. For those who acknowledge the completion of my doctoral studies… I curtsey. For those who ask me “what’s next?”… I respond with “I’m in transition.” I made a conscious decision as I approached the end of my dissertation not actively seek out full-time employment to focus on my academic studies. The application process tends to be rigorous and time-consuming so I understood that once I completed my dissertation I would be in a transitional period. So, here I am… in progress.
The picture above reminds me of my TEDxWestVancouverED talk… well, a part of it. It’s a picture of school trustees from around the province meeting at the BCSTA Provincial Council. As a representative collective, they are making decisions and giving direction to the provincial organization. You can’t create educational change alone. You have to find your tribe. Change is a collective effort. I wonder… Who’s in my tribe and why? It’s not like I am recruiting anyone or have intentions to. That’s not my style. What I am looking for is ALIGNMENT. Does this person resonate with me? What do I like about them? I love the idea that I attract who I am. It’s a crazy thought, but the more I think of it… it’s true.
Change what you see by changing who you are. I am changing and who I interact with are too. Slowly but surely I am finding my way and I am paying attention. I am grateful to see the right people at the right time. It’s serendipitous. I can feel my alignment. It’s unfolding and I can’t wait to see where my next steps take me. When I experienced great change before, I was scared. I did not know or understand why some people were in my life and why others had left. I was resistant. Although I wanted change, I did not want or expect members of my tribe to change, but they did. It was a natural occurrence.
If I want things around me to stay the same, then I would have to stay the same. Sometimes I look back and consider going back to what I used to do. Based on my behaviour, this seems unlikely. I am noticing what excites me, what provokes me, and what brings me joy. I want to do what I love and what makes a difference to student learning. Furthermore, I am surrounding myself with people who belong to my tribe. Members of my tribe do not come from one particular organization or profession, but rather they are dreamers, disruptors, and do-gooders. They are willing to take risks, ask questions, and challenge the status quo to activate system change. This is my tribe.
My love for teaching and learning has not changed. My passion and purpose to improve student learning hasn’t changed either. What continues to change are the people around me. There are some people I will forever resonate with. Some people I don’t resonate with any more. Some people are returning while others are entering. I feel so lucky because I love what I see. These changes mirror what’s happening with me on the inside. I have clarity. I am passionate. I am choosing what I love to do. I have my tribe.
I am overwhelmed and heartened by those who support me, encourage me, and help me to rise. I never expect it and I cannot believe the love I receive. I feel soooooo lucky to have people in my tribe who care for me and can see my light in education. I have no words to describe how I feel. It’s incredibly humbling and I have moments of crying… but these are happy tears. I only have gratitude for these people and I hope that I can do the exact same for others. It’s about people ROOTING FOR YOUR RISE, as Oprah Winfrey would say. I will continue to teach, learn, and lead in education. I love what I do, I am grateful for the people I meet, and I am learning. What more can I ask for?