So, this blog is coming up on its fourth birthday next month. I have mixed emotions about that fact. I have always been a writer, and LOVE to journal and reflect - so this has been my forum for that process for some time now. But I certainly do not use this blog to document most of what happens in my life. This is not the place for that. Here I try to document for my own historical record how being a part of this family shapes me, motivates me, and changes me. The honest reason that my journal for these things needs to be in blog form presently is because to click a button that says "PUBLISH" disciplines me more than any other journal I have ever had. For that reason, I have stuck with this - and I have been a consistent writer.But lately I have thinking a lot about the boundaries that we create in our lives. Jessica being a counselor, and my being a teacher - boundaries are something that we have to talk about a lot. And there have been many times in our lives where we had to learn the hard way that boundaries are important, useful, and necessary tools in our trades. So what should fall into the category of "private life?" Boundaries are important. Good fences do indeed make good neighbors. (which reminds me - we are actually building a brand new fence at our house this week).
In a year filled with big decisions, and cathartic realizations - Jessica and both realized that spending time with our family was the most important thing that we could ever do - and that in order to do that best, we needed to simplify our lives. We also realized that when you build a community around you, that you need to choose that community with direct intention. If it does take a village to raise your children, then which village to do you want to do the raising? We answered that question with a move to our new house. As embarrassing as it is to say, aside from our move to Asheville in 1999, this is the first time that we have began a move with a specific end in mind. Before that, we just moved for more space, or more convenience, or whatever. We were not making very intentional decisions either way. And it has been a HUGE step in a specific direction for us to take.
And already, it has afforded us so much more time with each other, our children, and our community of friends - both old and new. And we are where we want to be - taking walks, painting things, drinking lemonade on the porch swing, and strolling to the farmer's market for fresh veggies. I feel at home.All of this is great, but when one has been a teacher in this community for eleven years - it brings us to the question of boundaries. And even more specifically the boundaries that separate my private, family life with my professional life, in which I work with the youth of this community. In the two short weeks we have lived in the heart of this community - it is not uncommon for parents of my students to stroll by my house, and talk shop. It seems like I have taught (or am currently teaching) every cashier and bagger at the grocery store. Even the pharmacist is a former student of mine. We went into this with our eyes wide open, and were quite aware of the lay of the land. So, none of this is surprising - just an opportunity for us to talk about how we want to handle it. And we know that we are creating boundaries that will help all of us live happier, and more fulfilled lives. It will be a process for us, and what in which we will learn a lot.
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