Suggestions about parenting, education, mental health, and hope.
Life is precious
More specifically, your life is precious. In case you are one of the many people who don’t believe this, I’m here to suggest that you think again.
Why this, why now
I left public education teaching after 24 years in 2018 to take a job at a small private school that opened its doors in 2017. That decision was transformative.
I jumped ship on my pension and the perks that follow sticking out the last few years of teaching in public education to have an adventure. And I got just that, and so much more. Sometimes I will share my thoughts about education and the decision I made.
My mom moved here to Lancaster County just over a year ago, and it became evident that I needed to be her caretaker. That’s not quite a full-time commitment, not yet, but it was enough to make the decision to retire. I have some thoughts about retirement that I’ll share here.
Mom was diagnosed a month ago with dementia. Sometimes here I will share my thoughts about living with dementia.
I’m choosing to write this newsletter because it’s the right time. I’m relatively old and have lived enough, I reckon, to offer my wisdom.
All you really need to know
I once told my middle school students everything I think they need to know about me. One of them wrote it down and I have it now in my garage where I can see it every day.
I’m pretty sure that says “color” blind, but I can’t see the “l” or the “r”. I’m assuming that is because I’m colorblind. I used to be able to see them though and I’m not sure what’s fading.
I’m looking to build resiliency in my community
I haven’t met someone who isn’t suffering, at some level. I am here to offer some hope and some alternate ways to think about our conditions. I’ll call it advice.
I will post on average two times per week
I’m always working on about a dozen projects but I will make writing this newsletter my priority at least twice a week. I will try hard to make at least one of these posts poignant and meaningful.
This is where I write (most of the time)
My workspace says a lot about me. Along with the picture above, you now know quite a bit.
My workspace says a lot about me. Along with the picture above, you now know quite a bit.
Thanks for reading Advice From a Relatively Old Man! You can find these posts also in my Substack newsletter with the same title: Advice From a Relatively Old Man.