Notable Differences

Today I finished my second day as an Enid Public Schools Instructional Coach.  I am learning the ins and outs of how the district works.  I'm learning their procedures, curriculum, resources, data, etc.  There's a lot to learn.  So far this has been a relatively smooth transition.  I didn't have to move.  I knew the people I interviewed with, who are now my supervisors.  I had visited the room that will now house my office and I have a working relationship already with two of my new team members.

There are some very notable differences however between what I've done for the last two years and what I'll be doing going forward.  Here's a short list:

• No travel:  For the last two years I've left town at least four out of five days a week and spent the night away from home an average of seven nights a month.  That will no longer be the case.  I now live in the city where I work.
• Set hours:  For the last two years my hours from day to have have varied to some degree.  I worked eight-twelve hour days, but those eight hours might be 12:00-8:00 p.m. if I was doing evening meetings or training.  That will no longer be the case.  My hours are set.  During the school year I'll work from 7:45-3:45.  As always happens with school teachers, there will be after school meetings and such that will occasionally cause me to work late, but generally speaking, I will now have a solid routine.
• Fewer schools:  Probably one of the most notable differences between the two jobs are the number of schools and districts I serve.  For the last two years I was assigned to work with 22 districts, which translated into more than 50 sites with whom I had contact.  I now work for one district and will have contact with no more than 15 sites, but will focus on fewer than that.

With professional changes, there come personal changes.  What do I mean?  Here's another short list:

• No travel = Less mileage:  Less mileage translates to fewer fill-ups at the gas station, fewer oil changes (I have been having my oil changed every six weeks), and fewer tires to purchase (I've replaced or repaired six tires in two years).
• No travel = More groceries:  My grocery list has been rather short over the last couple of years, especially if I knew I was going to be in and out of town a bunch.  I can't buy a lot of perishable foods and then leave town.  I ate out A LOT in my time on the road.  Not healthy of course, but certainly easier.
• Set hours = New routines:  With a new schedule that includes more permanent hours, I need new routines.  Routines such as eating breakfast at home instead of taking it in the car (my time in the car isn't long enough to eat breakfast while driving anymore) or going to bed earlier so that I can be sure to be out the door by 7:30 every morning.  Those mornings haven't happened regularly enough for me to have an early bedtime.
• Fewer schools = More ME time:  With fewer people to respond to or provide for, I have a lot more time for myself.  I have time to read, organize my house, keep up with my laundry, improve my culinary skills...the possibilities are endless!

One of my favorite TV shows is Criminal Minds.  There is an episode in season three in which FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner and his wife Haley are arguing about his job.  She doesn't want him to join the team on a case in Milwaukee, but he is determined to go.  He says, "This is who I am."  She says, "No, this is what you do."  I find myself walking that line often.  Where is my job "what I do" and where is it "who I am"?  When I let my job become all of who I am, I miss out on other parts of life that weren't meant to be missed.  On the other hand, my job means more to me than just being something I do from 8-5...or 7:45-3:45 as it were.

It takes a lot of work to achieve a balance.  I'm not always motivated to put the work in, it's easier for me to hide in my work than it is to face personal challenges.  With all of the other changes going on however, this seems to be as good a time as any to make a concerted effort to define the difference between who I am and what I do...just one more notable difference.