What a year. Today I finally collapsed.

It was a year of adjusting to the advent of personal unresolved issues which showed up as lethargy and depression. I started working with a therapist and am feeling more breathing room around things I can actually change.

It was a year of finding the balance between work and being a performing artist. Annie Frazier Lionel Downer used to say I had a lot of irons in the fire. My varied fiery irons began to remove needed oxygen this year. Heaviness has lifted and I have more clarity on 6.20.24.

Outside of sheer teaching and working with students which is better than ever, the overall stress around the teaching vocation is worse than ever. I understand why people are leaving the profession. It has been downright demoralizing at times this year. I wouldn’t still be teaching full time if wasn’t a part of my dna and a stable income that I have chosen to invest in as I hopefully segue into the next chapter of my life in a few years. Hearing kind words from former students like Kyra Fox has made it all worth while.

Thank you dear families for the thoughtful cards and gifts.

I’m glad to live in NJ. I’m grateful to teach in North Brunswick.

Giddy up.

#musician #performer #teacher #writer #creator #20232024schoolyear