“I am going to assume you are suffering from time famine, creeping dread, or – worst case – a tolerable and comfortable existence doing something unfulfilling. The last is the most common and the most insidious.”
– Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
I teach High School Chemistry in Flagstaff, AZ, and I just quit my job. Don’t worry, it wasn’t anything dramatic… I just told the school that I would not be returning next year, they asked me to write it in a letter, and that was that.
Most people think I am crazy. When I was deciding, I thought I was crazy. My job allowed me to:
Seriously, I could have lived in this town and worked this job for the rest of my life and been happy. But that, in itself, scared me. This existence is exactly what Tim Ferriss described in the above quote – this job was easy and comfortable, and yes teaching students is partially fulfilling, but I wanted more. I could tell after the last river trip – I felt as if I taught the students more on a 4-day trip then I had taught them all year in Chemistry. Former teacher Dean Dwyer describes the limiting possibilities of our education system:
Most people think I am crazy. When I was deciding, I thought I was crazy. My job allowed me to:
- Play a part in the development of young people’s lives
- Live in the coolest town in the world (personal opinion only)
- Adventure as a means of intermittent recovery by climbing spires in Sedona, hiking the Grand Canyon, thrashing on mountain bike trails, canyoneering, and so much more
- Have monetary gains that far exceeded my losses (mostly a function of how low my losses are on rent in this town)
- Take students on an annual river trip down the San Juan or Colorado Rivers.
- Run side projects based on my interests, like the creation of this website
Seriously, I could have lived in this town and worked this job for the rest of my life and been happy. But that, in itself, scared me. This existence is exactly what Tim Ferriss described in the above quote – this job was easy and comfortable, and yes teaching students is partially fulfilling, but I wanted more. I could tell after the last river trip – I felt as if I taught the students more on a 4-day trip then I had taught them all year in Chemistry. Former teacher Dean Dwyer describes the limiting possibilities of our education system:
"I think it really beats the creativity out of kids, we end up taking any talents they have and making them conform to really rigid ways of making art"
For me, I know there is a whole lot more world out there, one that will challenge me to become my highest self, fulfill my spirit, and let me live the life of my dreams. For now I am going to focus on trying to expand the ways that we can let students create their art, and hopefully it will emphasize a bit of environmental science, too :) The idea right now is to hopefully create a non-profit that uses bicycle trips (much the way Grand Canyon Youth uses river trips) to teach students what really matters in life and to find their highest selves, because when we realize the extent of our human potential and highest selves, we are impassioned to improve the environment as well.
Will I ever reach that world? I have no idea. But, at the end of the day if I don’t at least try to get there, I will never forgive myself. I should mention that there is another reason, which I will write about further. To give you the short version, though, I am deciding to take a chance on a love that makes me happy all the time! With so many thoughts on this there is sure to be an article or many about it.
So, I am making the leap across the void. Am I scared? More – I am freaking terrified. And, that is why I know it is what I need to do.
Will I ever reach that world? I have no idea. But, at the end of the day if I don’t at least try to get there, I will never forgive myself. I should mention that there is another reason, which I will write about further. To give you the short version, though, I am deciding to take a chance on a love that makes me happy all the time! With so many thoughts on this there is sure to be an article or many about it.
So, I am making the leap across the void. Am I scared? More – I am freaking terrified. And, that is why I know it is what I need to do.
