Thoughts flying by

Another day at school. We're in the 4th week of the first half of the term, so, we're actually in the middle. What happened so far, and what needs to be done in the following weeks are valuable questions. Keeping an overview of this process and knowing where I am is so useful. So easy to get trapped into living in one day, in one lesson, or even one moment.

I'm experiencing a lot of pressure at the moment. Am i able to distinguish between external pressure, and the pressure comes from within? Self-imposed and unnecessary demands that come from the imagination? Some of it, a lot of it I could surely let go ...

I was able to collect myself before few lessons today. I sensed my hand once, this is good.

Work in a London school provides a huge field of opportunities for practice. However, I feel that I need to be more realistic and intelligent in choosing what, where & how to practice.

I need to allow more space for stillness and definition, especially outside my school time, i.e. Sitting and AT lie-down. But hey, these are just words and ideas. What about the application?

World's day

We had a World's Day at the school today, so no teaching. 6 teachers (including a Polish one) and 52 students went to Hayes, Kent for some outdoor activities. A good one.

Straight after this go for a 2 hour Maths Course, then back and chill.

Call my parents in the evening. We discuss long term plans. Then call my friends in Tychy.

It's 22:34 now. Catch up with job stuff.

Monday

In the morning: Sitting.

In the morning & the afernoon: teaching.

In the evening: The Movements.

The gift

Yesterday I have seen that I have been doing a wrong thing over the past few days/weeks. Today I addressed it immediately by sending an email with an apology to one person in Poland. I also made and stated a clear decision to stop doing what I've been doing so far. The burden off the shoulders, even if I didn't even realize I was carrying it...

This moment of seeing just flew by, like a gift. The gift gratefully accepted, and acted upon.

Keep going

It looks as if I managed to avoid getting sick-sick. So, I feel lousy, but able to keep doing what I have to do, without abusing my body. I take it easy after work today and make sure that I get a proper rest.

An open evening

We had an open evening in the school today, so I've spent 13 hours there.

I noticed that my lessons in general either finish, or end. Completing is the aim, but I believe the first step will be to address the beginning of the process and say no to end-gaining.

Nothing

At the end of a long and intensive day. Good effort.

Nothing else to say, so I say nothing.

Monday

Here we go then, another week of work ahead.

After morning sitting I go straight to the school, and have a pretty good day. I notice irritation arising few times though.

Leave the school early today, to make it on time.

Usual stuff at home, shower, food etc.

In the evening: the Movements Class in London.

Back after 23 o'clock. JotD. Emails.

23:59 - The bed is calling ...

A new week!

A new week begins. Yesterday was Saturday, a day off. I'll be on from today until Friday evening, and this pattern is going to repeat pretty much during my working weeks. It has been 5 years since I had to follow Monday to Friday job routine. It's good to have this pattern back. I can organize my activities now.

For example, on Sundays we are going to have London Circle meetings, like today.

15:02 - JotD.

I spend the rest of the day hanging around the apartment, relaxing, organizing, but mostly the latter. In the evening look at the job stuff.

21.10 - What is my JotD for tomorrow? I haven't noticed any yet ...

....

21:30 - I've just seen it.

Tonight I spontaneously decide to go for a few days, proper holiday at the end of October while I'll be in Poland. Destination: Lviv, Ukraine. Now I have something exciting to look forward to!

23:16 - My shirt and trousers are ironed. Bedtime.

Past the middle

06:00 - Rise. Notice an emotional reaction to the sound of the alarm clock, much disliked this morning. 3BW.

06:25 - Morning Sitting.

A day at the school, it has the taste of entering the end of a small cycle. A good one.

Then home, eat and watch telly for a change. This includes an episode of The Simpsons. Then out to the shop to get few things.

20:00 - JotD.

Sow the button to my trousers, iron the shit and stuff like that. Then sip some Wodka Zoladkowa (a wonderful Polish herb bitter vodka) and watch a bit of Russian movie, listen to some music...

It's 21:06 And I'm ready to hit the bed whenever the sleep calls me...

In search of balance

6:00 - Rise. Have more energy than yesterday in the morning. 3BW.

6:25 - Morning Sitting.

7:30 - Early in the school, I'm the first one in the department today. Coffee!

A day of extremes in the school. My first lesson with Y10 class:

in one word: resistance
in two words: huge resistance
in three words: bloody huge resistance

I take immediate firm measures, this is necessary. And after this a wonderful lesson with top set Y8. My most enjoyable lesson so far.

I have to make few phone calls to inform parents about the detentions given. To keep the balance I decide to make a 'positive' phone call as well to one parent to praise their child's attitude.. The mother informs me that I made her day, wonderful. Making these balancing out phone calls is going to be my rule from now.

Wash my hands and face and leave the school at 17:30

Then the usual stuff. In the evening I watch Rejs.

20:00 - JotD.

Chill out, listen to the music...

21:50 - I'm ready to sleep, let's see when it comes. Yesterday I had to wait 2 hours...

On the whole: a good day.

Tuesday, 8th September 2009

6:00 Rise. Short 3-B Workout.

6:25 Morning Sitting.

7:50 - In the school. I have a good feel after the day of work, a positive day on the whole, but it has been more like going against the gravity today. Year 8 & 9 students have been 'testing' me, but I had my 'hatchet' out - it's necessary. For Y8 class the penny dropped after 40 minutes. With Y9 class we'll need to work more on defining the boundaries, well, with any class really.

The internet/system is down, so can't do much prep for tomorrow. Leave early.

Home. Shower, laundry, food etc. Then leave with Tatyana to Sainsbury's for shopping. A visit to the supermarket - the best entertainment in Lower Sydenham during the week.

Prepare for tomorrow.

JotD at 20:00

Cooked corn, cherry trifle.

Have time and energy for the guitar, how wonderful is that. Enter the Practice Space with gratitude...

21:38 at the moment, time to slowly wind down. Hope to get proper rest tonight...

First day

6:00 - Rise
6:30 - Morning Sitting.

At the school at 8-ish.

A very good day, the first double lesson went well. There's more to do than I can handle, so I just address most urgent necessities, bearing in mind that burning myself with taking on too much in the first weeks would be stupid.

Leave before 17...

Warm chocolate ... dinner ... chill out on the couch for a while listening to the canary singing.

Shopping, including warm and comfy slippers.

Chi Kung.

JotD.

Emails and job related stuff for tomorrow.

22:08 Post this. It's going to be early night.

Joy

It'd be good to be able to afford a proper day of rest before the first week at work, but no way man. There's a lot of stuff ahead, and I spend the big part of the day organizing myself. I already accepted that Sunday may be my 'job day', well, a half of it, and at least in the next year. Saturday is going to be 'off', so let's say I work 5.5 days a week.

I have almost defined time framework until the end of the year, and a good sense of what is needed during that period. I also know what my aim in being in England is, and what is the basic framework for the next 5-6 years.

However, I have no idea what really lies ahead and this is quite exciting.

Joy is Radość in Polish.

A day off in the quotation marks

Rise at 6:30 this morning. Grab a cup of coffee and immediately address one urgent family situation by email.

Spend most of the day in the school, my first day of work. Practicalities, training etc. I spend some time organizing my room - basically it's completing last years tidying up and clearance for the person that worked in that room before.

On the whole a very positive and encouraging day.

In the evening: watch Vetka Sireni. A russian movie on the life of S.Rachmaninow.

Air

Rise at 7 o'clock, open the window wide and breath in the fresh and cold air. A good way to begin a day.

...

and throughout this day, tRotL is of good use in the struggle against the gravity of sleep.

Walk to Catford to change address details in my bank, get the White Chestnut essence on my way there.