Into The Mist

Call me crazy

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Laozi

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?

A teacher for almost 20 years, 54 years old, mortgage is paid, children have left home and are supporting themselves, saving for retirement and happily married. Just stick at the teaching for another 10 or so years, you’ll be okay. Why would anyone leave a full-time, permanent, secure, well paid job to start a business that they had no experience in, had to invest initial capital with no income foreseeable for the next few months, and only enough to break even after six months, debt for at least two years and the potential for more stress than ever before? Call me crazy.

On July 8th, 2021 I finished teaching. For me, teaching had become a drag. I wasn’t enjoying it and I found the noise of the classroom and playground too much. In a high school, there seems there is little time to connect with students who just go from one lesson to the next, mostly unsure of how all this learning fits with their world or future. I was never the exciting, crazy science teacher that I wanted to be, the one that was inside me. There are times in life when you have to be honest with yourself and be willing to stop what you are doing.

As I look out on my view of our Maunga (mountain) I am reminded of the beauty and majesty of this environment. I am so blessed to be here. I am also blessed to walk this journey with my wife, who has supported me and this career change. She is a rock in my world.

I have no idea whether this new thing will succeed. No one can guarantee that it will. I am hoping, and praying, that it will be successful. But what is success anyway? I’ll try to answer that when I find it.