Changing Direction

I made a decision today to withdraw from the Masters. I have a few philosophical issues with an $11,000 course where I have to print off all the materials. I have issues environmentally and financially. I came here with only the money I made in Sydney. Luckily I have been given free rent as I am caretaker for a Homeless Shelter. I enrolled in Uni late and then had to go to Canberra to look after my mother. So I am behind but my feeling is I don’t need to do it. I have the knowledge I need. I don’t need to learn confusion, that was the realisation.

So I have decided to become the World Peace Sustainability Clown. I do feel a relief of jumping out of academic life. I will still read the material and come up to speed with the science and politics, but ultimately I am about educating children for the future. So like the REAL HOPE peace program I am starting to work out what I will teach.

As often happens in my life things can change very rapidly. I also know I have to get lots of sleep to build my energy. I travelled for 9 months changing places weekly, and I realise I am still feeling exhaustion. So my feeling is to rest up, get back into juggling, start to think about what are the key issues. I might add my course will not be about convincing children about climate change it will be about empowerment. It will look at how to make reasoned choices, how to connect with the planet and how to love themselves. As many know who read my blog, I am often speaking about love, this is central to changing the future.

It is funny you know, what made me make this decision was when I reflected on what I love. I love being a clown and I love people. I love to teach and travel. I don’t really need to be a student. I am a teacher and was born to be one. I also know we don’t have much time. My preference would be to spend some time on permaculture, learn how to grow some food. So I will put money and energy into learning survival but the majority of my energy is going to bring myself back to centre, relax and shine.

I feel very happy at this decision. I am passionate about learning the literature as well, but I feel intrinsically we can’t all be experts, but we can know the basics and we can learn to live differently. I will lead by example. That means I have to stop getting plastic bags (did it tonight). I have to catch more public transport (ticked that box, caught bus to the city), I have to start to think about where products are made (rainforest timber, exploitative labour practices), to think more about energy consumption and finding a deeper peace within myself. That feels the way to go.

So looks like the journey is about to change. I will write about this journey back into schools.

Wish me luck