We only have so much attention and passion. Of course, expressing love, passion and creativity can beget more of the above. But we might have a finite amount of passion, or even caring, to grant.
Some of the most disgusting aspects of human nature – racism, sexism, other similar prejudices – come through the need to care about the things that are the closest to us. We care about things to settle us, to affirm us.
Each day we need to consider, and to share, the ideas of what is really important to us,or not. This is not just an element of planning physically what we might do, but also how that might affect us, and how it may inform the kind of people that he hope to become.
Stars on Wunderlist make this particularly useful. It allows us, for example, to choose where to direct our ideas, or to where we care. It can be done a morning basis, and it means that things can be done later.
I demand of my students that they really care about their studies, and on a repeated basis. However, is this apt? Should I plan into, or have expectations of, students not caring intensely and passionately about my subject (and presumably over other subjects?). Do students burn out?
Do different students have different cultures of what they care about? Does what we care about link to what we are connected to? Does our care and passion link to the nurturing around us, and is our passion so desperately affected by such things?
I am reminded that teachers have realistically a limited scope in the classroom for what they can affect. The social work aspect of teaching, and especially English teaching, is limited in its effectiveness. Teachers have a vocational element that cannot be denied – ultimately, though, it is through language instruction and enhancement that we gain due success, and little else.
So, when we manage time, we are really managing what we care about in the best way possible.
