Let’s start by saying hello to another Word document. I’ve got countless of them—unfinished projects that have never seen the light of completion. I know my flaws well: I overthink, analyze, over plan, and then procrastinate to the point where nothing comes of my work.
And while I’m struggling with all of this, life is still happening.
But here’s what I’m realizing: this is a part of life—a big part. I’m learning not to separate my creative process from everything else that’s going on. My decisions, finances, and career all impact my ability to create, but pausing to make time for creativity also affects my decisions, finances, and career. It’s like a balancing act, one that constantly reminds me these things are intertwined.
At one point, school and teaching became such a heavy load that I quit just so I could chase my dreams. But then I was stressed financially. Now, here I am, back in teaching—accepting what it is—and yet, it’s still heavy.
I’ve been told that “sacrifice is required to master my craft,” which I understand. But I also want to be a whole human being. I still want to have a workout routine, spend time with friends and family, create, and not feel like I have to sacrifice those things to be a great teacher.
I think part of me believed I had to choose one or the other: either pursue my creative passions fully or focus on being the best teacher I could be. But what if it’s not about choosing? What if it’s about making space for both? What if the idea of “sacrifice” doesn’t have to mean giving up my personal life, but rather reorganizing my priorities in a way that makes room for everything I care about?
I know it’s not easy. Some days, the weight of lesson planning, grading, and navigating a challenging school environment makes me want to drop everything and disappear into my creative world. But even then, I realize that teaching isn’t just something I do to pay the bills—it’s a calling that also fuels my creativity. It’s a part of the story I’m telling, and maybe that’s the point.
Maybe the balancing act isn’t about perfection. Maybe it’s about learning to navigate the mess of life, making room for both the practical and the creative, and realizing that both are necessary to live fully.
So, here’s to embracing the mess, to not having everything figured out, and to creating from exactly where I am.
Nashema's Blog 