Too Much Inspiration?

Too much inspiration...is there such a thing?

I just finished an EdTech Event in California that was simply awesome!  Jennie Magiera and Rafranz Davis were the keynote speakers and I got to hang with them and talk about the education issues of the day.  I left this event tired, of course, but so, so inspired!  
But then something odd happened.  My inspiration took me to a dark place of almost hopelessness.  I began to do the worst thing I know you can do in this educational landscape: COMPARE!  I began to think...there is no way I will ever be where these ladies are...great speakers, so knowledgeable of the educational issues of the day and how to solve them, and just overall great people who are always willing to help.  

​Now, don't get me wrong!  I think I am awesome (and oh so humble...haha).  However, sometimes I see some of the amazing things that others are doing all around me and I feel I do not measure up!  And I KNOW others are feeling the same way because I get emails and comments that say things like "how do you do it all" and "I want to be you when I grow up."  And I stop and think that I am not doing anything special...I am just doing what I am passionate about...helping teachers in any way I can.  

So when my inspiration leads me to that dark place, I know I need to stop, breathe and realize that I need to stop comparing myself to others. The world needs ALL of us because we all bring different things to the educational landscape.  And then I realize why I was so inspired by Rafranz and Jennie in the first place!  It is not because I want to be them, but because of who they are!  In her keynote, Jennie spoke about wanting to be a teacher EXACTLY like her former teacher who she respected, but her former teacher told her, "If you try to be me, then who will be you?" Let that sink in for a minute...  

JUST BE YOU!  BE INSPIRATIONAL, BE KIND, BE KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND SHARE YOU WITH THE WORLD!

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