A Year In Review - 2018

December 28, 2018
By Tobi Crawford
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That's how many posts I wrote on the blog this year...

I don't know who is still out there reading this, but if you are still around, THANK YOU!

I have been a bad blogger, and I could blame it on China and the fact that blogs are illegal, or the internet and the fact that it's incredibly slow... But the truth is, I just don't "make" like I used to - and it's ok....

I did have a little Christmas cardmaking class with some co-workers, and I had a small card order for Christmas, but nothing like in the past...

But I'm still creating..... When I have time.

I'm trying to perfect Acrylic Pouring and have been puttering around with that...

I broke out the ol' gelli plate and made some art journal backgrounds...

But mostly.... I've been incredibly busy at school.

And life.

And travel...

This year I've been to:

Boracay, Philippines

Panglao, Philippines

Vancouver, BC

Chicago, Il

Toronto, Ont.

Quebec

Bangkok, Thailand

Bali, Indonesia (where I am right now)

My son and I in Chicago to see Hamilton!

These are my blog stats....

And I have had a very deep thought about it.

There is a direct and quantifiable correlation between the amount of blog posts/year, and my effectiveness/commitment/quality of my teaching.

Being a music teacher takes a lot of dedication, but mostly, TIME. When I was in Canada I had so many commitments outside of school that I wasn't directing my energy where I should have: to my students and my music program.

I have learned the hard way, that to do my job effectively, to offer my students the BEST ME, I have to be 100% focused on them and my job. If you look at 2014 - 2018 (my years in China so far), you can see the drop-off. And yes, that means no time/energy for crafting commitments and deadlines.....

I have also recently committed myself to Keto.

If I'm going to continue doing my job the way I'm currently doing it, I need to get healthy!!