If you gave me a blank calendar and said, “Go ahead—fill it with your ideal week,” I wouldn’t book flights or pack bags. I wouldn’t even need to leave town. My perfect week would be made up of moments—some quiet, some creative, some full of connection, and some worth celebrating. The kind of moments that don’t scream for attention, but that echo with meaning long after they’ve passed.
Quiet Moments
My mornings begin with stillness. The drive to work is a time to reflect, to think, to pray. Some days I cue up a favorite Yacht Rock playlist or an old-time radio mystery. Other days, silence takes the wheel, and that’s just fine. It’s in those early moments that I plan the day—not in a frantic way, but with intention. Later, when the school day winds down and the last student disappears down the hallway, I sit for just a moment in the hush of an empty classroom. That quiet is sacred. And then there’s the drive home—bookending the day with peace and purpose.
Creative Moments
Creativity doesn’t always come with a fanfare. Sometimes it sneaks in through a clever lesson plan or a spontaneous classroom moment that just works. When I see a student finally make a connection that had eluded them, it’s magic. At home, I carve out time to write—devotions, bourbon reviews, reflections on life and faith. It’s how I make sense of the world and my place in it. (And how it makes sense of me.) Also? Car karaoke. Thanks to my KaraFun subscription, those solo drives turn into concerts. And not to brag, but I can carry a tune—ask literally anyone who isn’t holding a recording device.
Connection Moments
I talk to my daughter nearly every day, and that rhythm is a gift. Daryl and I have the kind of relationship where conversation flows easily—and we keep discovering things we have in common. I think we’re at 405 shared interests and counting. Teaching itself is a kind of connection too—an ongoing conversation with students that evolves with every class. Then there’s our church family, united not by hobbies or politics, but by something far deeper: the love of Christ and the calling to care for one another. That connection is pure grace.
Celebratory Moments
Life is too short to dwell on the things that didn’t go right. I’d rather celebrate the ones that did. Even little wins deserve applause. A student “gets it.” A $25 bottle drinks like it cost twice that. My team wins big. Or maybe Daryl and I find an old favorite movie on TV and settle in with popcorn and pajamas. These are the flavorings in the recipe of life—the spices that turn the ordinary into something worth savoring.
So what does my ideal week look like?
It looks like this one, if I’m paying close enough attention. Because the best weeks aren’t always the loudest, the busiest, or the most exotic. Sometimes, they’re simply the ones where we notice the beauty in the quiet, the meaning in the mess, and the joy in the everyday.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
