May | 2025 | Samantha Humphreys

May 24, 2025

The Buzz of Productivity: Lessons from My Working Journey

While it suits me to be flexible, my working pattern has recently been extremely up and down. It has also been diagonal!

I appreciate that I can breathe between the hours each day. I can pay attention to the things that matter and be here. I can sit in the sun or listen to the rain during a coffee break.

That’s a point, I can have a coffee break when I need one….

Two days ago, I discovered I had an unexpected day at home. Both my appointments that day were cancelled. a field near home where I walk is now filled with a pink and purple showcase of Lupins. I watched a bumblebee travel from flower to flower collecting what she needs from each resplendent bloom.

I am a bee. I travel from teaching jobs to coaching appointments; tuition to art exhibition. I am commissioned to make art so there’s consultations and testing to do. There are other roles in between that don’t have a name and then there’s writing workshops and lessons. Examples for these lessons to be created and photographed. There is also the accompanying admin to all of this. I am content though. I love being in charge of my time and I have a literal buzz around me when I’m working. Like the bees, I feel that I’m doing what I’m meant to do. It’s how I fit into my tiny corner of the world.

May 12, 2025

Embracing Risk: Lessons from a Snail’s Journey

I met this little snail this morning who was also taking an early morning walk…er…slide..glide..whatever snails do. Actually, I nearly stood on him. I’m sure I have mentioned that during my walks, when my brain starts to relax, random questions arise. These questions are mind boggling yet maybe not so ridiculous. For instance, ‘why do slugs even try to cross this footpath? Why does it not realise the danger it is in just by breaking cover?’

So naturally, I nearly stood on this tiny creature. I asked the same thing in my head, of course. I haven’t taken to chatting out loud with the wildlife just yet.

But you know, then for the first time I started to think, why wouldn’t they cross? Why spend all of their already short life hiding away? I have never been a risk taker. I won’t even leave the house without a fully charged phone. I always have a ‘cardie’ just in case. I need to know when and where I will eat, drink, or do anything else that keeps me functioning. spontaneity is not my middle name! As a young girl and woman, I was careful not to draw attention to myself. If anyone said I was good at art, I played it down. I much prefer to heap attention and praise on others. I certainly wouldn’t speak in front of people. I was too scared to try anything new in art. What if I was rubbish at it? Everyone would see. I wasn’t exactly encouraged by school, so I don’t totally blame myself anymore.

In the last decade or so, I have taken some brave (for me) leaps of faith. I have exhibited my work in galleries. I have even won a couple of competitions. I have taken on jobs without knowing if I would be any good at them. Just because I knew they would be an amazing string to my bow if I was good at it. I am excited to learn new techniques. I am even more excited to pass on what I have learned.

Be more snail.

May 5, 2025

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Look at this field of dandelions. I can never fully capture on camera the beauty of a vast field that stretches as far as the eye can see. I see them every day for weeks, yet I always find a new composition, angle, or reason to photograph them.

My calm brain starts thinking of random things… How many dandelions are in the world? Who said we can tell the time with them? As a little girl, I would pick a ‘dandelion clock’ and blow out breaths that magically matched the hour! I think I only ever did this at three o’clock since it wouldn’t take twelve breaths had I done it at noon.

All these dandelions began their lives at around the same time, but some have already lost many of their fluffy white seeds to the wind, while others are trying to hold on to theirs. I love a good metaphor, and I’ve recently returned to teaching at school. Each class is made up of children from various backgrounds and cultures. No two children, aside from siblings, have the same family situations, but even then each one has their own unique emotions, thoughts, and comfort zones.

So why are they all expected to be equal in their ability to learn the same things at the same pace? Our dandelion counterparts live in the same field, but conditions play a part in how their future is shaped and yet they will all if given the chance to live, progress through life and thrive. All strong and capable, but finding these strengths and capabilities at different times of life.

Of course it is essential in formal education to monitor progress, thats what purpose it should serve though, monitoring progress checking that there are no barriers to learning that can be solved with kindness not threats and sanctions. Each beautiful dandelion will reach its full potential in good time. Maybe not by conforming and living up to the same expectations as others; but by encouragement and patience and the resources to give the individual guidance that is so needed.