As summer waned and we began looking at how (and when) we would wrap these walks, we kicked around a bunch of ideas to finish this project the 'right' way. Would we do something super meta or reverse roles or document the journey or try a crazy idea like…sitting instead of walking? Not to spoil anything, of course…some ideas are still good enough to try. But instead, we started concentrating on the remaining Walkers themselves. Then more were added. Then a couple more. Suddenly, we were steaming past 50 with no end in sight. And then Liz scheduled a walk with Jeff Greenfield, and with his perfect mix of fun, energy, disruption, sincerity, earnestness, and friendship (not to mention he's an experienced former educational leader carrying the occasionally good demons of a past life too often defined by the position…sound familiar?), it suddenly wasn't a question at all.

Liz and Jeff walk along what sounds at first like a quiet country road, only for it to turn into a highway so Liz could tell her 'hit by a bus' joke one more time. As each explain their experiences during and after their headships, you hear what it's like not to succeed a highly influential leader, but to be succeeded. Personal identities and thought patterns and internal clocks and even dreams. It's a glimpse into the minds of people with plenty of answers behind them and plenty more still to learn…plenty more to do, to laugh at, to live well. Lessons we could all keep in mind as we push forward in this life.

Finally, before we go, one more thank you to all who have had a hand in this project. Whether it's season one or chapter one or the first and final draft, this year has been a real, true, altering experience. Something deliberate. Something special. Something that gave us not just a liferaft at sea, but a purpose amidst the waves. Something that thank you doesn't satisfy, but only a thank you will do. Cheers to this and all that is next.

And thanks for the walk, Jeff. What a way to close it.

#WalkwithMe #MeetMeonthePlayground #Leadership #Parenting #LearningDifferences #Education #Inspiration #GENed #Harvard #HGSE #Friendship #Fun #MiddleSchool #WendyMogel #55 #Retirement #GapYear #Stories

#Fearless