Well, I took the leap. The pursuit of meaning in my life has led me to graduate school....to pursue meaning academically. :) As I learn more about the boundless field of communication, I am discovering the field of phenomenology, an area of study entirely dedicated to the process of meaning-making. Seeking, searching, and striving, only to arrive here, where I've always been. :)
In the mere weeks that I have been here, I feel my mind stretching, I feel myself being challenged in new ways, and I find myself in pursuit of my true calling. What Ken Robinson would term "The Element".
The path to our element is not always clear. Sometimes we have to crawl towards it, slowly and blindly. But we find our way eventually, if we refuse to give up, refuse to spend a life in the shadows.
I encourage all of you to keep searching, keep stretching, and keep seeking. The answers to the questions are out there. But as any true seeker knows, it's really the questions that matter anyway.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
You say you want a revolution......
Wow. What a difference a few months makes. I can now say that just a few months from now, my entire life will be different. I have been accepted into a PhD. program! Yesterday I received a call telling me that I have been offered a full assistanceship, which will cover tuition and provide a small stipend. Wow. Over the next couple of months I will be quitting both of my jobs, one of which I have been at for seven years, the other for four. I will be returning to school after an eight year hiatus. I will be moving out of my apartment and in with my boyfriend officially. (My first time living with someone) I will be traveling back to Europe!! (Ah, Europa, I have missed you!!) I will be burying myself in books and articles in preparation. It is truly a revolution. How many chances do you have in life to start over?? I am grateful beyond words to the universe and those special souls who have helped me to unearth this path that awaits me. I am a huge believer that no man is an island, and realize every day that I have had some very special giants who have offered their shoulders to me.
It's funny. I have always considered myself a very independent person. I have taken care of myself and provided for myself for a very long time, but sometimes independence lends itself to foolish pride. Of course we need other people. What a lonely place this would be if we walked this world alone. That is not to say that there is not value to taking time for yourself and maintaining the relationship with your inner being. We cannot allow that relationship to lapse. It's all about balance, finding time for solitude and opening up to those who grace your life with their wisdom and love.
I have a lot to learn. I have a feeling this leap back into academia will teach me more than just communication theory. I expect it will teach me more about who I am. The never-ending journey of self exploration.
It's funny. I have always considered myself a very independent person. I have taken care of myself and provided for myself for a very long time, but sometimes independence lends itself to foolish pride. Of course we need other people. What a lonely place this would be if we walked this world alone. That is not to say that there is not value to taking time for yourself and maintaining the relationship with your inner being. We cannot allow that relationship to lapse. It's all about balance, finding time for solitude and opening up to those who grace your life with their wisdom and love.
I have a lot to learn. I have a feeling this leap back into academia will teach me more than just communication theory. I expect it will teach me more about who I am. The never-ending journey of self exploration.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Year!
It is a new year! Although it may be cliched, I have always enjoyed the process of resolution, and the feeling of a new year ahead full of limitless possibilities.
I have resolved to get back in touch. My work schedule has hindered my personal relationships to a frightening degree, but I vow to do all I can to begin rebuilding those relationships that I have been neglecting.
I have resolved to have more substantive conversations. I miss the tingly feeling of those conversations that challenge the mind and spark the soul.
I have resolved to finish books and work on my attention span! In our ever-accelerating society, wherein online forums contain a "too long, didn't read" summary expectation for paragraph-long stories, I refuse to surrender my brain to this new social/intellectual norm.
I have resolved to eat better. This may be the most difficult one of all. Gone are the days of my 21 year old self that could live on a junk food diet without bodily consequences.
I have resolved to be the kind of person I'd like to be around. I think this is something that I have been neglecting lately. It is easy, when you find yourself loved, to convince yourself that that is enough. It isn't. We must constantly maintain a standard for ourselves, and strive to be the person we want to be.
I have resolved to build my knowledge base. The information that we have at our fingertips! What a shame to take that for granted. Education tends to be staunchly segmented, at times to a fault. It stands to reason that if I am to pursue a degree in Interpersonal Communication, I should have a strong baseline in psychology, sociology, and cultural anthropology. Even if I do not get into the program, I would like to pursue classes in these areas. Additionally, I want to dedicate myself to independent study as well. I need to wake my brain up.
I want to rediscover music. This is another area of my life that has found itself neglected. I miss the soul spark that occurs when a song touches you.
New year, new possibilities. In a world constantly moving, always looking for the next upgrade, don't forget to upgrade yourself!
I have resolved to get back in touch. My work schedule has hindered my personal relationships to a frightening degree, but I vow to do all I can to begin rebuilding those relationships that I have been neglecting.
I have resolved to have more substantive conversations. I miss the tingly feeling of those conversations that challenge the mind and spark the soul.
I have resolved to finish books and work on my attention span! In our ever-accelerating society, wherein online forums contain a "too long, didn't read" summary expectation for paragraph-long stories, I refuse to surrender my brain to this new social/intellectual norm.
I have resolved to eat better. This may be the most difficult one of all. Gone are the days of my 21 year old self that could live on a junk food diet without bodily consequences.
I have resolved to be the kind of person I'd like to be around. I think this is something that I have been neglecting lately. It is easy, when you find yourself loved, to convince yourself that that is enough. It isn't. We must constantly maintain a standard for ourselves, and strive to be the person we want to be.
I have resolved to build my knowledge base. The information that we have at our fingertips! What a shame to take that for granted. Education tends to be staunchly segmented, at times to a fault. It stands to reason that if I am to pursue a degree in Interpersonal Communication, I should have a strong baseline in psychology, sociology, and cultural anthropology. Even if I do not get into the program, I would like to pursue classes in these areas. Additionally, I want to dedicate myself to independent study as well. I need to wake my brain up.
I want to rediscover music. This is another area of my life that has found itself neglected. I miss the soul spark that occurs when a song touches you.
New year, new possibilities. In a world constantly moving, always looking for the next upgrade, don't forget to upgrade yourself!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Today's inspiration.....
....comes once again from Sir Ken. "You can think of creativity as a conversation between what we're trying to figure out and the media we're using."
This quote struck me so profoundly. Each of us has some creative capacity, and whether our medium is paint, music, words, mathematics, business, or something else, we are all on the same journey. We are all asking the same questions. We are all having that conversation with life.
What is it that we seek? We seek joy and peace. Love and comfort. Adventure, new ideas, laughter. Novel experiences. Comfortable familiarity. Each day is a new conversation with life. What will you teach me today? What can I offer back?
This journey to truth is our destination. Though we may yearn for faraway places, airplanes, and a full passport, we need only look inside to find ourselves on the path to the great unknown. For inside us lies an endless mystery, a pilgrimage to everything true.
Until next time.
This quote struck me so profoundly. Each of us has some creative capacity, and whether our medium is paint, music, words, mathematics, business, or something else, we are all on the same journey. We are all asking the same questions. We are all having that conversation with life.
What is it that we seek? We seek joy and peace. Love and comfort. Adventure, new ideas, laughter. Novel experiences. Comfortable familiarity. Each day is a new conversation with life. What will you teach me today? What can I offer back?
This journey to truth is our destination. Though we may yearn for faraway places, airplanes, and a full passport, we need only look inside to find ourselves on the path to the great unknown. For inside us lies an endless mystery, a pilgrimage to everything true.
Until next time.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wanderlust
Ok, summer in Oklahoma is over, and the bug currently biting me is the TRAVEL BUG! This should be of no surprise, as I am afflicted with an incurable case of wanderlust, and it flares fairly regularly. I want to plant my foot on foreign soil! Nearly 16 months and I'm ready to take flight, with or without a plane.
Since exposing myself to Couchsurfing.org, my travel desire has increased tenfold. My desire to see new places, experience new things, meet new people, expose myself to new ideas, new cultures, new sights.....I can feel it burning inside me, like a fire in my heart.
Life has been pretty hectic lately. Working full time, teaching three classes, taking a Saturday class, applying for grad school, and studying for the GRE does not leave much time for the fun things! (Or even the not-so-fun things like laundry and working out!!) So I guess it's natural that the great unknown is calling.
I am happy for the opportunities in front of me. All this hard work will pay off, I have no doubt, regardless of the outcome. Until it all unfolds, though, I will continue traveling the world in my dreams, and wake up ready to keep working toward my goals. Soon, though, you will find me, on a jet plane to who knows where. Make no mistake about that.
Until next time! xoxo
Since exposing myself to Couchsurfing.org, my travel desire has increased tenfold. My desire to see new places, experience new things, meet new people, expose myself to new ideas, new cultures, new sights.....I can feel it burning inside me, like a fire in my heart.
Life has been pretty hectic lately. Working full time, teaching three classes, taking a Saturday class, applying for grad school, and studying for the GRE does not leave much time for the fun things! (Or even the not-so-fun things like laundry and working out!!) So I guess it's natural that the great unknown is calling.
I am happy for the opportunities in front of me. All this hard work will pay off, I have no doubt, regardless of the outcome. Until it all unfolds, though, I will continue traveling the world in my dreams, and wake up ready to keep working toward my goals. Soon, though, you will find me, on a jet plane to who knows where. Make no mistake about that.
Until next time! xoxo
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Classroom Revolution
Lately I have become enamored with Sir Ken Robinson (and TED talks in general).
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Ken Robinson asserts that schools squander creativity because they are designed to produce a specific prototype. He also posits that we must make a change soon, as education inflates to the point of nearly being obsolete. (A bachelor's degree used to secure you a job. Now, most jobs that used to require a Bachelor's degree now require a Master's, and so forth.) We are going to have to find more creative approaches to evaluating intelligence.
I tend to agree, and it is my sincere desire to make my class the best it possibly can be. To think about the real objectives I have and do all that I can to create an environment in which students can reach those goals.
So, what are my educational objectives?
1. To create better communicators
2. To generate interest in service projects, and provide them opportunities to serve in their communities
3. To find creative approaches to curriculum that is more interactive and engaging
4. To work with my mentor to write a grant that would enable us to take a group of students to Kenya
5. To help students to learn how to effectively research topics
This is only the beginning. I want to harness the enthusiasm I felt yesterday and focus on making these changes a reality. I want to create a classroom experience that is as effective as it can be. It's time to take the training wheels off. :)
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Ken Robinson asserts that schools squander creativity because they are designed to produce a specific prototype. He also posits that we must make a change soon, as education inflates to the point of nearly being obsolete. (A bachelor's degree used to secure you a job. Now, most jobs that used to require a Bachelor's degree now require a Master's, and so forth.) We are going to have to find more creative approaches to evaluating intelligence.
I tend to agree, and it is my sincere desire to make my class the best it possibly can be. To think about the real objectives I have and do all that I can to create an environment in which students can reach those goals.
So, what are my educational objectives?
1. To create better communicators
2. To generate interest in service projects, and provide them opportunities to serve in their communities
3. To find creative approaches to curriculum that is more interactive and engaging
4. To work with my mentor to write a grant that would enable us to take a group of students to Kenya
5. To help students to learn how to effectively research topics
This is only the beginning. I want to harness the enthusiasm I felt yesterday and focus on making these changes a reality. I want to create a classroom experience that is as effective as it can be. It's time to take the training wheels off. :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
There is only one rule, that I know of, babies....
God dammit, you've got to be kind-Kurt Vonnegut
This is one of my favorite quotes. It's simple; it's straightforward; it's a little sassy.
There is infinite wisdom all around us-Gibran, Rumi, Hesse, Gandhi-these great figures and so many others offer us words to stir the soul, words to inspire men and nations, words to feed the mind. But these simple words simply say it all. Be kind. That is the only rule.
On this path to meaning, one thing that I have always sought is purity of soul. To absolve myself of any earthly concerns, and find love in everything around me. To remove fear. I have a long way to go......but I hope that, by adopting this mantra, I will find myself a little closer to that peaceful place.
Until next time.....
This is one of my favorite quotes. It's simple; it's straightforward; it's a little sassy.
There is infinite wisdom all around us-Gibran, Rumi, Hesse, Gandhi-these great figures and so many others offer us words to stir the soul, words to inspire men and nations, words to feed the mind. But these simple words simply say it all. Be kind. That is the only rule.
On this path to meaning, one thing that I have always sought is purity of soul. To absolve myself of any earthly concerns, and find love in everything around me. To remove fear. I have a long way to go......but I hope that, by adopting this mantra, I will find myself a little closer to that peaceful place.
Until next time.....
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