Almost two weeks since I posted here. I am back a week aleady from one of the most inspiring and informative National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) meetings I have ever been to. I was just a regular attendee, too, with no paper or presentations what so ever. Just there to learn. I did.
To me the most inspirational talk was Jeff Goldstein, astrophysicist and director of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education. Over and over again he recharged the audience about why science, STEM and education for that matter are critically important. Several of my favorite lines were:
• Science is not a book of knowledge but the journey behind the science.
• If you want to be part of history all you have to decide is when to jump in.
• Science = organized curiosity.
• Nurture the gift of a question.
• Conceptual understating at the emotional level.
Jeff blogs at blog on the universe.org for any of you who might want to read more. Powerful talk. A short video of his after talk thoughts may be found here. I have not yet located a video for his talk.
Every session or PD that I attended at NSTA was noteworthy. I plan to incorporate more nutrition and health in the science course I teach at my institution once my sabbatical is over. One of the PD sessions was about nutrition. I walked away with a great deal of information that will be suitable for my students. I have taught about Global Climate Change for years. One of my challenges has always been the controversial nature of GCC in the eyes of many of my students. After attending a three hour long session on GCC and teaching about controversy I feel better equipped to dig in more with my students. There will be additional webinars (FREE!!) in the near future from NSTA that I will attend in the coming months. Kudos to the planning committee for NSTA for making this a great and inspirational event for so many!
Writing: Last week I finished my third original paper of my sabbatical. This one will be presented at AERA in New Orleans in April. This paper will be uploaded on the AERA conference site so that attendees can access it. It is not yet ready for publication, but it is close. This study features both qualitative and quantitative research methods. I synthesized over 300 pages of interview transcripts, 30 videos of teaching episodes, my own observational notes (25 pages) and many, many samples of teacher and or their student work samples. The major findings are in regards to the transformative nature of the identity of the teachers as scientists and a progressive model of inquiry that is adopted by the teachers as they implement our PD into their classroom. It is such a thrill to distill out these findings! It was a long road, too, to get that paper conference ready. It is 37 pages single spaced. I am going to let it rest now for awhile before I make the final push to publication. I will be very curious as to how it is received at AERA and look forward to finding other relevant and currents studies that offer additional perspectives while I am at the conference.
Recreation, rest & relaxation: Everyone should be so lucky and certainly any person working should be entitled to a sabbatical. Yes, I did attend a professional conference in SF. But, it involved plenty of rest, recreation and relaxation: three of my other three “R’s” of this sabbatical. I am finding walking in a city is one of the best ways to get oriented to the new geography. One day, I actually walked almost 12 miles. Believe me, I was sore, too, that night!
But, there is more to the rest, recreation and relaxation. I feel like I am so present in what I am doing. I feel so relaxed. Now, granted, I am accomplishing many of the things that I had hoped for in my sabbatical, especially the writing. So, I am still productive every day. I think because I have been able to distance myself from all of my teaching responsibilities, my mind is not spinning about all that I have to do, especially if what I have to do is for my students. I am more focused on me, but also the other things that are important to me in this one life.
Yesterday I spent the entire day with three of my adult children and their children. We were all gathered to celebrate the oldest granddaughters 8th birthday. I never felt “I have to go now because I have to …” I just enjoyed the day, especially the shenanigans of my children (all adults) and their beautiful offspring. My daughter and daughter in law and I even played two games of Scrabble!
I am reawakened and present to what is happening around me. I wonder as I sit back and ruminate, if I am more present because of the gift of sabbatical or is it just the fact that I am older now and perhaps this is the “wisdom” that comes with being more seasoned? I don’t know, but I sure am enjoying. More to come...
Thanks for reading and TTFN,
Michele
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
This week's ruminations
This has been a really great week of sabbatical. I feel like I am finally finding a rhythm. It is grand, simply grand to have the TIME to soak up in my life. That sounds so narcissistic, but, that is not how I mean it. What I mean is that I am enjoying this gift of time to spend an hour trying out new recipes, take long, long walks every day and read, read, read. I finished Buzz this week. Two chapters really resonated with me, the one on education and the one on meditation. Every teacher should read what she has to say about being an individual with ADD herself and a parent and of a kid with special needs (ADD/OD). Most kids with special needs do not have a parent as well educated and diligent as Ellison. It is a crime that we do not service these kids well. The chapter on mediation was funny, poignant and interesting. Ellison checked herself into a meditative retreat center with a brain and body is super drive. Her own story of responding to the silence and uncovering her own inner peace is compelling, especially for someone like me who never gave much credence to meditation. I am interested to learn more now.
Another part of this week that relates to having time is my own research writing. I am working on my third paper. This one is the process by which teachers who enroll in our courses at the U of Mn implement and experience the PD in their classrooms. This paper involves three years worth of both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data is the easy part (except sometimes getting the tables right!). But, it is the qualitative part that really tells a story. And that for me is what is so exciting. For so many of our teachers, especially elementary and middle school, they begin to form a new identity for themselves as scientists. This happens gradually and in large part stems from the relationships that they develop with our team scientists as they work at their “elbows” on citizen science research. The second marvelous part of the story is how the teachers come to terms with the uncertainty that is part of the practice of science. It is a 180-degree shift from needing to know the “right” answer at the moment and becoming comfortable with the ambiguity that is part of learning, whether in science or any other field.
Writing research is a time consuming process. There are just so many angles to think about to get it right. Getting the story right is one of the most important charges you have as a researcher; this is actually the ethical dimension of the research: getting it right. But that is also one of the most exciting. You get to think deep and hard about things that matter to you (what could be better than that!) and put together all the pieces until you have solved the puzzle and voila (!) the paper is complete. Intellectually it is thrilling to see how your research fits in to the published work and how your research even ADDS to that research (or at least I think). Finally, it is understanding where you could go, what more you could do. And that leads you to the next research projects.
So, a great week has now passed filled with the gift of time. TTFN, Michele
Another part of this week that relates to having time is my own research writing. I am working on my third paper. This one is the process by which teachers who enroll in our courses at the U of Mn implement and experience the PD in their classrooms. This paper involves three years worth of both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data is the easy part (except sometimes getting the tables right!). But, it is the qualitative part that really tells a story. And that for me is what is so exciting. For so many of our teachers, especially elementary and middle school, they begin to form a new identity for themselves as scientists. This happens gradually and in large part stems from the relationships that they develop with our team scientists as they work at their “elbows” on citizen science research. The second marvelous part of the story is how the teachers come to terms with the uncertainty that is part of the practice of science. It is a 180-degree shift from needing to know the “right” answer at the moment and becoming comfortable with the ambiguity that is part of learning, whether in science or any other field.
Writing research is a time consuming process. There are just so many angles to think about to get it right. Getting the story right is one of the most important charges you have as a researcher; this is actually the ethical dimension of the research: getting it right. But that is also one of the most exciting. You get to think deep and hard about things that matter to you (what could be better than that!) and put together all the pieces until you have solved the puzzle and voila (!) the paper is complete. Intellectually it is thrilling to see how your research fits in to the published work and how your research even ADDS to that research (or at least I think). Finally, it is understanding where you could go, what more you could do. And that leads you to the next research projects.
So, a great week has now passed filled with the gift of time. TTFN, Michele
Monday, February 28, 2011
Relaxation!
Relaxation is the theme of this post. Over this past weekend, I realized that I am really digging into a relaxing pace for my sabbatical. I find myself being present in whatever is happening or going on around me and not constantly thinking about all that I have to do or attend to. It is lovely to go to the Children’s Museum with a couple of little boys and watch and interact with them as they play through the galleries. It is delightful to spend three or more hours making a carrot cake for a four-year-old birthday boy with two of my favorite girls in the world. It is pleasant to be in the moment at a little boy’s birthday party, enjoy his excitement and shenanigans and interact with other guests in a non-hurried manner. So, yes, I am getting good at relaxing. Finally. Overdue and about time. TTFN, Michele
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Unto week Seven!
I passed six complete weeks of sabbatical on Monday. As I get deeper into my leave, I find myself thinking the weeks are just slipping by and I have not done enough or I haven’t been as productive as I think I should be or have been. But, actually I have been quite productive. Here is how I stack up with my five goals: “Writing:” I wrote two new papers. Yes, they are still in draft form and there is plenty of revision to, do. But, they are both conference worthy. One was already presented, the other one in early April. Reading: I have read several books, including just yesterday the slim volume of Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules.” Research: Yesterday, I started planning a new phase of research with some teachers. I am starting some math work with one of my own little grandbabies around number sense. I don’t do enough research in math, so this is a promising prospect. Recreation: I increased my walking so I am now in the 5-6 miles a day range. Went on vacation for over a week. Rest: I am getting plenty of sleep. Now that I walk more, I am finding I sleep longer and better. I actually feel well rested. But, I do not measure rest by just sleeping habits, but by other indicators, like reading the paper, hanging out with my kids or the grandbabies, or even seeing movies. Rest to me is resting from work types of activities. Making time to do other things that make your life enjoyable. So, what gives with these thoughts about not being productive enough?
Well, I have had an “aha”: my expectations are too high, still. I need to strike a balance between being “productive” and enjoying this time “off.” I think it is time for me to read the second part of that focus book: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. But there is more: I am finding that everything I do takes longer than I think it will. I am a chronic underestimator. I want to set realistic goals for what I hope to accomplish; what I can manage within the time frame that I would like to expend. Can I strike a balance here? That remains to be seen. So, to the mattresses to read what others say about time management, focus and goal setting.
TTFN and thanks for reading, Michele
Well, I have had an “aha”: my expectations are too high, still. I need to strike a balance between being “productive” and enjoying this time “off.” I think it is time for me to read the second part of that focus book: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. But there is more: I am finding that everything I do takes longer than I think it will. I am a chronic underestimator. I want to set realistic goals for what I hope to accomplish; what I can manage within the time frame that I would like to expend. Can I strike a balance here? That remains to be seen. So, to the mattresses to read what others say about time management, focus and goal setting.
TTFN and thanks for reading, Michele
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Week Five!
Already five weeks have passed by. There was an excellent op-ed piece in the Star Tribune this week about how the “past flashed before my eyes” titled Three Score and Five Years Later. This piece was about the lifetime of a now 70 year old man and the 55 years since he had been a camper at a North Woods Youth Camp. Poignant piece. Another reminder about how fleeting life is, and of course this one year sabbatical for me. You can read more here.
‘Riting: Last week I started prep for one of two papers that I am writing about my research. What I mean by prep is gathering all the data together, checking it for accuracies, and bringing the literature review up to date. As a qualitative researcher, the data set is very complex and large with lots of interview transcripts to read and break down into themes and domains, student work samples to analyze as well as video taped files of teaching episodes. This prep work took me the better part of the week. Honestly this is one of the most exciting parts of research: finding out what you really have and what it means. My first paper is due on February 20 to NARST. As this is a conference paper I know I will have more work to do after the conference especially after I present it. Often time’s questions from the audience will help you to see some of the holes that you have. I hope to have this paper as well as two others on their way to submit for publication by April 30.
Reading: I have one chapter left of Three Cups of Tea left. Reading this book allowed me to gain some clarity about Namibia/South Africa. First a little background. In 2009, I, with 3 other faculty, led a Jterm course to Namibia and South Africa. The course was centered on the study of the history and culture of Namibia and South Africa and exploration of social justice as it relates to colonization, apartheid and other themes of the course. Part of the work that we did included youth in a leadership camp (S. Africa) and schools (Namibia). There is nothing more sobering as working in a Southern African school that services kids from the township to understand how far we need to come to really be a “global” society. Knowing that I would be on sabbatical this year, I talked with the principal of one of the schools about working with the teachers in her school in math and or science. She jumped at this and invited me to come. My sabbatical proposal actually made note of this. However, I have honestly had mixed feelings. Tremendous mixed feelings about what I had volunteered to do. I have a vision of doing professional development that is at the center collaborative and reciprocal. I have as much to learn from them as they may from me. Over the past year I have gone through a lot of doubt about my noble vision; most of the doubt centered around the sheer enormity of what I would like to do and the amount of time that will be invested. You see I cannot in all good conscious, do a drop in kind of PD and then say “See, ya.” That is completely unethical to me. I do not want to “help” those ”poor” people, but instead work with them to understand and strengthen their programs.
Over the past year a lot has happened to me: my parents passed and I had an arduous time earning tenure, to name a few significant events. As a result, I feel that I want to be careful about what projects I work on, because frankly, I have only so much time. There is more, but that is enough for now. Now, getting back to Three Cups of Tea. As I talked with people about my interest in education in Southern Africa many people brought up that book. Obviously, I finally read it. Reading it has helped me to make a decision. I do not know exactly what I will do, nor do I know exactly what the teachers and principal will want, but I will honor my word. Depending on a number of factors, I will travel to Namibia in the summer to complete a needs analysis. I am also considering developing another January term course that will focus on work with youth in Namibia and also South Africa.
Rest and relaxation: Many people would not consider it to be rest and relaxation to have three little kids in your care for five days, but, for me, it is/was. Our son Jacob and his wife went on a little winter break and we took their three kids: Nani 7, Owen, 5 and Noah 1 for five days. We spent the weekend at our farm. It is crazy busy to have three kids, but their humor, singing and overall shenanigans kept us light-hearted and upbeat. Because I am on sabbatical I think I am even more present than I normally would be with them. Last night was one of those nights when Noah was not feeling well (tummy ache) and was fretful and awake for hours. About 2 am I decided to stay with him in his bedroom, where we have an extra bed. I cuddled him in my arms where he would almost fall asleep and then his stomach would begin to act up and he would wake up again crying and fussy. These kind of nights are not any one’s favorites, including mine. But, because I did not have to be any where, but with him, and I was so present with his aching tummy, that I actually enjoyed, tremendously, my role of caring and soothing him. At my age, I know just how quickly he will grow. These moments, even these fitful moments, are fleeting (just like that op-ed piece states) and actually precious. As I lay with him, holding his little hands and talking with him softly, I ruminated about the word grandparent. Ever think about that word? Grandparent. Grand to me conjures up an image of something distinguished, impressive or marvelous. I am not going to go as far to say that any of those words describe me as a grandparent, but rather the experience of being a grandparent is distinguished, impressive and marvelous, even if it means holding a little boy during a bad night, knowing that this too will pass. Life does not get much better than that, being present for the good and the fretful.
Thanks for reading. TTFN, Michele
‘Riting: Last week I started prep for one of two papers that I am writing about my research. What I mean by prep is gathering all the data together, checking it for accuracies, and bringing the literature review up to date. As a qualitative researcher, the data set is very complex and large with lots of interview transcripts to read and break down into themes and domains, student work samples to analyze as well as video taped files of teaching episodes. This prep work took me the better part of the week. Honestly this is one of the most exciting parts of research: finding out what you really have and what it means. My first paper is due on February 20 to NARST. As this is a conference paper I know I will have more work to do after the conference especially after I present it. Often time’s questions from the audience will help you to see some of the holes that you have. I hope to have this paper as well as two others on their way to submit for publication by April 30.
Reading: I have one chapter left of Three Cups of Tea left. Reading this book allowed me to gain some clarity about Namibia/South Africa. First a little background. In 2009, I, with 3 other faculty, led a Jterm course to Namibia and South Africa. The course was centered on the study of the history and culture of Namibia and South Africa and exploration of social justice as it relates to colonization, apartheid and other themes of the course. Part of the work that we did included youth in a leadership camp (S. Africa) and schools (Namibia). There is nothing more sobering as working in a Southern African school that services kids from the township to understand how far we need to come to really be a “global” society. Knowing that I would be on sabbatical this year, I talked with the principal of one of the schools about working with the teachers in her school in math and or science. She jumped at this and invited me to come. My sabbatical proposal actually made note of this. However, I have honestly had mixed feelings. Tremendous mixed feelings about what I had volunteered to do. I have a vision of doing professional development that is at the center collaborative and reciprocal. I have as much to learn from them as they may from me. Over the past year I have gone through a lot of doubt about my noble vision; most of the doubt centered around the sheer enormity of what I would like to do and the amount of time that will be invested. You see I cannot in all good conscious, do a drop in kind of PD and then say “See, ya.” That is completely unethical to me. I do not want to “help” those ”poor” people, but instead work with them to understand and strengthen their programs.
Over the past year a lot has happened to me: my parents passed and I had an arduous time earning tenure, to name a few significant events. As a result, I feel that I want to be careful about what projects I work on, because frankly, I have only so much time. There is more, but that is enough for now. Now, getting back to Three Cups of Tea. As I talked with people about my interest in education in Southern Africa many people brought up that book. Obviously, I finally read it. Reading it has helped me to make a decision. I do not know exactly what I will do, nor do I know exactly what the teachers and principal will want, but I will honor my word. Depending on a number of factors, I will travel to Namibia in the summer to complete a needs analysis. I am also considering developing another January term course that will focus on work with youth in Namibia and also South Africa.
Rest and relaxation: Many people would not consider it to be rest and relaxation to have three little kids in your care for five days, but, for me, it is/was. Our son Jacob and his wife went on a little winter break and we took their three kids: Nani 7, Owen, 5 and Noah 1 for five days. We spent the weekend at our farm. It is crazy busy to have three kids, but their humor, singing and overall shenanigans kept us light-hearted and upbeat. Because I am on sabbatical I think I am even more present than I normally would be with them. Last night was one of those nights when Noah was not feeling well (tummy ache) and was fretful and awake for hours. About 2 am I decided to stay with him in his bedroom, where we have an extra bed. I cuddled him in my arms where he would almost fall asleep and then his stomach would begin to act up and he would wake up again crying and fussy. These kind of nights are not any one’s favorites, including mine. But, because I did not have to be any where, but with him, and I was so present with his aching tummy, that I actually enjoyed, tremendously, my role of caring and soothing him. At my age, I know just how quickly he will grow. These moments, even these fitful moments, are fleeting (just like that op-ed piece states) and actually precious. As I lay with him, holding his little hands and talking with him softly, I ruminated about the word grandparent. Ever think about that word? Grandparent. Grand to me conjures up an image of something distinguished, impressive or marvelous. I am not going to go as far to say that any of those words describe me as a grandparent, but rather the experience of being a grandparent is distinguished, impressive and marvelous, even if it means holding a little boy during a bad night, knowing that this too will pass. Life does not get much better than that, being present for the good and the fretful.
Thanks for reading. TTFN, Michele
Sunday, February 6, 2011
End of week four!
Four weeks of sabbatical have slipped by already! Last week was a precious week on vacation. You can read more on my other blog here about what I did and where we went. But, the main thing I would like to comment on here is the fact that I was present in our vacation. Present. Each and every day. One of my goals for this sabbatical is rest and relaxation. Mission accomplished last week. Soooo wonderful to take a break; albeit a short one.
Reading: One of my books on my sabbatical reading list has been Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book is one man’s mission to provide schools, meaning build schools, in some of the most remote and poorest areas of our world. A thoughtful book about navigating and learning about cultural diplomacy in a part of the world often overlooked. You can read more here. In some ways this book is illuminating to me as I move forward in making plans to work with teachers and youth in Namibia and South Africa. Much more coming about all of this.
TTFN, Michele
Reading: One of my books on my sabbatical reading list has been Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book is one man’s mission to provide schools, meaning build schools, in some of the most remote and poorest areas of our world. A thoughtful book about navigating and learning about cultural diplomacy in a part of the world often overlooked. You can read more here. In some ways this book is illuminating to me as I move forward in making plans to work with teachers and youth in Namibia and South Africa. Much more coming about all of this.TTFN, Michele
Friday, January 28, 2011
End of week three!
As the third week of my sabbatical leave comes to a close I can truthfully say that I am beginning to actually feel like I am on sabbatical. I have finished all the tasks necessary to pass on my courses to my substitutes for the year. Files uploaded, books organized and other materials labeled.
I had a great meeting this week with my team from the U of MN about writing up our research regarding our projects, courses and teaching. For the past many years I have been the chief evaluator of the summer courses that we all teach through the college of Conservation Biology, Fisheries and Wildlife. We receive our funding through Improving Teaching Quality grants from the state which require a collaboration between science and science education faculty. Our courses are well attended by teachers in the area where they learn insect biology and ecology or focus on schoolyard ecology or citizen science research for teachers. My team includes scientists, science educators and community program coordinators. This year will be my 7th year working with this team.
Our courses are unique in that they invite teachers to work closely with scientists to learn field research techniques, biology, ecology and other life science content. Our courses undergo revision every year, but our format and delivery are sound and strong. This is not just my opinion but evidence strongly by the data I and others collect both quantitatively and qualitatively(by being in classrooms). We are starting an ambitious writing project related to all the research and evaluation I have done for the past three years. On Tuesday we outlined 4 articles for publication in peer reviews journals with another 3-6 more targeted for practitioner related journals. It is exciting to move fully into sabbatical with these ambitious writing goals. Since most of the writing and analysis will initially fall on me, it is also a little scary, but mostly stimulating and exciting.
Yesterday was the first day that I can remember in a long, long while where I felt so calm and relaxed. I was early for every appointment I had and felt fully present. I like this calm feeling.
I also had some very good news at my annual physical on Tuesday. Because of my obesity and my genetic disposition to diabetes, I have been concerned for years about my risks for diabetes. I did not have blood drawn for the past 3-4 years as part of my physical. A practice that I know was part of my own denial of the condition of my health. In June 2010 I finally made the decision to take care of my health. It was about time. SO this year I vowed to face the blood screening that is part of the physical. Guess what?? My blood sugar and all the chemical analysis including lipid profile were great!! I am sure that part of these good results is the fact that I lost 27 pounds and I am exercising regularly. So, another confirmation that I am on the right track with my health.
So how I am doing on my themes for the year?
Balance: Each day I make a “most important task” list an idea I have incorporated into my life from Leo Babauta: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. Each day I ask myself what are the most important things I want to complete. And I do them. One of those tasks always relates to exercise (like skating).
Speaking of skating: I have found time almost everyday to do some skating with my family. I am practicing balance by being present with them and NOT thinking about what else I need to do. So, yes, I am finding some more balance in my life (as my sense of calmness would attest).
Organization: This week because I was sick, I did not focus on as much physical organization as digital. I deleted over 1500 files and documents from my computer and 810 photos. I also organized all my audio research files from the past year. Deleted all duplicate files and indexed all transcripts for writing.
Downsizing: Physically I am down a total of 27 pounds.
And the 5Rs for this year of leave
Reading: Not as much as last week. Did not pick up Buzz at all, but did read the newspaper almost every day and read through Time magazine.
Research: The organization that I did above will help me get started on the next writing phase. I am ready to recruit some more participants and start the next IRB processes.
'Rriting: The conference is over and I have a pretty good manuscript. But it needs work before I can submit it. But I feel good. The cool thing that happened was the group that I chair at ASTE will be submitting a proposal for a monograph. I plan to submit a chapter for that book. So, more writing on the horizon.
Rest: I rested a lot because I had the flu. Part of the rest was watching about five movies. The most interesting were the American and Winter’s Bone. Both disturbing but good.
Recreation: As I write above, I made time to ice skate every day after I recovered for the flu. But, the best recreation will start tomorrow (Saturday) when hubby and I take our three beautiful grandbabies to California for a week and a winter break!
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Michele
I had a great meeting this week with my team from the U of MN about writing up our research regarding our projects, courses and teaching. For the past many years I have been the chief evaluator of the summer courses that we all teach through the college of Conservation Biology, Fisheries and Wildlife. We receive our funding through Improving Teaching Quality grants from the state which require a collaboration between science and science education faculty. Our courses are well attended by teachers in the area where they learn insect biology and ecology or focus on schoolyard ecology or citizen science research for teachers. My team includes scientists, science educators and community program coordinators. This year will be my 7th year working with this team.
Our courses are unique in that they invite teachers to work closely with scientists to learn field research techniques, biology, ecology and other life science content. Our courses undergo revision every year, but our format and delivery are sound and strong. This is not just my opinion but evidence strongly by the data I and others collect both quantitatively and qualitatively(by being in classrooms). We are starting an ambitious writing project related to all the research and evaluation I have done for the past three years. On Tuesday we outlined 4 articles for publication in peer reviews journals with another 3-6 more targeted for practitioner related journals. It is exciting to move fully into sabbatical with these ambitious writing goals. Since most of the writing and analysis will initially fall on me, it is also a little scary, but mostly stimulating and exciting.
Yesterday was the first day that I can remember in a long, long while where I felt so calm and relaxed. I was early for every appointment I had and felt fully present. I like this calm feeling.
I also had some very good news at my annual physical on Tuesday. Because of my obesity and my genetic disposition to diabetes, I have been concerned for years about my risks for diabetes. I did not have blood drawn for the past 3-4 years as part of my physical. A practice that I know was part of my own denial of the condition of my health. In June 2010 I finally made the decision to take care of my health. It was about time. SO this year I vowed to face the blood screening that is part of the physical. Guess what?? My blood sugar and all the chemical analysis including lipid profile were great!! I am sure that part of these good results is the fact that I lost 27 pounds and I am exercising regularly. So, another confirmation that I am on the right track with my health.
So how I am doing on my themes for the year?
Balance: Each day I make a “most important task” list an idea I have incorporated into my life from Leo Babauta: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. Each day I ask myself what are the most important things I want to complete. And I do them. One of those tasks always relates to exercise (like skating).
Speaking of skating: I have found time almost everyday to do some skating with my family. I am practicing balance by being present with them and NOT thinking about what else I need to do. So, yes, I am finding some more balance in my life (as my sense of calmness would attest).
Organization: This week because I was sick, I did not focus on as much physical organization as digital. I deleted over 1500 files and documents from my computer and 810 photos. I also organized all my audio research files from the past year. Deleted all duplicate files and indexed all transcripts for writing.
Downsizing: Physically I am down a total of 27 pounds.
And the 5Rs for this year of leave
Reading: Not as much as last week. Did not pick up Buzz at all, but did read the newspaper almost every day and read through Time magazine.
Research: The organization that I did above will help me get started on the next writing phase. I am ready to recruit some more participants and start the next IRB processes.
'Rriting: The conference is over and I have a pretty good manuscript. But it needs work before I can submit it. But I feel good. The cool thing that happened was the group that I chair at ASTE will be submitting a proposal for a monograph. I plan to submit a chapter for that book. So, more writing on the horizon.
Rest: I rested a lot because I had the flu. Part of the rest was watching about five movies. The most interesting were the American and Winter’s Bone. Both disturbing but good.
Recreation: As I write above, I made time to ice skate every day after I recovered for the flu. But, the best recreation will start tomorrow (Saturday) when hubby and I take our three beautiful grandbabies to California for a week and a winter break!
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Michele
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