And yet, not a single mention of digital anything or technology in my job description. I only peripherally studied technology in my doctorate program and certainly at no other time before that.  While I have always been interested in computers and video games and was able to find answers, I was only considered knowledgeable in groups of people generally averse to technology.

However, during my doctoral program, I somehow befriended technology. I tried to learn new things. I experimented with blogging with my cohort, I tried to learn a little bit of html coding, and I joined this little program called Twitter. And that’s when everything changed. While, as the common story goes, I was hesitant at first and clumsily and slowly engaged, I found a community, no communities of people, who had similar interests and ideas. 

   Sharing the entire process would take a rather lengthy post, but suffice it to say that although I struggle with finding a balance of engagement, I rely on Twitter for professional development and professional challenge more than any other location. I find resources, communities of engagement, and personal satisfaction from learning. I thanked Twitter communities in my dissertation. Seriously.Turns out my (non) technology career is true for many, many people. Across many, many disciplines.

Teri Bump has called Twitter a “game changer.” Especially for those in education and for women. I think this is true. And as I continue to explore how technology, and in large part Twitter, has contributed and continues to contribute to my personal and professional development, I like the share the wealth. I like to encourage others to discover these tools of amplification that extend learning and communication and engagement.

Although I would argue that Twitter is one of the better tools for these purposes, I also clearly believe that blogging is important (reflection, hopefully leading to further scholarship), as well as a number of other tools.

Find your tech tool. Consider your question and find the best way to learn, engage, and share. It’s not about the tool, it’s about the learning. The tools just expand our opportunities.  As Cathy Davidson says, It’s Not The Technology, Stupid! And for those of you that have found your favorite ways of learning with technology, continue to spread the good word.

How has technology contributed to your learning process?

~540pgs.

One of my offices at UofL is in the library. I am surrounded by books with my work and my environment nearly every day, and I find this an incredibly lucky set of circumstances. Just before the break, I decided to peruse the area set aside for casual reading. In the thirty minutes before I left for home, I had picked up three books. The first I read prior to the new year, and the second I saved as my first book of the new year.

As I said, my purpose isn’t to give a critical book review, or even a book review, at that. In fact, let’s just begin this particular post with mentioning how I often choose my books: the cover. Indeed, I often to judge a book my its cover.I don’t look for anything particularly, other than something eye-catching or beautiful. Sing Them Home caught my attention. The cover shows a lithe blond woman, hair in a blurry bun, and dressed in a white, nearly sheer dress, simple and seemingly a bit old-fashioned. The woman holds her skirt from her body, as if about to curtsy or run and jump. And then the striking image: the woman is standing on the roof of a house, with the tops of trees surrounding her, and a dark, clouded sky baring a funnel cloud in the distance. The color contrast is beautiful.

The book tells the story of a family, three adult children, a doctor father, and two best friends – one of whom is the wife and mother for the first part of their lives and the other of whom is the wife and mother for the second part of their lives. These two parts are separated by a tornado that creates a history of a town, and “sends up” the first best friend. How each of these people comes to understand his or her own story is what makes the book so rich.

In fiction, I like a good plot. But more importantly, I love good characters. I love well-developed characters who do not fit neatly into archetypes. The character development for the most of the characters in this book is excellent. I won’t go into great detail, though I could, but I will say that they are flawed and authentic, beautiful and mistaken, quirky and realistic. They each embody those quirky qualities that in real life we often hide, but Kallos spotlights them to hide the truth and realism that is situated in loss and doubt and heartache and life.

I love a good weather story, and this book, though not about weather, uses weather as metaphor and analogy. Weather is interesting and uncontrollable. But we make choices that can situate us to live within that unpredictability or to be taken away by it.

The book was timely in reminding me of one of the biggest messages I’ve learned about people. For all the structure, guidance, planning, and logic in life — people are messy. People are unpredictable and illogical and each one different. For every research study that says a person will do such and such a thing in a given circumstance, there are three that say the same person will do three different things.

People are messy. Life is messy. We make mistakes and we fail. And, that is why this time we have is interesting. And livable. And beautiful. I know this isn’t an ideal truth for others, but I try to accept this truth every day.Here’s how Kallos puts it,

It’s always fun to try to divide people into two groups, as in, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who see the glass as half-empty and those who see it as half-full.”

Today I am thinking of another way to polarize humans: It seems to me that there are people in the world who are able to contain their lives, neatly, calmly. They create boundaries that allow them to function in whatever way is called for at the present moment. They ignore their children, for example, when that is an appropriate response. They pay their bills precisely at the same time every month, clean the bathroom on Wednesdays, plan a week’s worth of menus.

I am in the other category. There is spillage everywhere, even in the garden. When I’m angry at Llewellyn, I take it out on the rosemary bushes, which are spilling into the thyme bed, selfish rosemary bushes that I used to grow as a badge of my own virtue, since it is said that the virgin cast her cloak upon one.

Motherhood is messy in so many more ways than I expected. I chaos of emotions and laundry.  A life without boundaries, splitting at the seams and spilling over everywhere.

There were so many other important themes in the book. Family. Tradition. Forgiveness. And others. But I think the longer I work with people and in administration, this is a message that stays strong.

Here I sit, a year later, four months into my new job, with grand ambitions for my new year.  And so of course it makes sense that I would want to add a book challenge to my list. Thankfully, I read that someone was doing a 26 book challenge. Half the books. THAT is my challenge, I thought! I moved forward, collecting ideas from friends and colleagues, old and new, and gathered all my post it notes and scraps of paper on which I’d scribbled titles of books over the last four years. I had well over a hundred books from which to narrow down my list to 26. I managed to narrow it down to 33. So, I’ll be reading a bit over a book every few weeks. You can find my list here.

Whilst gathering suggestions, I also loftily agreed to blog my reflections for the Standing Committee for Women. As a very new public blogger, I’m glad to have a clear purpose and some accountability to blog. After all, this is ADVENTURE (see my #OneWord2012 post)! My reflections may or may not include a summary and criticism of the book. I find reading a book much like looking at art and analyzing my dreams – all provide context for better understanding human nature, the world around me, and myself.

Thus, if you’re looking for book reviews or critical analysis, you may or may not find it here. What I do hope I can provide, each time, are insights that will hopefully benefit you as much as the reflection benefits me (and I fully expect to benefit from this ADVENTURE!).

Look for my first book post coming soon!

Even so, in the last four years my practiced habit of positivity had gone into hiding. For many reasons, my last four years were especially challenging. I accepted a fantastic new position, in a fantastic new city, with a fantastic guy in tow, with fantastic people supporting me. Even so, I struggled to regain my confidence, rediscover my strengths, and readjust to life post-doctoral program (perhaps my word should have been Re?). While I understood that I was revisiting developing competency and managing emotions while dealing with the enormous stressors involved with life changes and identity changes, my perspective-taking ability was nowhere to be found.

So, after a few weeks of decompression, relaxation, and reflection (there are those RE words again!) I readied myself for the new year. I would decide my #OneWord2012.

It took some time, as all good summarizing should. I wanted to shift my perspective. Change my attitude. Remind myself what I love in life. I want to challenge myself. Challenge others. Appreciate the little and the big things. I considered journey. But the last four years had certainly been a journey, and not always a good one. I needed a word that connoted positivity and possibility.

Adventure.

Obligatory formal definition from http://www.dictionary.com:

noun
1.an exciting or very unusual experience.
2.participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3.a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

My own explanation:

Most people who have chosen a #OneWord2012 have chosen a verb. But I like to think of my noun AS a verb.

My new life is an adventure. My new job is an adventure. My relationship and my friendships are adventures. I will GO on adventures. I will CHOSE adventures. Adventures are sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous. Adventures can be obvious or hidden. Expected and unexpected. Easy or difficult.

But adventures leave you with stories. Help you to grow. Encourage you to learn. Challenge your perspective.

Adventure requires taking a risk. I’m ready to jump into my adventure. Are you ready to jump into yours? What adventures will YOU take this  year?

What is YOUR #OneWord2012?

The arrival of the “Traveling Scarf” prompted many questions, both those I was asked and those I asked myself. I’m used to questions. After four years in a doctorate program, moving to a new city, starting a new position that has two offices with two distinct cultures and responsibilities, I am becoming an expert in questions. But I hadn’t considered the kinds of questions I asked on a daily basis.  The Traveling Scarf changed that.

As I rode the bus to work, I was conscious of my scarf-wearing. Did others notice my scarf? Did they wonder why I was wearing it? I sat up straight, correcting my posture in case others were admiring my scarf. I prepared a response in my head to, “What a lovely scarf, where did you get it?” I would smile, thank the person for the compliment, and then explain that the scarf was being passed from woman to woman from the Standing Committee for Women through ACPA. Much like the story of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, we hoped to tell the stories of different women as the scarf traveled along.

So I was thrilled when a coworker immediately noticed my scarf. I told my story and then realized I didn’t know what to expect. She asked further questions. What is ACPA: What is the Standing Committee for Women? What do you do? Well. That was more than I expected. As I shared the story of ACPA and the SCW, my scarf and her questions lead to a conversation about being a woman and issues important to women.

I’ve only been in my position for around three months. I’ve asked numerous questions about mission and vision, philosophy and expectations. I’ve asked about protocols and meetings and politics. I I’ve asked about office supplies and coworkers  and their families and Louisville. But one topic that hadn’t come up with most people was women. Who we were, what that meant, and how wearing a scarf could be related. Wearing the scarf prompted conversations that might not have occurred for several months or years, if ever.

As I was asked these same questions, and had similar conversations with other women throughout the day, I began to consider why I hadn’t had these conversations. I asked myself how my identity as a woman was present or not present in my day-to-day life. And I questioned how the the missed opportunities at having deeper and richer interactions with both women and men might have contributed to better relationships with others.

The questions had begun simply, but ended far more complexly. Not only did wearing the scarf encourage more insightful and meaningful conversations with others, but it encouraged me to reflect more deeply. Good questions can do that.

My lesson from wearing the scarf? I’m going to practice asking good questions of others. Questions that help us both learn, develop and grow, individually, and together. I’ve tried to practice this since wearing the scarf. I ask myself good questions to begin and end my day (how will I demonstrate my values today?). I try to ask others questions beyond what they might naturally tell me (It sounds like you had a great weekend. How is your favorite way to spend the weekend?).  I don’t expect the answers to be life-changing, secret-revealing, or cathartic, though they might be.  What I do hope is that others understand I’m interested in them, and I continue to challenge myself to live with integrity, mindfulness, and compassion.  If nothing else, it’s a chance to hear a good story.

As the scarf travels along to the next woman who will hopefully enjoy it as much as I did, I now want to ask you the questions.

How do questions contribute to how you build relationships with others? How might follow-up questions help deepen your relationships?

How can you use questions to foster deep personal reflection?

Feel free to contact me!

michelle.rodems@gmail.com

@michellerodems

http://about.me/michellerodems

(P.S. – If you’d like to join in the Traveling Scarf, let us know! We’d love to add you to the list! Email standingcommitteeforwomen@gmail.com with your name, and mailing address and we’ll be in touch!)

Not as a general rule, mind you, but as a consequence of wanting to check just a few more items off my “To Do” list I’ve created in my first two weeks in my new position. These lists are always important, but as I’m new to a brand new position, fresh out of four years of full-time doctoral work, living in a new city . . . well, my lists seem even more important.

However, in returning to full-time work, one of my goals is to be a critically reflective scholar practitioner. Which means, in essence, I have to stop and think. I have to make time to intentionally consider what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and if I’m achieving what I hope to accomplish.

I have been anticipating this time all week. I would like to try to reflect at least weekly here on this blog. I don’t want to set unreasonable expectations upon myself as I transition, so I won’t commit to more blogging, but I believe this is a reasonable way to begin. This week I’ve decided to share the lessons I’ve learned in my first few weeks in my new positions and back at full-time work. I hope you’ll find these lessons as helpful as I have.

1. Say “thank you.”

This is a lesson taught to me by many, including most pervasively by my friend Greg, who was known quite well for acknowledging gratitude. I am once again reminded of the importance of saying thanks here. In examining files, I’ve seen numerous thank you notes sent to individuals with their supervisors copied. These thank yous have been in response to speaking at lunches, sitting on committees, assisting with events, or offering general help. I have heard repeated phrases of gratitude during meetings, I have seen emails to entire offices and individuals. This is a torch I am happy to carry. I am elated to join a community who values the importance of gratitude and taking the time to thank others for their contribution. I am going to try to take time every day to thank others.

2. Be inspired.

I have a healthy appreciation and enjoyment of cynicism and snarkiness. I would rather be challenged and forced to consider alternative situations any day than blindly accept the positive. But, I’m also a firm believer in the power of choosing my attitude. And not in the Fish Philosophy kind of way. Instead, I’ll reference one of my favorite quotes, “The last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” I have been given the human gift of choosing my attitude, and in this new position, surrounded by people with vision, who work hard, who admit their faults and failings and yet are still dedicated to improvement in themselves and others, I am choosing to be inspired. The two quotes by which I am choosing to be inspired now, given to me by my supervisor who asked me to consider them on my first day:

• What would it take to catalyze the creation of a university community where great teaching thrives?
• What would it take to catalyze the transformation of a university community into one in which great teaching thrives?

3. Be gentle with myself

Transitioning is difficult. In the best of circumstances, which, truthfully, I’ve mostly had. I defended my dissertation, I found a job, I found a place to live, my car, phone, and laptop are in good enough condition to give me basic connection to the outside world and I’ve had enough money to pay the bills. With that said, in the span of about a month and a half I went from having no idea where I’d be living, if I would pass my dissertation defense, if I’d have any money or a job to interviewing, accepting a position, defending my dissertation, finding  place to live, packing, moving (all on the last few dollars of a student worker position), unpacking, starting a brand new position that is full-time but split between two offices with two different cultures, and managing many technological difficulties both personally and professionally. I have set up my house by myself, mowed the lawn, killed spiders, unclogged toilets, fixed windows, and learned where to find the necessities.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’ve asked some really dumb questions. I’ve turned the wrong way down one way streets and nearly hit my neighbors who are elderly, retired nuns as I searched for my driveway. I haven’t been working out and I’ve eaten a bag of potato chips for dinner on more than one occasion. I’ve cried a few times a week in frustration over not fully enjoying all my great blessings. Thankfully, I’ve also had great people, my family, friends, and boyfriend, who have told me to “take my time.” “Hang in there.” “Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.” And my favorite, “Be gentle with yourself.” Even fantastic life changes are still stressors, and it’s ok if I’m not peachy keen on everything every minute of the day. I’ll get there. And I’ll appreciate and love things when I can.

I’m grateful for these lessons and I know I’ll take them with me as I transition.

What lessons have you learned during transition periods that have proven valuable post-transition?

Although I am a fan of technology and an avid blog reader, I’m not as adept at putting together a site as you might expect. So, please be patient as I try to get everything up and running. Blogging will be slow for a bit as I finish my writing, but I am looking forward to connecting with many new friends and colleagues as I move along.

I’ll update you as I add new parts to my place. For now, feel free to look at my curriculum vita – especially if you know of a job for for which I’d be a great fit!

I’m always open to feedback, so please let me know how I might improve my blog and site. I’m also up for questions, discussions, and challenging thoughts, so bring them my way!

Happy Beginnings!